Posted on Sunday, November 01, 2009 at 7:41 AM by David Zavadil
The one hymn that most symbolizes the Protestant Reformation is "A
Mighty Fortress Is Our God." In it, Martin Luther proclaims his
confidence in God and rallies all Christians to war against evil. Basing
his words on Psalm 46, he victoriously states "We will not fear, for God
has willed His truth to triumph through us." Those persecuted and
martyred for their convictions during the Reformation sang these words.
Luther understood the power of evil: After he posted his ninety-five
theses on the door of Wittenberg's Castle in 1517, he faced years of
trials and persecution, he was excommunicated from the Roman church, and
he continually faced threats against his life and his freedom. Other
reformers had been persecuted and burned at the stake.
But he also knew "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
danger" (Psalm 46:1) and so he wrote "A Mighty Fortress is our God,"
proclaiming boldly that "the prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for
him . . . one little word shall fell him."
Since he wrote it in 1529, Luther's hymn has been translated into nearly
every language. There are said to be over eighty English translations
alone to this hymn, but the version most used in the United States is
the translation by Frederic Henry Hedge in 1852.
The first line of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" is inscribed on the
tomb of Martin Luther at Wittenberg. And its powerful words and tune
continue to live. The hymn was sung at the funeral of President Dwight
D. Eisenhower at the National Cathedral in Washington DC, March 1969.
And it was also included in the National Service of Prayer and
Remembrance, held shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks against
America.
A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He,
amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing: For still our ancient foe doth
seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, and, armed with
cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing; Were
not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing: Dost ask
who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from
age to age the same, And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; His rage we can
endure, for lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him.
That Word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth; The
Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth: Let goods
and kindred go, this mortal life also; The body they may kill: God's
truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.
