The word that fells the enemy.

Martin Luther’s timeless hymn of hope and faith.

Photo by André on Unsplash

Psalm 46 begins, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling” (Ps. 46:1–3). Those words have resounded throughout the ages of God’s church, preserving those precious to him in a wave of faithful love. This psalm’s impact is, perhaps, nowhere better seen than in Martin Luther’s lyrical rendering of it in his most timeless hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” The words to this hymn are stouthearted and defiant, much like their German author. Written approximately between 1527 and 1529, Luther’s anthemic “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” redounds with the hope and faith of the gospel.

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 gift 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.
(Luther, 72–73)

Grace and peace to you on this Reformation Day! And semper reformanda, too. (Semper Reformanda is part of a longer Latin phrase, the gist of which insinuates that the church is “always being reformed” and in need of reforming. Kevin DeYoung has a good article all about this over on The Gospel Coalition.)

Works cited:

Martin Luther, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” To Comfort You: Poems of Comfort, selected by Elia W. Peattie (Chicago: Fleming H. Revell, 1903).