A Mighty Fortress is Our God:

H ytnn of Martyrs
A stlre stronghold ONr God is he)
a tnfsty shield and lJ!eapoll.
Ottr help heYl be and set tiS )i-ee
)i-Olll eVel)1 ill call happen
that old Illalielolfs foe) IJleall.f liS deadb
'
})Joe
armed lJJith might )i-OIN Hell
and deepest craft as lJ1el1
011 ealth is 110t his fello1J!.
I
'm sure you recognize this as the original of A NIighf)1
Fol1l'ess is 0111' God. l'vfartin Luther who ~ w r o t e the words
once said, "the Devil hates music because he cannot
stand gaiety," and "Satan can smirk but he cannot laugh; he
can sneer but he cannot sing."
Because he believed in the power of song the great reformer
spent a lot of time compiling a hymn book for use in
congregational singing. One writer has said dlat "Luther
translated the Bible into German so God could speak
directly to the people; and provided the hymn so that the
people could answer God in their songs." Luther is credited
with thirty-seven hymns, by far the most popular being, A
Jo..!Jighf)1 Fol1ress. It was written in 1529 at a time when Luther
and his followers were going through a particularly rough
patch of opposition; with the Emperor, Charles ~ seemingly
determined to suppress the new movement.
During those days of struggle Luther turned often to Psalm
46 and was greatly encouraged by the words of verse one,
"God's our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble." Soon a song was inspired, and Luther began in
fine style Witll the bold declaration - "Ein feste burg ist unser
Gott" - "A sure stronghold our God is He." It was Frederick
Hedge, in his translation of 1852, who changed this to the
more familiar "A l'vIighty Fortress Is Our God."
Luther's original composition became immediately popular
with the common people of reformation Germany, being
sung continually in the streets and chanted by the martyrs
as they awaited tlleir grim fate. \'X7hat a moving sound that
must have made! At this point, mention must be made of
the music, that rich, melodious yea, majestic tune which lifts
the words and carries them along Witll all the pomp and
grace of a national anthem. Considerable dispute surrounds
the origin of the music, with some attributing it to Lutller
himself. Others give the honour to tlle great J.S. Bach; and
it's true that Bach did use the tune as the basis of one of his
many chorales.
26 (he COUNSEL of CHALCEDON
However, Bach was not born until 1685, over a hundred and
fifty years after Luther's great hymn first appeared. It seems
clear dlen, that Martin Lutller rightly deserves the credit,
if not for the original composition, at least for adapting it,
possibly from an old German folk tune.
l'\1uch more important dun the music however, is tlle
message - and what a message this great hymn has for the
people of God! It turns their eyes and thoughts away from
dle afflictions of dus world, and the opposition of Satanic
hosts, and fixes them upon the person of the Lord Jesus - the
Lord Sabaoth as Luther so rightly refers to Him in one of
the verses.
A nughty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing
Our helper He anlid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe,
DOtll 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 strengili confide;
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right man on our side,
The man of God's own choosing,
Dost ask who lliat may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He
Lord Sabaoth His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the batde.
And though this world willi devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
\'X7e will not fear, for God hath willed
His trUtll to triumph through us,
The prince of darkness grim,
\Ve tremble not for him
His rage we can endure,
For 10, his doom is sure;
One litde word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abidelli,
The Spirit and tlle gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth
Let goods and kindred go,
Tlus mortal life also
The body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still:
His kingdom is forever.
Excerpted from Great Hj'll1l1 St0l7es by James McClelland and
available at www:emeraldhouse.com.