CW 863: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Fall has always been one of my favorite times of the year. I love the bright colors as the leaves change. I love the smell of crisp Autumn mornings. I also look forward to the end of October and the celebration of the Reformation. I love history, and I love learning about and celebrating the life of Martin Luther. On October 31, we remember the day Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther was not looking for fame or notoriety. Nor was he looking to start a revolution. Instead, Luther was concerned about the souls of Christians. His heart had been moved by the power of the Gospel to challenge the system of salvation through good works taught by the church of the Middle Ages. Luther wanted to restore the message of the Gospel to the people. He wanted all people to know that we are saved by faith in Christ alone.
As the Reformation spread through Europe, Luther faced attacks and threats of death for what he was teaching. Instead of giving into despair, Luther put his trust in the Lord. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God was written by Luther during these times of danger and hardship. It is based on the words of Psalm 46. Luther and his friends would sing this hymn when troubled or discouraged. A Mighty Fortress has continued to be a favorite hymn of Lutherans in the 500 years after the Reformation. It serves as a reminder that even when it seems like the forces of evil are winning, Christ has already defeated the power of Satan by his death on the cross.
Verse 1: A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon; he helps us free from every need that has us now o’ertaken. The old evil foe now means deadly woe; deep guile and great might are his dread arms in fight; on earth is not his equal.
Luther takes the title for this hymn from verses 7 and 11 of Psalm 46, “The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” When we face times of trial and hardship, we can flee to the Lord. Our God is like a mighty fortress built on an unshakeable rock. Satan may launch many attacks against that fortress, but nothing can ever shake the power of our God. We are safe and secure in the palm of our Father’s hand. He will guard and protect us.
Question: What weapons does the Lord give us to resist the attacks of Satan? (Hint: look at Ephesians 6:10-18).
Verse 2: With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected; but for us fights the valiant one whom God himself elected. You ask, “Who is this?” Jesus Christ it is, the almighty Lord, and there’s no other God; he holds the field forever.
On our own, we are powerless to resist the temptations of the devil. We were born enslaved to sin and hostile to God. It is only through the power of the Gospel working through Word and Sacraments that we have been brought to faith. We now have Christ, the almighty Lord, fighting on our side. By his death and resurrection, Christ defeated the power of the devil. Satan has been cast down, and we have been freed from his power. Christ is victorious. He holds the field of battle for eternity. Sometimes, it may seem like Satan is winning as we see evil run rampant through this world, but we know Christ has won. Our eternal victory is certain, and Satan’s time is short.
Question: How do we know Christ has won the battle once and for all? (Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-34).
Verse 3: Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us, we tremble not, we fear no ill; they shall not overpow’r us. This world’s prince may still scowl fierce as he will, he can harm us none. He judged; the deed is done; one little word can fell him.
Our enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking to devour us. Satan hates Christ, and he hates his followers. He wants nothing more than to destroy our faith and condemn us to an eternity in hell with him. Satan wants us to believe that he is a great and terrible enemy. But we know that he has been defeated. Satan cannot harm those God has called to be his own. We are safe in the fortress of our God. Satan cannot accuse us of our sins any longer because our sins have been paid for with the blood of Christ. Christ has defeated Satan once and for all by his death on the cross. He crushed the head of the Old Serpent, who led the world astray.
Question: Why can Christians live their lives free of guilt and shame?
Verse 4:The Word they still shall let remain, nor any thanks have for it; he’s by our side upon the plain with his good gifts and Spirit. And take they our life, goods, fame, child, and wife, though all may be gone, our victory is won; the kingdom’s ours forever.
During the years of conflict following the Reformation, many German rulers who supported Luther adopted the motto Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum, which means “The Word of the Lord endures forever.” This is a confident expression of the enduring power and authority of God’s Word based on 1 Peter 1:24-25. They understood that it is only through God’s enduring Word that we learn about salvation through Jesus Christ. The final verse of A Mighty Fortress reminds us that we will face times of trial and persecution during our lives of faith. Christ promised that the world would hate us because it hated him first. Luther and his followers faced intense persecution during their lives. But they never compromised the Word of God. They knew that the troubles of this life are temporary, but the glorious kingdom of God is ours forever!
Question: What trials and persecutions do you face in your life, and how do you overcome them?
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God is a powerful hymn of trust in the power of our God. We know that we are engaged in a great spiritual battle. Satan, the world, and our own sinful natures are constantly fighting against us and trying to lead us away from God. When we look at all the evil in the world, we may be tempted to doubt the power of God. In those moments of doubt, we fix our eyes on the cross and remember Christ has already won the battle. Satan has been defeated! The head of the Serpent has been crushed! Christ has defeated all his enemies by his death and resurrection and holds the field forever. We are safe in the mighty fortress of our God, and nothing can ever snatch us from his hand.