Hymn: A Mighty Fortress is our God
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.
One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 46. The first two verses read “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas…” I can’t help but think Luther had this Psalm in mind when he wrote his most famous hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God.”
Martin Luther, the man God used to spark the Protestant Reformation, wrote these lyrics, and probably the melody as well, in the mid-1500s. The original German lyrics (original title: Ein Feste Burg ist Unser Gott) have been translated into English more than once, but the most popular version was translated by Frederic Henry Hedge in 1853.
During the life-threatening trials of the Protestant Reformation, this hymn became somewhat of an anthem. It spread quickly, was translated into several languages (including English), and five hundred years later, Christians all over the world are still singing it.
What makes this particularly relevant for us is when Luther wrote it. There are a few different theories, but the most likely is Luther wrote it when he learned that the Black Death was coming back to Europe in October 1527. In the face of religious persecution, in addition to the worst pandemic the world has ever seen, Luther turns to the truth of Psalm 46 and writes a song about it. Hedge’s translation is below. You can read more about this hymn (and others) here.
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 his 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 is 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 for ever.