"A Mighty Fortress is Our God" is one of the best-known hymns by the reformer, Martin Luther. This hymn inspires us to find strength in God's love and salvation amid the woes of mortality.
We think of Martin Luther as a great reformer, Bible translator, political leader, fiery preacher, and theologian. But he was also a musician, having been born in an area of Germany known for its music.
Luther was born in 1483 in Eisleben, Germany. His father owned a copper mine. Having the finances to do so, and having come from a very modest peasantry himself, (agricultural laborers of low social status) Martin's father determined his son would be raised with dignity and have a future in civil servitude.
There in his little German village, young Martin grew up listening to his mother sing. He joined a boy's choir that sang at weddings and funerals. He became proficient with the flute, and his volcanic emotions often erupted in song.
When Martin was seventeen he enrolled in the University of Erfurt. He received his Bachelor's degree in only one year and his Master's degree three years later. As soon as he completed his Master's degree, he enrolled in the law school of the University of Erfurt.
Through his studies, he discovered that true Christianity did not depend upon what one knows about God, but upon a right personal relationship with God. God's forgiveness through the sacrificial death of Christ became all important to Luther.
October 31, 1517, is perhaps the most important day in Protestant history. This was the day when Martin Luther posted on the doors of the Cathedral of Wittenberg, Germany, his 95 theses (complaints) against the teachings and practices of the medieval Roman Church. With this event, the 16th century Protestant Reformation was formally born.
When the Protestant Reformation began, Luther determined to restore worship to the German Church. He worked with skilled musicians to create new music for Christians, to be sung in the vernacular. (The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.) He helped revive congregational singing and wrote a number of hymns.
In 1521, Luther broke with Rome and was subsequently recognized as the leader of the German Reformation.
Verse One
"A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing;
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."
Psalm 46:1
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry's concise Commentary: "This psalm encourages [us] to hope and trust in God; in His power and providence, and His gracious presence with His church in the worst of times. We may apply it to spiritual enemies, and the encouragement we have that, through Christ, we shall be conquerors over them. He is a help, a present help, a help found, one whom we have found to be so; a help at hand, one that is always near; we cannot desire a better, nor shall we ever find the like in any creature.
Verse Two
"Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be failing,
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."
John 1:29, 32, 34
"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! . . . I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him . . . I have seen, and I testify, that this is the Son of God.'"
Workingpreacher.org, James Clark-Soles: "The whole Gospel of John was written for no other reason than to reveal Jesus to us, to provide a space for us to encounter Him in His full identity. The author clearly tells you in 20:31: 'But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in His name.'"
Verse Three
"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."
Matthew 10:28
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
Studylight.org, Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible: "Them which kill the body -- That is, people, who have no power to injure the soul, the immortal part. The body is a small matter in comparison with the soul. Temporal death is a slight thing compared with eternal death. He directs them, therefore, not to be alarmed at the prospect of temporal death, but to fear God, who can destroy soul and body forever . . . Satan's power stops at being able to destroy the body. God is far more powerful and can destroy both body and soul."
Verse Four
"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!"
Revelation 11:15-19
"The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever."
Studylight.org, Bridgeway Bible Commentary: "This brings with it the divinely appointed Day of Judgment for all people, when God rewards His servants and punishes sinners. In a dramatic revelation, God then opens His heavenly temple and displays the ark, symbol of His covenant faithfulness. The significance of this is that through all His people's sufferings and trials, God has never forgotten them."
I am indebted to the following resources:
Churchchoirmusic.com, C. W. Kerns
Thegospelcoalition.org, Canadian Edition
Chrisianity.com, Diane Severance, Ph.D.
Staugustine.com, Lindsay Terry
Dianaleaghmatthews.com
Robert J. Morgan, Then Sings My Soul
Kenneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace
Godtube.com
By His Grace . . .
