Anytime anyone has asked me my favorite hymn, since 2008 my answer has been “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” It is a powerful hymn and, in four stanzas, it is an entire sermon. It was written, in German, by Martin Luther (the reformer) and is based off of Psalm 46 – though, again, it’s hard for us to catch too much of the parallel between the two because of the translations (Luther translated the Hebrew into German and paraphrased the Psalm. We then take his German hymn and translate it into English. So attempting to compare our translation of his hymn with our translation of Psalm 46 becomes a bit difficult).
Background aside, I thought I would take a moment to write a brief explanation of the hymn’s meaning. It is not a song that is often sung in Baptist circles (for those who feel their favorite songs are never sung in church – I’m the pastor and yet I know this pain too!), but it is a song that I believe speaks to the hearts and minds of young and old alike still today.
First, I’ll provide the hymn in its entirety, then the explanation.
The hymn:
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 dost 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 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.
Amen
The meaning:
The opening stanza proclaims how God is our protector. He helps us among the flood of our problems and He prevails. But the end of the stanza begins to speak about the devil, our ancient foe. The devil seeks to bring us great sorrow and pain, armed with cruel hate – his craft and his power are great and nothing on earth can match him. We are powerless against satan.
The second stanza again admits that if we were to take confidence in our own strength, our efforts would not stand; we would lose. This loss would indeed happen were it not for the “right man of God’s own choosing on our side” Jesus Christ. Jesus – “Lord Sabaoth” (the Lord of all the universe – Lord of Hosts) – Who never changes, must be the One who wins the battle (and we know that He does indeed win the battle).
The third stanza emphasizes again that the world is full of satanic power. The devil and his demons do indeed operate within the world (look around and it’s not hard to see this), and threaten our very existence. But despite this, we will not fear for God has willed His Truth of the gospel and His Kingdom to triumph through us! God has chosen to work through the Church and thus we cannot be defeated, though we may indeed be at war (see Romans 8 and Ephesians 6:12 and context). This does not mean that satan’s work against us is easy to endure or simple. No, rather it is “grim.” It is a dark power that we war against. But despite that, he does not scare us – we can endure his rage for “lo” (which means, “behold!” or “look!”) his doom is sure. “One little word shall fell him.” – God needs only to give the word that satan’s reign of terror has come to an end and it shall be so.
The final stanza says that “that word,” is greater than all the powers of the earth (all the weapons of governments, all the political strength of nations, all the grief of disease, etc.) and exists no thanks to those powers (God needs nothing from the powers of this world – Acts 17:24-25). And God has given us the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit through Christ who died for us and rose again. In light of all of these things, we can triumph and need not worry about anything – even death! So let go of your possessions and your loved ones, and even your own life (Luke 14:25-27), do not be afraid to lose these things in light of the Truth of the Gospel. For even if people kill you for following Christ, God’s truth still abides and His Kingdom is forever (Mark 8:35, Matthew, 16:25, and Luke 9:24; Matthew 10:28).
Amen.
And amen.
Chase Thompson 