A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Recently, I read Psalm 124 in my Bible reading. It is the testimony of those who would not have made it if the LORD had not been on their side, and it spoke hope to the weakness and weariness that often overwhelms me. It also reminded me of the line “Were not the right Man on our side” from Martin Luther’s hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”

I wrote out all the lyrics of this hymn in my journal that night, struck with the richness of the words—rich with the truth that delivers real help to us in time of need, echoes of the words that God Himself has given us.

A mighty Fortress is our God

Luther begins this hymn by pointing us to this stabilizing fact about our God: the One who helps us is a mighty fortress that cannot fail, sufficient in the worst, most overwhelming troubles. I have read that this hymn is based on Psalm 46, which calls God our “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” (v. 1).

A mighty fortress is our God,

a bulwark never failing.

Our Helper, He, amid the flood

of mortal ills prevailing…

It is in the dark times, the times when “mortal ills” seem to be prevailing, the times when it is so easy to forget God in looking at our problems, that Luther, like the psalmists of old, reminds us to look to God. He is a strong, unfailing refuge for us.

Our Ancient Foe

While we may be inclined to forget the true strength of God in our times of trouble, most of us are probably even more likely to forget that there is an enemy lurking and plotting our destruction.

But it is imperitave that we remember. First Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

It’s hard as a human living in a safe environment to really comprehend what it is to be hunted like prey. It’s just not something most of us (I hope) have to deal with, and yet it leaves us a little disadvantaged in comprehending the nature of our enemy.

I have sung this hymn many times in my life, but never did I have such a clear picture of its meaning until this summer. We sang it the Sunday before our Vacation Bible School when the front of the church had been transformed into a castle. Behind the castle loomed a large cardboard figure of dragon, its red eyes peering out viciously at the congregation. The sight brought the words of the song to life with a visual image of the powerful, unseen enemy whose passion is our destruction.

…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.

The Man of God’s Own Choosing

At this point in the song, the outlook seems bleak. We are no match for Satan. And yet there is Someone who is infinitely more powerful than he could ever be.

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.

I love this stretch of lyrics. It expresses the truth so well—that our strength is puny at best. And it calls to mind the words of the Lord: “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” All our hope is in the One—who as described in Ps. 124–is on our side. There is only one Man who could crush the serpent’s head, the very One God chose.

Luther goes on to identify this Savior as Christ Jesus, the Lord of hosts, the unchanging One. He is the warrior-King who will fight for us as He has for His people in every age. Our best efforts and calculated strategies fall short: He must win the battle.

We Will Not Fear

One of the things I love about this hymn is that it illuminates the true nature of what is going on in the world and in our lives. We are at war with sin and the forces of evil who hate us and want to see us fall. And this could seem like a fearful thing. But we should not cower before them.

We have a purpose in the darkest places, in the fiercest warfare, and it is not that we should grow discouraged and give up or be overcome by fears and hide from the work God has given us to do; that is precisely what the devils want. Our purpose is this—and God has willed it to be so—that His truth should triumph through us.

How life-giving! The God of glorious plans has crafted history in such a way that He would do His work through us rather than all on His own (which He is more than powerful enough to do). This is a wonderful privilege. May we not be overcome with the magnitude of our troubles and give way to doubt, fear, and turning back. Difficulties are our opportunity to let His truth triumph through us.

And though this world with devils filled

should threaten to undo us,

we will not fear for God has willed

His truth to triumph through us.

Furthermore, we should not fear—however dark the onslaught of the evil one—because we know his end. He will fall. And it will be by one little word of the LORD.

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.

His Kingdom is Forever

The hymn concludes triumphantly. Even though there are devils all scheming against God, they will fall, but the Word, Christ Jesus, endures. And we are well-equipped with the Holy Spirit and other gifts given by Him to triumph with 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!

As believers, we are tied to a destiny far greater than this present life. We are free to let go of things and family and life itself, if necessary, to follow Christ. Indeed, that is the cost:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple,” (Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭26‬-‭27‬, ‭33‬).

How are we able to relinquish this life? Because we are tied to Christ, and whatever happens, His truth will still abide. Every promise made to us will stand. And He will be our King forever.