A Mighty Fortress is our God

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

~Psalm 46:1 NIV~

"A Mighty Fortress is our God" - the Battle Hymn of the Protestant Reformation

Words & Music: Mar­tin Lut­her, 1529; trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Fred­er­ic H. Hedge, 1853. Tune title: Ein' Feste Burg.

This song has been called “the great­est hymn of the great­est man of the great­est per­i­od of Ger­man his­to­ry” and the “Bat­tle Hymn of the Ref­or­ma­tion.”

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 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.

Resource: 

Cyber Hymnal

With a beautiful reminder of that truth, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" gives us hope amidst the struggles of life.  What a faithful God, indeed is our mighty fortress!  How often we lose faith when challenges overwhelm us.  This hymn is a timely reminder. The  greatest reformist Martin Luther based his powerful lyrics from Psalm 46 --- "We should not fear, for God is our refuge and ever-present help in trouble."

Video Credit:

Christian Hymn with Lyrics - A Mighty Fortress is our God. YouTube, uploaded by Christian Praise and Worship, in Song, Sermons, and Audio Books.  Accessed November 11, 2016.


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