A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

It was a very dark time for the church. The leaders in Rome seemed to have lost their way. A young priest from Germany named Martin Luther visited the city, and what he saw deeply shook him. He could not ignore it. He chose to do something about it.

Luther identified ninety-five serious problems in the church and publicly took his stand. He knew the risk. Others who had challenged the church before him had paid with their lives. Martin understood the cost.

Eventually, he was summoned to defend himself and to recant his beliefs before powerful authorities. He refused to waver. Fully expecting that his sentence would be death, friends intervened and secretly “kidnapped” him before he could be arrested.

Luther spent over a year in hiding at Wartburg Castle. Alone in a tower room, he prayed and worked tirelessly, translating the Bible into the common language so ordinary people could read God’s Word for themselves. For the first time, he knew what it meant to be a wanted man—completely dependent on the protection of his God.

And Luther knew Psalm 46.

Psalm 46:1–4

“God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change

And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;

Though its waters roar and foam,

Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride…

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

The holy dwelling places of the Most High.”

One day, Martin Luther would write a hymn—born out of fear, faith, danger, and trust in God’s protection. Based on Psalm 46, it was titled “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Its impact was powerful and immediate, and it became known as the anthem of the Reformation. These are the words of Luther’s hymn of refuge and shelter:⸻https://youtu.be/8XUYZoguhEQ?si=CqMIxKMM09iROn1U

A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD

A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing;

Our shelter 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 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 forever.