While singing "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" yesterday evening, I was reminded that this song is a poem with a message woven through all four stanzas, the stanzas really do not stand alone. This song, which must be nearly five hundred years old, is a worshipful battle-song about the Mighty God triumphing over the Prince of Darkness. We, His people, participate in that victory because God chose a Man who was also the Lord of Armies to fulfill that victory, and we have received His Spirit.
Themes: God's strength, Satan's attacks, the Trinity, guaranteed victory through Christ
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.
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