A Might Fortress is our God – by Martin Luther

1

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.

2

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.

3

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.

4

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.

Dear God, My wife told me about a funeral She went to yesterday that sounds redemptive and incredible. The young man was apparently plagued by alcoholism and depression and they confronted it head on. The service apparently opened with this hymn. My wife told me it really fit because of how the hymn references all of the demons and how you are our refuge and protector.

So I got to thinking about this hymn and its meaning. Until she mentioned it this morning, I don’t know that I had ever really paid attention to it. And it’s ironic since the best funeral I’ve ever been to opened with this hymn as well, but it was played by a brass quintet.

The two men who had died at each funeral could not have been more different from each other. One was old and had spent his whole life in Christian ministry, although he had struggled with clinical depression. The other was young and had never been able to overcome the alcoholism and depression. But you were turns and still are, in their deaths and afterlives, a mighty fortress to them.

Father, be my mighty fortress today. Be glorified through me. Love others through me. Help me to completely seek you as I handle each issue that comes my way today. In Jesus’ name I pray,Amen