A Mighty Fortress is Our God

A Mighty Fortress is Our God is a hymn that was written in 1529 by Martin Luther, a leader in the German Reformation.  The original German ("Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott") is now written on the tower of the Schlosskirche (Castle Church) in Wittenberg where Luther nailed his 95 Theses. 

Here are two youtube videos of the song.  One is a classic version with an organ.  When I hear this song in my head, it has an organ accompanying it.  The second video is a contemporary version by Chris Rice which is a fresh take on this beautiful hymn.

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

by Martin Luther in 1529

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

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:

Psalm 54:4 Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;

God said to Satan in Genesis 3:15 "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."

1 Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,

Hebrews 2:14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil

On earth is not his equal.

1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;

Romans 5:6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;

1 John 4:4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,

Romans 9:29 And just as Isaiah foretold, "Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left to us a posterity, we would have become like Sodom, and would have resembled Gomorrah."

James 5:4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

And He must win the battle.

1 John 3:8b The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,

Ephesians 6:12  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:

1 John 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;

Of Jesus in Colossians 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,

Revelation 20:10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

One little word shall fell him.

Hebrews 2:14-15 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;

Of Jesus in John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Of Jesus in John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:

Jesus said of the Holy Spirit in John 16:7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you."

Of Jesus in Ephesians 4:8 Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men."

Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;

Jesus said in Matthew 19:29 "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life."

Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,

Jesus said in Matthew 10:28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

His kingdom is forever.

Of Jesus in Luke 1:33 "and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."

Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."

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