Written by Martin Luther at a time when the Muslim armies were literally at the gates of Vienna, this hymn tells the story of God’s action to defeat the evil one, who still to the present moment, desires to rip us away from our Lord and devour us. Pay close attention to the words, for they are as relevant today as they were 500 years ago.
Filed under: A Mighy Fortress is our God |
The Old Adam Lives! 
Interesting!
We in the UK usually sing a slightly different version
(the translation of Thomas Carlyle):
A Safe Stronghold, our God is still,
A trusty shield and weapon,
He’ll help us clear through all the ill,
that hath us no o’ertaken.
the ancient prince of hell,
hath risen with purpose fell,
strong mail of craft and power,
he weareth in this hour,
on earth is not his fellow
With force of arms we nothing can,
full soon we were down-ridden,
but for us fights the proper Man,
whom God Himself hath bidden,
Ask ye, who is this same?
Christ Jesus is His name
The Lord Sabaoth’s Son,
He and no other one,
shall conquer in the battle
And we this world all devils o’er,
and watching to devour us,
We lay it not to heart so sore,
not they can overpower us,
And let the prince of ill,
look grim as ere he will,
he harms us not a whit,
for why? his doom is writ,
a word will quickly slay him
God’s word, for all their craft and force,
One moment will not linger,
but spite of hell shall have its course,
’tis written by His finger,
And though they take our lives,
goods, honour, children, wife,
yet is their profit small,
these things shall vanish all,
The City of God remaineth.
Based on the theme of Psalm 46, this has to be simply one of the most comprehensive hymns (in the sense of putting life into its proper context) that’s ever been penned.