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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

I love the words for this song, in which Martin Luther reveals the timeless (1529) struggle against the enemy of our souls, and our ultimate success in winning over him:

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.


I like the words: "his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal," first telling us that we have a terrible foe, but not leaving us there because then it goes on to say.. "Were not the right man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing.." telling us we have Jesus to fight for us!

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