Our Mighty Fortress

My very favorite hymn is by Martin Luther (should come as no shock to those of you who know me). I'd only been a Christian a couple years the first time I remember the hymn making an impact on me. It was a sunny day in Dallas some twenty years ago now and I was a young college student, the hymn was sung and accompanied by bagpipes played by men in kilts--one of my very favorite professors had died unexpectedly and was being laid to rest, leaving his sons and mother and the rest of us to mourn.

I've mentioned to those close to me that I want the masterpiece played at my funeral if they decide to have one for me.

A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood
of mortal ills prevaling.
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 Sabbaoth, 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,
thru 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.

Kenneth W. Osbeck writes in his book, "Amazing Grace: Illustrated Stories of Favorite Hymns":

"A Mighty Fortress," which became the rallying cry of the Reformation, was composed by Luther, who surprised many with his songwriting skills. The exact date of the hymn is unknown, but it's generally believed to have been written for the Diet of Spires in 1529 when the term "protestant" was first used. "A Mighty Fortress" is loosely based on Psalm 46, which praises God for His deliverance from adversity and trial.

In 1853, Frederick H. Hedge translated the hymn into English from the original German. It endures to this day as one of the great anthems of the faith.