{"id":10859,"date":"2016-08-24T07:50:28","date_gmt":"2016-08-24T11:50:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=10859"},"modified":"2016-08-24T12:49:49","modified_gmt":"2016-08-24T16:49:49","slug":"wednesday-worship-a-mighty-fortress-is-our-god-martin-luther","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=10859","title":{"rendered":"Wednesday Worship – A Mighty Fortress Is Our God – Martin Luther"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Blog<\/a><\/strong>Photo Credit: Suwalls<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cBe still, and know that I am God.<\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>I will be exalted among the nations,<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>I will be exalted in the earth!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\nThe Lord<\/span> of hosts is with us;<\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/em>the God of Jacob is our fortress.”<\/em> – Psalm 46:10-11 <\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In the dark days of oppression, the great Reformer Martin Luther would sing in the streets of Eisenach, Germany, both to encourage himself and those within hearing. He wrote many hymns, but this one, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, <\/em>written in 1527, became his most well-known. Inspired by Psalm 46, it <\/em>became the heart cry of the Protestant Reformation.<\/em><\/p>\n

“‘A Mighty Fortress’ so captured the spirit of the Protestant Reformation that when Protestant emigrants were forced into exile or martyrs went to their death, ‘A Mighty Fortress’ always seemed to be the song they chose to sing.” – Diane Severance<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Blog<\/a>Photo Credit: YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n

Severance also wrote about Luther’s love of music:
\n“Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. She is a mistress and governess of those human emotions…which control men or more often overwhelm them…Whether you wish to comfort the sad, to subdue frivolity, to encourage the despairing, to humble the proud, to calm the passionate, or to appease those full of hate…what more effective means than music could you find?”<\/em> – Martin Luther<\/a><\/p>\n

We sang this great hymn on this past Sunday as Movement Church<\/a> gathered. In the past, we worshiped singing this song usually with the accompaniment of an orchestra or pipe organ. This time, electric guitar riffs and a measured drum beat reminded us of the call to remember who God is…even in the midst of great struggle and the hard press of a changing culture.<\/p>\n

This God is the Lord of the church…and we are His people…not just some seemingly silly church people clubbing together. His people are meant to be ready for whatever comes. Not because we are great or able, but because He is…He is our mighty fortress!<\/p>\n

Worship<\/a> with me in the way I learned this great hymn many years ago or in the more contemporary style of HeartSong <\/a>(below).<\/p>\n

A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing;<\/strong>
\n Our shelter He, amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing.<\/strong>
\nFor still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe;
\nHis craft and pow\u2019r are great, And, armed with cruel hate,
\nOn earth is not his equal.<\/p>\n

Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing;
\nWere not the right Man on our side, The Man of God\u2019s own choosing.
\nDost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
\nLord Sabaoth is His name, From age to age the same,
\nAnd He must win the battle.<\/p>\n

And tho\u2019 this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us;<\/strong>
\n We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.<\/strong>
\nThe prince of darkness grim \u2014 We tremble not for him;
\nHis rage we can endure, For lo! his doom is sure,
\nOne little word<\/a> shall fell him.<\/p>\n

That word above all earthly pow\u2019rs \u2014 No thanks to them \u2014 abideth:
\nThe Spirit and the gifts are ours Thro\u2019 Him who with us sideth.
\nLet goods and kindred go, This mortal life also;
\nThe body they may kill: God\u2019s truth abideth still,<\/strong>
\n His kingdom is\u00a0forever.<\/strong>*<\/p>\n