I’ve been exploring some of the very modern worship songs as an old guy 😀. But now, I’ve decided to alternate between very modern hymns, old hymns, and in-between hymns, namely the worship songs from the 60s to the 90s that feature in hymnbooks such as Mission Praise. Today it’s the turn of the old hymns.
Today’s song is A Safe Stronghold from 1529.
1 A safe stronghold our God is still,
a trusty shield and weapon;
he'll keep us clear from all the ill
that hath us now 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.
2 With force of arms we nothing can,
full soon were we 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.
3 And were 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 e'er he will,
he harms us not a whit;
for why? His doom is writ;
a word shall quickly slay him.
4 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 life,
goods, honour, children, wife,
yet is their profit small;
these things shall vanish all:
the city of God remaineth.
This one goes all the way back to Martin Luther. Maybe it’s the first Protestant hymn. Hymns were rarely sung in Roman Catholic or Protestant churches back then. But music often seems to be a key factor in revivals or new movements. This one is a paraphrase of Psalm 46, which speaks of God as a defender and protector. And Luther and the early Protestants certainly needed a protector. And some of the more radical wings of the Reformation, such as the anabaptists, needed defending against both Roman Catholics or Protestants.
But we still sing the hymn today. It’s really about deeper battles between God in Christ and Satan. I learned it back in the 1980s. It’s isn’t easy to understand lyrically, but when I took the trouble to read it, I was impressed. We ourselves would be no match against Satan and His armies. But we have Jesus, who has won the victory. The war still isn’t over, but it’s as good as over now. Sometimes people compare the cross and resurrection to D-Day. World War 2 didn’t end on that day, but it was just a matter of time. And Germany wasn’t really the enemy. It was evil people who took control of Germany, and it was Satan who took control of them. He’s the real enemy, and he can influence us all. But we have Jesus on our side.
Here are two secular German songs that I’m familiar with 😀:
A second translation of the hymn is A Mighty Fortress is Our God. Both translations occurred in the 19th Century.
Here are a few verses from the Psalm on which the hymn is based:
Psalm 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.
And here are some other versions of the hymn:
Hibernia Gospel 