Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott

This week I wanted to share a song that I have grown to love over the last year or two written by Martin Luther. It has been stuck in my head for the last two days since I heard this song at Passion with same title even though its a totally different song.

A mighty fortress is our God (Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott)

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'm happy that such a passionate man for God had such a love for music. He expressed his love for music in a book forward once.

“Next to the word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world. It controls our thoughts, minds, hearts, and spirits... A person who... does not regard music as a marvelous creation of God... Does not deserve to be called a human being; he should be permitted to hear nothing but the braying of asses and dying hogs” - Martin Luther