A Mighty Fortress

• Deuteronomy 7:21
  (hymns)
• Deuteronomy 33:27
  (hymns)
• 1 Samuel 2:9
  (hymns)
• 2 Samuel 22:2-7
  (hymns)
• 2 Chronicles 32:7
  (hymns)
• Psalm 18:1-3
  (hymns)
• Psalm 31:1-16
  (hymns)
• Psalm 33:16
  (hymns)
• Psalms 45-46
  (hymns)
• Psalm 71
  (hymns)
• Psalm 91:1-2
  (hymns)
• Psalm 96
  (hymns)
• Psalm 144:1-2
  (hymns)
• Isaiah 26:4
  (hymns)
• Isaiah 40:28
  (hymns)
• Isaiah 40:30-31
  (hymns)
• Jeremiah 16:19
  (hymns)
• Daniel 4:3
  (hymns)
• Matthew 10:28
  (hymns)
• Matthew 16:18
  (hymns)
• Matthew 24:35
  (hymns)
• Mark 2:28
  (hymns)
• Luke 1:33
  (hymns)
• Romans 8:35-39
  (hymns)
• 2 Corinthians 4
  (hymns)
• Galatians 5:22-23
  (hymns)
• Ephesians 6:10-17
  (hymns)
• Philippians 3
  (hymns)
• Colossians 2:15
  (hymns)
• 2 Thessalonians 2:9
  (hymns)
• Hebrews 2:14-18
  (hymns)
• Hebrews 13:8
  (hymns)
• 1 Peter 5:6-11
  (hymns)
• 1 John 4:4
  (hymns)

This hymn is often referred to as “the battle hymn” of the Reformation. Many stories have been relayed about its use. Albert Bailey writes, “It was, as Heine said, the Marseillaise of the Reformation…It was sung in the streets…It was sung by poor Protestant emigres on their way to exile, and by martyrs at their death…Gustavus Adolphus ordered it sung by his army before the battle of Leipzig in 1631…Again it was the battle hymn of his army at Lutzen in 1632…It has had a part in countless celebrations commemorating the men and events of the Reformation; and its first line is engraved on the base of Luther’s monument at Wittenberg…An imperishable hymn! Not polished and artistically wrought but rugged and strong like Luther himself, whose very words seem like deeds” (The Gospel in Hymns, 316). As you can see, this is a hymn close to the hearts of Protestants and Lutherans, a source of assurance in times of duress and persecution. The text is not restricted, however, to times of actual physical battles. In any time of need, when we do battle with the forces of evil, God is our fortress to hide us and protect us, and the Word that endures forever will fight for us.

Text:

Luther wrote this text sometime between 1527 and 1529 as a paraphrase of Psalm 46, though stanza four comes directly from Luther’s own persecution experience. The most commonly used English version is a translation by Frederick H. Hedge in 1853. The text is full of battle imagery; this, coupled with the historic use of the hymn in actual battles, can be troubling for Christians who struggle with making sense of warfare. There is a case for arguing that we need to see this hymn in light of the history in which it was written, when Christians were fighting to defend their faith. However, this text also needs to be understood in terms of a spiritual struggle against the powers of darkness. Whether we believe in very real, physical demons and tempters, or less concrete forces, we are in the midst of a very real war between good and evil. That sounds very dramatic and almost cliché, but it is important to remember. Luther reminds us that we can’t simply sit back and watch as horrible things unfold in our world, but that we must join the battle, knowing that God is on our side, and that we fight for a side that has, in a sense, already won.

Tune:

This tune of Luther’s EIN FESTE BURG, was, like most tunes written around the time, originally scored in rhythmic form, which can be found in Psalter Hymnal 468. This rhythmic form, as described by Paul Westermeyer, was “a secure and jubilant textual dance that trips up the foe.” Westermeyer goes on to describe the isometric version we’re all used to as “a partisan battle cry that mistakenly turned Luther’s energetic paradox (a fortress moves and fights for us) into immobile stasis” (Let the People Sing, 59). The solid and majestic rhythm we sing today definitely exemplifies the theme of “fortress,” but misses this paradox as Westermeyer describes it. A fighting fortress must be agile, and, as Calvin Seerveld writes, “If we can reinstate the original rhythm and spirited lilt of Luther’s stirring song, maybe we can also bestir ourselves today to hear and sing the song Luther gave us, not just in its dogmatic strength, but with the charismatic faith vitality he gave it” (“Getting into Martin Luther’s Groove,” reformedworship.com).

Seerveld suggests having a choir perform the rhythmic setting first, since it will most likely seem very foreign to your congregation. Another option is to use the isometric structure, but swing the quarter notes, dotting every first and third beat.

When/Why/How:

Because of the hymn’s close connection to the Reformation, it is one of the favorites to be sung on Reformation Day. However, since the subject matter is much broader than any one historic event, it can be sung any time during the year when a hymn of assurance is needed.

Other worship resources:

Alternative Harmonizations:

• Innes, John. Hymn Accompaniments for Organ
• Hymn Introductions and Alternate Harmonizations

Preludes and Postludes:

• Built on the Rock (A Reformation Celebration for Piano Solo)
• Toccata on A Mighty Fortress (organ)
• Raney, Joel. Expressions For Solo Piano
• Petz, Walter. Fanfare for Reformation
• Evans, Charles. Fantasie on EIN' FESTE BURG for Brass Quartet

Choral:

• Weber, Paul D. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God for choir, congregation, organ and percussion

Laura de Jong,
Hymnary.org

FlexScores are available in the Media section below.