Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/83

Contributor - P. M. De Jong

Title - A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Topic -Reformation

Luther's well-known song, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God", is known to be based on the words which we find in Psalm 46. The heading above this Psalm reads: " To the Choirmaster". This tells us that the words of this Psalm have been sung by faithful believers as they gathered for worship in the temple and synagogue. Later, they were also introduced and sung by the people in the church, and we still sing them today. (God is een toevlucht voor de zijnen.) It is a song of praise and adoration which sings about the glory of Mount Zion, the mountain of the Temple. Deeply imbedded is the tune which gives expression of a strong faith and deep trust:

God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult

Even when the elements rage and when the whole world would turn around (and we think of the outcome of a nuclear attack), even then the Psalmist would not be afraid for even then he knows he is safe in the care of his God. What a tremendous language. What a rock-solid faith!

Some commentators think that this Psalm is related to the passage in II Kings 18:19. Here we find the story of the city of Jerusalem which was miraculously saved from the hand of the Assyrian King Sennacherib, who besieged the city in the year 701 B. C.; and so the " children of Korah" must have sung this Psalm. Others think about 11 Chronicles 20, which tells that Jerusalem was delivered from the Ammonites and Edomites. Whatever it may have been; it is nevertheless a song of solid trust in what God is doing and what He has done in the past.

The faith of the Psalmist however is not directed towards Jerusalem or to the temple itself, as if those were the guarantees of God's presence and help. We have the story told in the Bible about Israel suffering a horrible defeat after they brought the Ark into the battleground. The sons of Eli were slain and the Ark was triumphantly captured and placed in the temple of Dagon. Yes, that was all possible. It taught Israel of old (and us, today) that we cannot manipulate God's presence. The church itself is not a solid rock (neither the churches of the Reformation), but only the church wherein God Himself is present. And where is He present? There where His Name is being praised and where one lives out of His grace revealed in Christ

Psalm 46 actually consists of three parts. The second and third parts end with the refrain, "The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge". (This should also be added after verse 4, which ends the first part.) Luther, who also used this Psalm for his famous song, said. "A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing" (" een vaste burcht is onze God, een toevlucht voor de zijnen"). God with us. On this promise, God's people can rely, even under the most horrible circumstances. They have done it in the past and they may continue to do so in the future. Perhaps we could place the emphasis on the " us" and say " God with US", and that would be in coherence with the rest of the Bible, for according to the Bible, we may never reserve God for 4 4 me". In God's presence we are always together with others. We would however do morejustice to this Psalm if we were to place the emphasis on "with", and it would read: "God WITH us". For that indeed is the miracle, that God is "with" us, and not against us (Luther's great discovery). With this God we live; and we see Him at work.

"Come behold the works of the Lord, how He has wrought desolations in the earth." He breaks down the towers of Babel which we have built and still are building. When the Roman Empire had reached its height. He tore it down (and so He did all other empires, in the past and in the future). When the Roman church began to rule and reign, He came with the Reformation. When we, in a superficial humanism, think to build a new world, then he says to us: "not by might, but by My Spirit". But not only does He bring desolations in the earth, He also makes wars to cease to the end of the earth. This God has also shown us in history, that He can call a stop to all of the dictators in our world and all who oppress people. Do we believe that also in our day.? I am afraid that sometimes we expect more from a few government officials who discuss things together, rather than from God who "makes wars cease, who breaks the bow and shatters the spear". But why lean on a reed, when we may lean on the Rock of Salvation? "Be still and know that I am God. I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth." Don't expect anything from the super powers, but expect great things from Him who is exalted in the earth: "the Lord of Hosts is with us and the God of Jacob is our refuge".

Psalm 46 and Luther's great song must not only be sung on Reformation Day, but it should be the daily battle song of Christians the world over, who are not afraid of what the future might bring, for they know themselves safely in God's care.

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