Ein feste Burg

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

Day 46 is brought to you by Psalm 46.

This psalm immediately makes Lutherans (and many others) think of Martin Luther’s hymn, “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” (“A Mighty Fortress is Our God”). Written in the late 1520s, this great hymn of faith was written under duress. For a decade, Luther and his colleagues had been striving to bring the gospel back into focus, for themselves and for the world. Needless to say, many of the powers that be were not on board.

To make matters worse, the plague came to town.

As you can read about elsewhere on this blog, Luther didn’t leave town. He knew his place was with his neighbors. He and Katharina tended to the sick, physically and spiritually.

Out of his interior conflict and the suffering around him arose this great hymn of hope. Luther did what he always did, what he taught us to do. He turned from himself and fled for hope into the arms of the gospel.

God’s Word forever shall abide, / No thanks to foes, who fear it; / For God himself fights by our side / With weapons of the Spirit. / Were they to take our house, / Goods, honor, child or spouse, / Though life be wrenched away, / They cannot win the day. / The Kingdom’s ours forever! (Lutheran Book of Worship, 229)

“Be still,” cries the Lord in the psalm, “and know that I am God!”

In the midst of our ongoing pandemic, we run to the gospel for comfort, placing our faith in the only One worthy of our trust, the One who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. May you feel the safety and peace of God enfolding you today. With that peace in your heart, turn to your neighbor and seek to do them good.

Be well, friends. You are loved.

God, you have been our refuge and strength, our mighty fortress. Comfort us today with the hope of the gospel, and open our hearts to those around us. Let us be still in your presence, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Image: The Scholosskirche in Wittenberg, Germany, taken by me on June 25, 2014, when I was serving as pastor for Wittenberg English Ministry. The tower was undergoing significant renovations and repairs in anticipation of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, a nice reminder of the Spirit’s ongoing reformation of the Church.

Bonus pics of the kids taken that same day in Wittenberg.