LBW 228, 229 "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"
Devotion
No hymn gives power and confidence like A Mighty Fortress. We’re talking swords and shields, broken rods and glorious salvation—the fullness of God’s power confronting the evil one who would certainly devour us, but who cannot even hold a candle to God’s might.
The irony about the whole image is that with this great cosmic battle raging, Martin Luther, who wrote this hymn, reminds us that it is the slightest of things that contain the greatest power. From verse three: “The world’s prince may rage…(but) one little word subdues him.” Luther picks up from the Gospel of John the power of the Word.
God’s word has all power, glory, and authority in heaven and on earth. Just a mention of this Word brings the ruin of the beast and all the forces that would consume us. From this littlest word comes our salvation. Hallelujah! Amen.