‘Luther’s hymn’, a hymn for today
During our Bible Week, in this the 500th Anniversary year of the Reformation, we will be singing ‘Luther’s hymn’.
It is a most wonderful reflection on Psalm 46, ‘Ein feste Burg’, and it always surprises me that very few protestants seem to know it!
Both words and tune were written by Martin Luther in 1529. The older translation by Thomas Carlyle was ‘A safe stronghold our God is still’, but we will be using the more recent translation by Michael Perry, ‘God is our fortress and our rock’ (Church Hymnal 668).
This is one of those strong hymns of the faith, which leaves us standing firm on the rock of God’s Kingdom. It is a hymn for today, when we face many challenges, and ends with the magnificent words:
‘for even if distress
should take all we possess,
and those who mean us ill
should ravage, wreck or kill,
God’s kingdom is immortal’.
Come, learn and enjoy it! I would love very church in the diocese to be singing it on Reformation Sunday, at the end of October, to thank the Lord for 500 years!
+Harold