Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family,
“God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah” (Psalm 46:1-3)

                This powerful and beautiful psalm was written by the sons of Korah and it became the inspiration for Martin Luther to write his famous hymn, “Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott” – “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

Martin Luther was born at Eisleben, November 10, 1483, and went to the University of Erfurt, 1501 (B.A. 1502, M.A.. 1503); became an Augustinian monk, 1505; ordained priest, 1507; appointed Professor at the University of Wittenberg, 1508, and in 1512. Because of his titles and education, normally we think of Luther as a Bible translator, political leader, and theologian, we forget that he was also a great musician. Young Martin grew up listening to his mother singing all the time. He was part of a boys’ choir that sang at weddings and funerals. He became proficient with the flute (recorder).

Before the Protestant Reformation, congregations couldn’t participate in worship, because it was dominated by professional singers and it was in Latin, therefore most of the congregation didn’t know what they were doing during worship time. Martin Luther was determined to restore worship to the German Church. His desire was for the congregation to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to be sung in the vernacular. People now can sing,
“A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and pow'r are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not His equal.”

                Some people called this hymn “The Battle Hymn of the Reformation” but Martin Luther called it “Ein Trost Psalm,” meaning “a psalm of comfort.” He said, “We sing this psalm to praise God for being with us. He miraculously preserves His Word and Christendom against the gates of hell.”

                The melody is very easy to follow, and this is because Luther “borrowed” popular secular melodies for his hymns, and “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” is not an exception.

“Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And tho' this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph thro' us:
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.”

                “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” became very popular among churches, and it became a big influence in classical music. Johann Sebastian Bach, the famous Lutheran classical composer,  wrote a whole cantata for soloists, choir and orchestra, based on Luther’s hymn to celebrate Reformation Day. Georg Telemann wrote a choral arrangement based on the melody of Luther. Felix Mendelssohn used this melody in the last movement of his Symphony No. 5, that he called Reformation.  Giacomo Meyerbeer quoted it in his five-act grand opera Les Huguenots, a sweet drama about the love between a catholic lady and a protestant young man. This drama ended with the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in 1572.

                This hymn is a powerful testimony of trusting in God as our refuge for hard moments. Christian, sing this hymn at church, at home, alone, with your family, with all your strength, and trust in God’s words when he says to us,

“‘Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!’
The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah” (Psalm 46:10-11)
“That word above all earthly pow'rs,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Thro' Him who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.”

                In His service,
Israel