A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

“A Mighty Fortress is Our God” is one of the first hymns I learned.  I have sung it so many times that I have almost memorizzed it. It’s inspiration is from Psalm 46: 1-3, 11. (NIV)

 1 God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging

¹¹ The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

What really is a mighty fortress? Literally, a strong or unshakeable castle.  It can withstand all the tumalt brought against it.  How is God a mighty fortress?

Gloria Furman describes it like this:

God is our exclusive security when the world we live in falls apart. We all tend to place our trust in things like reliable friends, financial stability, and “sure things.” But these temporary comforts can never serve as our sufficient refuge or foundation. The assurance of God’s help is our hope even if the mountains crumble into the sea.

She goes on to ask:

Is God your mighty fortress? When the challenges of life arrive, even the most difficult circumstances, will you have assurance that God is still in control? Through the gift of his Word, you can trust in God for all of life’s trials.

You can read her whole article here:

https://www.crossway.org/articles/god-our-mighty-fortress/

Photo By indii.org / Lawrence Murray