What is your favorite hymn?
You may know that I have many “favorites.” It’s usually the one I am singing.
I have been studying Psalm 46. Martin Luther loved this Psalm and composed one of the best-loved hymns of the Protestant tradition: “A mighty Fortress is our God.” You may have sung it, too.
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 does seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.
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. You 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 though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God has willed his truth to triumph through 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.
That Word above all earthly powers no thanks to them abideth; the Spirit and the gifts are ours through 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!
What a great statement of faith! But perhaps, for some of you, there is a strange name in the second verse that has puzzled you. “Who is the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing?” you ask. The answer is obvious. “Christ Jesus, it is he.” But then, Luther, drawing from Psalm 46:7, 11 says, “Lord Sabaoth his name.” What in the world is that?
Well, it is not that he is “Lord of the Sabbath.” Don’t confuse this word with the day of rest. The English transliteration is “Sabaoth.” And it is a great word.
This word refers to the “company of angels in heaven,” or the “heavenly host,” or the “Angel armies of God” who do the bidding of the Lord!
And so my translation of Psalm 46:7 and 11 says “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” These are the armies of God who destroyed 185,000 cruel Assyrian soldiers in one night to deliver Hezekiah and the city of Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:32 – 36). These are the armies of God riding in chariots of fire who are revealed to Elisha and his servant when Elisha says “those who are with us are more than those who are against us” (2 Kings 6:15 – 17). And these are the armies of God that Jesus cites when he tells Peter to put away his sword and says “Are you not aware that I can call on my father and he will at once put at my disposal more than 12 legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53). Yes. 60,000 angels are at his disposal. He is Lord Sabaoth.
Do you believe today: “The Lord of hosts is with us?” What are you facing? What spiritual battles are before you? What forces of darkness are arrayed against you?
Luther got it right: “from age to age the same, and He must win the battle.”
Musings from Pastor John, June 14