October 22, 2012

Little-Known Works By the Father of the Protestant Reformation

Having written about Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora’s wedding a few days past, I developed a new interest in Luther’s writings. “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” is only one of his works; there are many more, each one meaningful. Yesterday I discovered “God is Our Refuge in Distress”:

God is our refuge in distress,

Our shield of hope through every care,

Our Shepherd watching us to bless,

And therefore we will not despair;

Although the mountains shake,

And hills their place forsake,

And billows oe’r them break

Yet still we will not fear,

For Thou, O God, art ever near.

God is our hope and strength in woe,

Through earth He maketh wars to cease;

His power breaketh spear and bow;

His mercy sendeth endless peace,

Then though the earth remove,

And storms rage high above,

And seas tempestuous prove,

Yet still will we not fear,

The Lord of Hosts is ever near.

Luther was a go-to man. He never said anything he did not mean . . . he never wrote anything that was not from the heart, earthy, offensive, or irreverently witty as it may have been. He did not believe in mincing words. He wanted the world to see the real Luther, and he knew God valued him even when his detractors did not. Even Luther’s enemies ought to appreciate his strength of will!

(c) 2012 Joyously Saved