888. Our God stands like a fortress rock

Authors: Luther, Martin, Orchard, Stephen Charles

Our God stands like a fortress rock
with walls that will not fail us;
he helps us brace against the shock
of fears which now assail us.
The enemy of old
in wickedness is bold;
this seems his victory hour,
he fears no earthly power
and arms himself with cunning.

2. We win no battles through our might,
we fall at once, dejected;
the righteous one will lead the fight,
by God himself directed.
You ask, ‘Who can this be?’
Christ Jesus, it is he,
eternal King and Lord,
God’s true and living Word,
no one can stand against him.

3. And though the world seems full of ill,
with hungry demons prowling,
Christ’s victory is with us still,
we need not fear their howling.
The tyrants of this age
strut briefly on the stage:
their sentence has been passed.
We stand unharmed at last,
a word from God destroys them.

4. God’s word and plan, which they pretend
is subject to their pleasure,
will bind their wills to serve God’s end,
which we, who love him, treasure.
Then let them take our lives,
goods, children, husbands, wives,
and carry all away;
theirs is a short-lived day,
ours is the lasting kingdom.