7th September 2023
The Mighty Fortress
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46:11 (NIV)
Recently my wife and I visited the ruins of Harlech Castle in North Wales. This castle was built high on a rocky crag by the English king Edward I in the late 13th century, and was intended to be one of his many invincible fortresses. As I surveyed the sea and the surrounding countryside from a surviving high tower, I realised I was humming to myself ‘A Mighty Fortress is Our God’, the magnificent hymn by the Protestant reformer, Martin Luther.
Luther’s work is based on the header scripture above. Psalm 46 itself is very much a song for today in our world of international tensions and political confusion. Take the chance to read this psalm and let its words encourage you. It points to God as being eternally present with us, despite our troubles and trials. God is our safe place and therefore we do not need to fear, no matter how bad things are around us. The church, which is the New Jerusalem, the city of our God, is made glad by streams of living water, and, because God the Holy Spirit is within her and dwells in each of us individually, in faith we shall not fail. ‘…God will help her at break of day’ (v.5), meaning that God helps his church anew every morning and, of course, will help her when Christ returns to restore all things.
As impressive as Harlech Castle is, it remains in ruins, whereas God, our glorious fortress, loves his church with an ‘unfailing love’ and ‘makes her secure forever’ (Psalm 48:8-9). In his inspiring commentary on the Psalms the late Alec Motyer, a much-respected Old Testament scholar, interpreted the Hebrew word translated as ‘fortress’ as a place of ‘top security’ located so high that it’s inaccessible for would-be enemies and assailants. The same expression is used in Psalm 9:9 (MSG) where God is described as ‘a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times.’
It sounds good, doesn’t it? Safe, secure, surrounded by God’s protective presence — that’s how we are spiritually, and God is our Mighty Fortress!
Prayer
Almighty God, thank you for who you are. You are with us, our strength, our sanctuary, our ever-present help in times of trouble. Help us always to put our whole-hearted trust in you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Study by James Henderson
About the writer:
James Henderson is a minister in Grace Communion International
Local congregation:
Grace Communion International Northampton
Ecton Village Hall
78A High Street
Ecton
Northampton
NN6 0QB
Local congregational contact:
Maggie Mitchell
Email: northampton@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church