Our Helper He

In 1529 Martin Luther wrote the lyrics for the classic hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." Often called "The Battle Hymn of the Reformation," for nearly five centuries the song has remained a favorite among all who say of God, "Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing."

Luther based the lyrics on Psalm 46:1: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." A refuge suggests a traveler stranded in a snowstorm who finds a warm, dry shelter, or a foxhole where a soldier finds protection from enemy bullets. The ancient Israelites designated six towns—three on each side of the Jordan River—as "cities of refuge" where anyone accused of a crime could flee and be guaranteed a fair trial (Numbers 35, Joshua 20). Psalm 46, however, shows that our refuge isn't a place; it's a Person.

When God is our refuge, our convictions will be strong. "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way" (v. 2). When the San Francisco Bay earthquake took place during the World Series in 1989, players on the field said the ground felt like Jell-o under their feet. A different kind of earthquake is taking place today, as moral ground continues to erode. But we will not fear, even if "the mountains fall into the heart of the sea" (v. 2).

Suddenly, instead of crashing mountains, the picture in Psalm 46 changes to a river flowing serenely through a city. "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells" (v. 4).

Many cities are built beside a river: London by the Thames, St. Louis by the Mississippi. But the city of God was built on a hill called Mount Zion, which meant if enemies surrounded Jerusalem, they could prevent the Jews from going outside the city walls to get water. The holy city, though, contained a secret water source. Second Kings 20:20 mentions a water tunnel dug during the reign of King Hezekiah—a conduit still there to this day. (If you visit Jerusalem you can wade through it.) No enemy could stop Jerusalem's water supply because water bubbled up within the city walls.

When God is our refuge, our joy will be genuine. Even when troubles besiege us, God is present to help. "God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day" (v. 5). A river ebbs and flows. Whether it swells and floods or just quietly moves along, there's always a river flowing from the Spirit of God. Even in times that feel joyless and dry, God is our refuge and strength.

"Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall. . . . He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire" (vv. 6, 9). Nations remain in uproar. There are still bows and spears to be burned in Iraq, North Korea, and Afghanistan. It's tempting to throw up our hands in despair.

But when God is our refuge, our faith will shape our worldview. Psalm 46 repeats the refrain, "The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress" (vv. 7, 11).

God is "the Lord Almighty"—ruler of the heavens, master of thousands of angels, creator of the stars and planets.

However, he is also "the God of Jacob." Jacob was an ordinary man—a schemer who had trouble getting along with his brother Esau, an imperfect father who showed favoritism with his sons. He wrestled with God and walked away with a permanent limp. But Jacob had faith, and God blessed him and made a covenant with him. His name was changed from Jacob to Israel, and his descendants were God's people.

The "Lord Almighty" is also the "God of Jacob"! The God of the infinite is also the God of the individual. The God of unlimited power is also the God of intimate relationship.

I'm glad our "help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:2).