The doctrine in Hymns – “A Mighty Fortress is our God” (verse 1)

Verse 1, #1: A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;

God is a mighty fortress. This is a fortress that is totally secure from all hazards and dangers. The word mighty just scratches the surface of the security and certainty that the fortress of God provides to those he has redeemed. His bulwark provides the ultimate spiritual security in that it never fails.

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Verse 1, #2: Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:

He is our helper and though our worldly problems may be many, we need not fear for evil doers can not harm us spiritually and apart from his will they cannot harm us physically either. His grace will be with us as we pass through death to the peace and joy of eternal life.

Hebrews 13:6So we can confidently say,“The Lord is my helper;I will not fear;what can man do to me?”

Verse 1, #3: For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;

Satan, is working to full time to deceive, manipulate, disrupt, and promote greed, malice, lying, cheating, stealing, murder and all kinds of chaos on the human race. His lies are just as effective and luring as ever as many in our secular culture are eagerly willingly duped by his temptations. Even Christians should be watchful and discerning when it comes to the schemes of the prince of darkness.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Verse 1, #4: His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.

Evil doers are backed by the power of satan and armed with hate they are a force to be reckoned with in our fallen world.

Eph. 6:11-12 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.