Singing the Reformation

Tim Degen • October 21, 2024

Singing the Reformation

This upcoming weekend, Lutherans around the world will celebrate the Festival of the Reformation. On the Eve of the Feast of All Saints, October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted 95 Theses on the door of the Catholic Church, calling for reform of many of their practices. Because of Luther’s actions, he was excommunicated from the Catholic Church, and thus the Lutheran Church was born. We are able to celebrate our Lutheran Heritage today thanks to early reformers like Martin Luther.

A big part of the Reformation was the treasury of Lutheran hymns and chorales that came out of it. A number of the hymns we know today were either written by Luther himself (at least 25 in LSB), or written by other Lutheran composers. This weekend in worship, we will sing two hymns to celebrate the Reformation: “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” (LSB #656) and “Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” (LSB #556). Delight in this brief history of these two great Lutheran hymns.

“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” is probably the most famous hymn that came out of the Reformation. The text and tune were both written by Luther himself. He took inspiration for this hymn from Psalm 46, one of his favorite Psalms. The hymn is not a direct paraphrase of Psalm 46, as some of Luther’s other hymns are, but is more of an original text based on the overall theme of the Psalm. This is why Psalm 46 is the Psalm assigned for Reformation Day in the Lectionary every year. Many of you might also know that there are two versions of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” The one most of us know the best (LSB #656) is Luther’s original. However, Johann Sebastian Bach took Luther’s melody, “straightened it out” (LSB #657) into an easier to sing chorale form, and composed new words, which was the practice of many composers in Bach’s time. Many Lutherans however prefer Luther’s original text and “more rugged” melody.

“Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” (LSB #556) is another famous hymn that came out of the Reformation. The text was written by Luther. The hymn, in 10 glorious stanzas, is considered the “greatest confessional hymn of the Lutheran Church”. It can be outlined as follows: Stanzas 1-4 tell of God’s compassion, stanzas 5-9 tell of God’s method of redemption—the life of the Savior according to the church year, stanza 10 tells of Exhortation—spreading the Gospel and preserving Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone). Others says that stanzas 1-4 are the “Law” (shows our sin) and stanzas 5-9 are the “Gospel” (shows our Savior).

Be sure to come to worship this weekend to lift your voices in song, as we sing these two great hymns and celebrate Reformation.

556 - Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice

Verse 1:

Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice,

With exultation springing,

And with united heart and voice

And holy rapture singing,

Proclaim the wonders God has done,

How His right arm the vict'ry won.

What price our ransom cost Him!

Verse 2:

Fast bound in Satan's chains I lay;

Death brooded darkly o'er me.

Sin was my torment night and day;

In sin my mother bore me.

But daily deeper still I fell;

My life became a living hell,

So firmly sin possessed me.

Verse 3:

My own good works all came to naught,

No grace or merit gaining;

Free will against God's judgment fought,

Dead to all good remaining.

My fears increased till sheer despair

Left only death to be my share;

The pangs of hell I suffered.

Verse 4:

But God had seen my wretched state

Before the world's foundation,

And mindful of His mercies great,

He planned for my salvation.

He turned to me a father's heart;

He did not choose the easy part

But gave His dearest treasure.

Verse 5:

God said to His belovèd Son:

“It's time to have compassion.

Then go, bright jewel of My crown,

And bring to all salvation.

From sin and sorrow set them free;

Slay bitter death for them that they

May live with You forever.”

Verse 6:

The Son obeyed His Father's will,

Was born of virgin mother;

And God's good pleasure to fulfill,

He came to be my brother.

His royal pow'r disguised He bore;

A servant's form, like mine, He wore

To lead the devil captive.

Verse 7:

To me He said: “Stay close to Me,

I am your rock and castle.

Your ransom I Myself will be;

For you I strive and wrestle.

For I am yours, and you are Mine,

And where I am you may remain;

The foe shall not divide us.

Verse 8:

“Though he will shed My precious blood,

Me of My life bereaving,

All this I suffer for your good;

Be steadfast and believing.

Life will from death the vict'ry win;

My innocence shall bear your sin,

And you are blest forever.

Verse 9:

“Now to My Father I depart,

From earth to heav'n ascending,

And, heavn'ly wisdom to impart,

The Holy Spirit sending;

In trouble He will comfort you

And teach you always to be true

And into truth shall guide you.

Verse 10:

“What I on earth have done and taught

Guide all your life and teaching;

So shall the kingdom's work be wrought

And honored in your preaching.

But watch lest foes with base alloy

The heav'nly treasure should destroy;

This final word I leave you.”

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Singing the Reformation