A Hymn that Reads Like an Epic Adventure (and Why Our Kids Should Know It!)

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We all love a good story. The twisting of a plot into a seemingly unsolvable knot causes our hearts to ache until the author masterfully pulls one thread that unravels the mess and brings relief through an appropriate ending. For centuries, poets and writers have presented epic adventures. These adventures present narratives which highlight the longing of humanity. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) verbalizes this longing best in his poetic words, “The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail, with peace on earth, good-will to men” (“Christmas Bells”). J. R. R. Tolkien (1892-1973), author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, understood the power of the epic tale. His stories, rife with imagery, celebrate the theme of good triumphing over evil. Though times of darkness cloud the certainty of the desired outcome, those who sit with the books until the end experience restoration, justice, and completion.

The idea of the epic story, the quest for something higher, resides within all of us because we are players in The Story. From Creation to the Fall to the Cross and into Eternity, we are experiencing the struggle and the loss but also the redemption and future hope. Yes, we are living the epic tale ourselves.

Martin Luther (1483-1546) penned “A Mighty Fortress” in 1529. He was no stranger to the struggles of the darkness of the world, and his language in “A Mighty Fortress” is reminiscent of the epics of old. Take a look at the following hymn:

A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing:
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work his woe;
His craft and power are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth is his name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,—
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! His doom is sure,—
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers—
No thanks to them—abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also:
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is for ever.

The stage is set with unfailing God forever enthroned as the victor, but the verses follow the surging darkness as the Adversary attempts to overthrow God and His creation. The Champion arises to fight the battle humanity is losing, and He completely crushes the enemy to redeem his people. The God of all eternity reigns from beginning to end, and His people renounce the world to live with Him in His Kingdom. If ever there was an epic story, the Biblical narrative certainly holds the preeminent place.

Children can understand a story of right and wrong, good and bad, and they are capable of absorbing the universal truths presented in the story. Singing songs like “A Mighty Fortress” not only fills their minds with Biblical doctrine, it touches their hearts in a relatable way. They see the full scope of the gospel story and learn that God fights the battle for us. They are comforted by God’s eternal attributes and matchless strength. They hope in their Savior to bring about the restoration we all crave. I believe we must teach our children this hymn and others like it because it will continue to unfold over the years of their life as they sing it. Fresh thoughts and deeper understanding will flood them through the different stages of their lives. We don’t have to worry about teaching every fine point of doctrine within the poetry because their own continued interaction with the text will bloom anew as they grow in their faith.

When we sing with our children, we are creating the next generation of singers. When we choose songs of substance, value, truth, and artistry, we are presenting those singers with the gift of a lifetime of doctrinal beliefs stored in a transportable, lasting package. Let’s sing with our children!