WHO TRUSTS IN GOD A STRONG ABODE, Hymn devotion for 6 April 2025, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

by Bishop Jerry Ogles

We find this counsel in the very center verse of the Bible:

8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  Psalms 118:8

 

This ancient hymn, written by Joachim Magdeburg (1572) is set to the music composed by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). It centers on the believer’s trust in God and none other. The riches made available to those of faith in the Lord are not measurable in human terms. He is our defense against the wiles of the devil and our strong tower against the cunning of false prophets. 

 

WHO TRUSTS IN GOD A SRTRONG ABODE

 

1. Who trusts in God a strong abode
In heaven and earth possesses;
Who looks in love to Christ above,
No fear his heart oppresses.
In Thee alone, dear Lord, we own
Sweet hope and consolation,
Our Shield from foes, our Balm for woes,
Our great and sure Salvation.

2. Though Satan's wrath beset our path
And worldly scorn assail us,
While Thou art near, we will not fear;
Thy strength shall never fail us.
Thy rod and staff shall keep us safe
And guide our steps forever;
Nor shades of death nor hell beneath
Our souls from Thee shall sever.

3. In all the strife of mortal life
Our feet shall stand securely;
Temptation's hour shall lose its power,
For Thou shalt guard us surely.
O God, renew with heavenly dew
Our body, soul, and spirit
Until we stand at Thy right hand
Through Jesus' saving merit.

 

1. Who trusts in God a strong abode In heaven and earth possesses; Who looks in love to Christ above, No fear his heart oppresses. In Thee alone, dear Lord, we own Sweet hope and consolation, Our Shield from foes, our Balm for woes, Our great and sure Salvation. The Lord is our Rock and our Fortress. In Him, we have eternal life for death cannot exists in His presence. Just as the first deacon, Stephen, was being stoned for his strong testimony, he had no fear but instead looked up and beheld the face of the Lord: “55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:55-60

2. Though Satan's wrath beset our path And worldly scorn assail us, While Thou art near, we will not fear;
Thy strength shall never fail us. Thy rod and staff shall keep us safe And guide our steps forever; Nor shades of death nor hell beneath Our souls from Thee shall sever. It is not reasonable to believe that we shall not be sorely opposed and tempted by Satan in our Christian walk. It was so with rut Lord Jesus Christ, and it cannot be less so with those who are His elect people. Christ was tempted in the Wilderness for forty days and nights while fasting. He grew weary, hungry and ravenous with thirst; yet, He never succumbed to Satan’s charms or seductions. His weapon of choice against Satan was His Word. It ios opur sure defense as well. “Get behind me, Satan” is a rebuke that Satan cannot withstand. He is a light unto our path and a lamp unto our feet to guide and direct our steps in a world of darkness. Nothing can separate us, even death, from the love we share in Christ Jesus.

3. In all the strife of mortal life Our feet shall stand securely; Temptation's hour shall lose its power, For Thou shalt guard us surely. O God, renew with heavenly dew Our body, soul, and spirit Until we stand at Thy right hand Through Jesus' saving merit. We are enabled to withstand the power of evil through that power with which we are imbued by Christ. It is not our battle for the “battle is the Lord’s.” It was not Gideon’s 300 that vanquished the might of thousands and ten thousands, but rather a demonstration of the power of the Lord to fight our battles on our behalf. It was the power of the Lord that guided the single stone of David’s slingshot to the forehead of Goliath. The march of righteousness is filled with hard challenges, but these make us stronger as we overcome them by the power of the Holy Ghost. Just as the dew distills unseen in the darkness upon the blades of grass, so does He stand at our side, shoulder-to-shoulder in the line of battle to overcome all opposition. We may grow weary on the march but, looking up to the goal ahead, we are made refreshed in our spirits to continue the march to the glorious Kingdom. We are constantly reminded of the Psalmist’s counsel: 

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”   Proverbs 3:5-6