The beloved Reformation hymn “Lord, Keep us Steadfast in Your Word” is a stalwart Lutheran anthem, which, for some, beats even the likes of “A Mighty Fortress.” Written by St. Martin Luther—the exact date on which it was penned is unknown—its earliest appearance is in 1543 as a “children’s hymn.” This would make sense, given its short and simple nature and memorizable melody.
It appears in Lutheran Service Book (LSB), with the following first verse:
Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word;
Curb those who by deceit or sword
Would wrest the kingdom from Your Son
And bring to naught all He has done.
To say that Luther spoke with bluntness and directness—and sometimes hyperbole—would be an understatement. Especially in the latter years of his life, he was hardly concerned with how his words and writings would make others feel. For Luther, the pursuit of truth, in almost every case, superseded all else—including the feelings, thoughts, and emotions of others. This is clearly seen in the original first stanza of this beloved battle anthem:
Lord, keep us steadfast in thy Word
And curb the Turks’ and papists’ sword
Who Jesus Christ, thine only Son,
Fain would tumble from off thy throne.
Luther named those against whom he felt Christendom needed godly protection. Certainly in his day, these words would have struck a tender chord with the Reformers, who fought a two-front battle of doctrinal purity against the Turks and Papists. On the one hand, Luther desperately understood the need to unite with Rome in order to defeat the Turks, whose imminent invasion threatened the security of the Roman Empire. On the other hand, Rome excommunicated Luther, who had fought bitterly over matters of doctrinal purity and scriptural sanctity.
Thus, in Luther’s mind, true Christendom needed protection from both the Turks and the Papists—they had both posed an equally frightening threat against a sorely vulnerable Church. Rome abused the Church from within, while the Turks threatened the Church from without. God’s people must certainly pray for His presence in such perilous times!
Such is the nature of Luther’s beloved anthem. He rallies the Church to unite around Word, Sacrament, and song, recalling God’s faithfulness and earnestly praying that he would watch over us in this life and lead us safely to the next. The remainder of the hymn reads:
Lord Jesus Christ, Your pow'r make known,
For You are Lord of lords alone;
Defend Your holy Church that we
May sing your praise eternally.O Comforter of priceless worth,
Send peace and unity on earth;
Support us in our final strife
And lead us out of death to life.
Luther indeed prays for unity. His desire, as is the desire of all Christendom, is that all people outside the fold of God would be united to the Church through Holy Baptism. It was Luther’s prayer that the Church would no longer be divided, especially over internal matters that seemed comparatively insignificant to the dangers posed by the Turkish invaders, whose novel religion perverted the Gospel, lessened the Person of Christ, and sought destruction against all its dissidents.
While Rome has been described as our “separated brethren” in modern convention, we must certainly be mindful that its tricks and treachery abound. The anathematizing condemnation of the Reformation and Protestants that underscored the Council of Trent was never revoked, rendering it still in effect today. Rome still clamors about submission to the Pope and the supremacy of the Church over Scripture. The doctrines over which Luther and Rome fought still dominate the religious landscape today.
As for the Turks, Islam is spreading in various parts of the world, and the Quran’s stated purpose is to incite Muslims to commit jihad throughout the world. It is a harmful and damaging heresy. Islamists will stop at nothing to force total submission—until opposition is wiped out and dissent is silenced. Such was the case in Luther’s day, and it will be so until the Last Day.
In this beautiful Reformation anthem, we pray for unity and peace—but we also pray for defense. The Church is not merely a helpless creature that must die when it is persecuted. We are also called to fight the good fight. We are called and we are duty-bound to spread the Gospel in every place, in every age, in every nation. We must never surrender the Gospel to any of our adversaries—neither Papist, nor Turkish, nor any other that suppresses the Gospel and inverts the grace of God freely given through Word and Sacraments.
Many have led God’s people astray through deception—perversion of God’s gifts, destruction of the Gospel message, and faithlessness in Christ and His promises. Others have led God’s people astray by the sword, forcing them into religious submission to false doctrines and heretical or unchristian teachings by threats or actions of violence, bloodshed, and hatred. God’s Church, as Christ Himself once said in the Gospels, will suffer persecution for His name’s sake, and she has suffered a long history of religious suffering.
Yet the Church throughout time has stood firm—and she will continue to be faithful until the Last Day. The Church will always remain, no matter how small or how frail. She will suffer deceit, and she will despair at the hand of the sword, but she will never fall. God’s Church cannot fall. Thus, we pray that He would defend us and support us through this troubled life.
Curb those who by deceit or sword would wrest the Kingdom from Your Son, O Lord. Curb the Turk’s and Papist’s sword who Jesus Christ, Thine only Son, Feign would tumble from off Thy throne, O Lord. Curb the Jewish and heretical swords, O Lord. Curb the pagan and civil sword of political obedience, O Lord. Curb every sword, O Lord, that would wrest the Kingdom from Thy Son.
Our God remains with us, for us, and in us through the final strife. He is the One who created us and formed us in the womb. He is the One that was poured out on us in Holy Baptism. He is the One that walks with us as we grow, mature, and develop in the faith, journeying to the reception of Christ’s Body and Blood in the Sacrament. He is the One that feeds us with His Word and sanctifies us in His truth. He is the one Defender, Guide, and Comforter of the Christian Church. And He is the One who walks alongside us through life’s end. From birth, to death, and everything in between—God is with us, for us, and in us.
Almighty God, grant to Your Church Your Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes down from above, that Your Word may not be bound but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy people, so that in steadfast faith we may serve You and, in the confession of Your name, abide unto the end; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Prayer for the Church, Lutheran Service Book (LSB)
I was sort of looking forward to a verse about Zwingli or Calvin, followed by a verse about nearly everyone Luther ever met. But that was very unserious of me. Thanks for the new hymn!