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.

ELW #517 vs. 1

Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word is one of Martin Luther’s most well-known hymns. It was also one of his last. In 1541, Luther authored the original text. The Ottoman Turkish Empire stood outside Vienna, intent on seizing the city and conquering the Holy Roman Empire. Luther’s 1541 text clearly identified the Ottoman Empire as the threat to Christianity. English translations since then have recast the hymn. They present it as a general plea to the triune God to defend the Church from enemies, physical and spiritual. As early as 1544, people considered the hymn a children’s hymn. It aimed to sing against the two archenemies of Christ and His holy Church.

On Reformation Sunday, the LOTI choir, together with strings and brass will perform music for Reformation Day including Dietrich Buxtehude’s Cantata BuxWV 27 based on Luther’s hymn, Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word. Of course, A Mighty Fortress, the Battle Hymn of the Reformation will be performed as well.