Stuerzen wollen von deinem Thron.
Lord, keep us steadfast in Thy Word;
Curb those who fain by craft or sword
Would wrest the kingdom from Thy Son,
And set at naught all He hath done.
Powerful and courageous Lutheran hymns! Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein—Look down, O Lord, from heaven behold—seems to be as valid against the disintegrating subjectivism and super-culture of our time as against the age in which it was born, which dissolved God’s kingdom and divine will at pleasure and put uncontrolled human will in their place. Whether this refers to clericalism and papism or modern culture and mass dominion, makes little or no difference; the result in both cases is destruction.
Nearly all of Luther’s hymns close with words of praise—note this consciousness of communion with Christ. Take for example the last stanza of “Christ lag in Todesbanden”:
Then let us feast this Easter day
On the true Bread of heaven;
The Word of grace hath purged away