Friday, October 18, 2013
Luke 10:18 "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven."
HE'S JUDGED
In the last two stanzas of Luther's "battle hymn of the Reformation," we see the effects of having a God who is A Mighty Fortress. Does it mean that the devil no longer prowls around like a roaring lion? No, he is still looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). We walk in danger all the way, with the devil's grim threats echoing all around.
And when the devil scowls, it is fierce! In May of 1521 he scowled and "the kaiser with his blessed hands signed the blessed mandate, more terrible than any ever before" (Cardinal Aleander). It declared Luther an outlaw, offering a reward to any who handed him over, and ferocious punishment to anyone who helped or harbored him.
The devil scowled in Brussels on June 30, 1523, and two young Augustinian monks were burned at the stake for following Luther's teaching. On December 11, 1524, Heinrich Moeller, who had studied at Wittenberg, was put to death. Caspar Tauber was beheaded in Vienna. Elsewhere a man was burned for selling Luther's books.
But as fierce as Satan may appear, he has already been cast down and condemned. He can be toppled by a little word. Some have wondered which little word hymn-writer Luther had in mind. The fact is, any little word of God is mightier than Satan at his fiercest. The Savior whom all of those 16th century martyrs confessed can say to a dying man, "Today you will be with me in paradise," and place him beyond all harm!
This world's prince may still
Scowl fierce, as he will;
He can harm us none,
He's judged, the deed is done.
One little word can fell him.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 262:3)
