Tradition has it that King Alfred the Great wrote the words to this song. Against overwhelming odds, and practically at the brink of extinction, King Alfred beat back the invasion of the pagan Danes and, for all practical purposes, founded the nation that would be known as England. And by God’s sovereign grace, within a single generation or two, the pagan invaders who stayed were Christians, too.
But if the Lord is for us, then who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
I feel the need for the spiritual nourishment that this hymn provides. If it really was written by King Alfred the Great, it comes to us from a time when it must have seemed, to many, that the light of Christianity was going to be snuffed out by violent paganism in an overwhelming host of enemies.
It wasn’t! For how can Almighty God ever be defeated?
Not then, not now, not ever…
I’m hearing a lot of despair out there. It’s not hard to understand why people should be feeling that there’s no hope left, America’s goose is cooked, etc.
Back in the 800s, the isle of Britain was invaded by pagan Danes in vast numbers. King Alfred was driven off his throne, had to go into hiding in the swamps. Where was hope then?
Well, that’s when he wrote this “war song,” which is actually a hymn. These past few days, I’ve had the chorus in my head: “For the Lord is our defense, Jesus defend us.”
Alfred put his trust in the Lord, and the Lord overcame his enemies. Alfred came out of the swamps and fought, and the Lord fought for him.
The Lord has not changed since Alfred’s time; nor has He decided that the wicked shall inherit the earth.
King Alfred the Great (849-899 A.D.), the Christian king who defended England from the invading Danish pagans, reputedly wrote the words to this battle hymn. Waffy-doffy churches won’t like it: “F0r the Lord is out defense…”
But if the Lord is not our defense, then we have no defense that will avail us anything. This great warrior was great enough to know that.
Andy Kenway has a wonderful version of this anthem. I couldn’t find video for it, but you can listen here, https://soundcloud.com/andy-kenway/king-alfreds-war-song