Martin Luther penned this hymn between 1527 and 1529 following his excommunication from the Catholic church in 1521 at the Diet of Worms. There was no diet of actual worms involved. The name comes from the location, Worms, Germany. It was here that Luther had been summoned by the emperor and the Catholic church. He refused to recant his belief in the Bible and the need for individuals to interpret the scriptures for themselves. This hymn became a battle hymn for the reformation. Protestant denominations became more popular, and the Bible became more assessable to the common man. The words reflect Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very ready help in trouble.” Be sure to check out the Third Verse Devotion page to find out what hymn I’m referring to and what it means for us now. Can you guess the hymn? Comment below.