Sunday Series - The Battle Hymn Of The Republic

This is the latest entry in my Sunday Series of posts to my blog. In the spirit of Veteran’s Day and also to touch on some of my favorite hymns, I thought this one belonged. In the past 72 hours I have seen and heard so many amazing stories regarding our veteran’s and active duty personnel. Tears fill my eyes as I try to imagine how I would fare in military shoes. Truth be told I don’t know if I would want to know. I am so very thankful for all the men and women who are serving, and for those who have served our country. To me it’s about as close to God giving his only begotten Son as it gets. I mean people literally have given their lives for me, for my freedom, for our freedom. Think about that. They didn’t know us, but they were there, in harm’s way, for all of us. Some made it home, many did not. And somehow we are fortunate enough to have the gift of the freedom they fought for. Wow. Thank you. Thank you a million times over.

Many gave their life for their country. Their life. They cannot be replaced. There is not another them. How can any of us not be thankful for their efforts? This is not like someone giving you their spare change, or giving up their seat on a train, or even giving of their time to help one another. This is life and death. They were there, they battled, they brought all the bravery, courage, intelligence, devotion, and training they had, and for many that was not enough. For many it cost them their life, their everything they could possibly give. And what’s more amazing is the stories of how so many of these folks positively affected others along the way. God knows all the stories. I wish I could share them all, because they’re all worth telling or hearing. Why shouldn’t we know the stories, I mean we are the ones who benefit from the sacrifice of others.

To the hymn. I love the power of this song. The march that it is. The words are powerful. There is no guessing here. The very first line of the song is just wonderful. Of all the glory I have seen, there is no glory like the coming of the Lord that I would rather see. His truth is marching on. It’s not running on, not walking on, or quietly sneaking around, no, His truth is marching on. No secrets here, just His truth, marching on, whether you like it or not. It marches on because it’s true, it’s right, it’s His truth.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps. Imagine you are up all night, waiting for the next days battle, not knowing whether you will be alive to sit around the fire the next night. You are cold, you are hungry, you are exhausted, and your mind wanders somewhere along the edge of resolve and resignation. There’s an ear-piercing quiet over the battle field, and the only light for miles, is from the watch-fire in your midst. Your mind drifts from your cold, uncomfortable seat there along side your brothers in arms, and suddenly you are home looking down, in the dark, over your spouse and kids, or over your parent that has nothing left in this world, but you. You think how wonderful it would be if that was the biggest worry you had this night. A smile comes over your face while your thoughts hover at home, looking down, at family. Then your mind races ahead to what tomorrow brings, and you ask yourself if you will be back to mind the fire. Will you even make it through tomorrow? And as your eyes stare at the flames of the fire, and your stare takes on the appearance of a trance, your lips move in silence as you talk to God. You pray to Him, for you know there’s only one place you can ask for protection out there on the battlefield.

Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel. Any questions?

Be swift my soul, to answer Him. Be jubilant, or triumphantly joyful, my feet. God calls on us at times, and being quick to answer Him can be rewarding even if our little human minds think we know better. Seriously, can you imagine the pep in your step if you really thought your gait was triumphantly joyful? We have many reasons to be so happy.

…As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free… There’s the sacrifice I mentioned earlier. He died to make men holy. Let us die to make men free. There’s the freedom we enjoy as I sit here typing this, and you, there, reading this. It also could be that upon dying the holy man is free, as his soul is no longer, ‘on board’, but is in heaven. Free. I can hear the steps now, marching in heaven, jubilant, and on, and on.

What a tremendous song. As creative as I have ever thought myself to be, I can’t imagine seeing something or being so creatively inspired to pen such powerful words. In a day and age where politically correct rules the day and mere participation is worthy of victory, its great to listen to this hymn a few times through. Read the words, and think on them, the power. There are no punches held here. This is not about writing something so everyone feels good about themselves, nor is it about playing just to participate, it’s about truth, it’s about winning. Jubilant doesn’t happen because you showed up and got your participation trophy. Jubilant happens because you laid it on the line, you trusted, you believed, and you won. It’s The Battle Hymn of the Republic. And my soul is with the Hero who crushes the serpent with his heel, saving me from darkness and eternal damnation.

The Battle Hymn Of The Republic

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored,
He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on.