Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.
Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.
Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great!
Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!
Words by William P. Merrill, 1911
Music by William H. Walter, 1872
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:13 – 16
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Luke 10:27
It’s an old idiom, “rise up.” To rise up means to come to the surface. It is what happens in a bucket of water when the water has been stirred. As the water comes to a stop, the lighter debris floats to the top. It separates to become evident. The phrase can also be applied to people. It describes the underlying thoughts of people coming to the surface. It is used to describe, taking part in a rebellion or to take a stance in support. The people rose up against the tyranny of the King, They stood up for what was right seeking to change the status quo. It is the meaning behind this idiom that we find presented in Wiliam P. Merrill’s “Rise up, O Men of God.”
The hymn begins, “Rise up, O men of God! Have done with lesser things. Give heart and mind and soul and strength, To serve the King of Kings.” Here we find the phrase “rise up” applied to the people of God. But what is it to which we are taking a stance of support and what in the world does, “have done with lesser things mean”? The answer to both of these questions is found in the remainder of the this stanza.
Our stance of support is “to serve the King of Kings.” This is not always an easy stance. It is a stance that we take in the face of a culture that does not stand for God, but for its own selfish interest. We are called to rise up, to make a difference. Matthew 5:13 – 16 tells us, “You are the salt of the earth . . . You are the light of the world . . . let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” We are to rise up and impact the world around for God, that He might be glorified.
So what about, “have done with lesser things.” It is an odd phraseology, but the key to understanding it is found in the statement, “Give heart and mind and soul and strength.” You see, we might understand our call to “rise up” but how much do we put into it. Too often we find ourselves giving an insufficient effort. We split our energies between several things. We go through the actions, with out the commitment. We have not risen up, we have done with lesser things. But we are to give our all in standing for Christ. This is the greatest commandment that Jesus gave us. In Luke 10:27 we read, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.'”
Rising up to stand for God is not something for the timid or the faint of heart. It for those who are willing to put themselves out on a limb. Those who are willing to risk everything for Him. For those who will give every last bit of their being to see the world changed for God. When we rise up we each serve our part to “bring in the day of brotherhood and end the night of wrong.”
There is a name I love to hear, I love to speak its worth; It sounds like music in mine ear, The sweetest name on earth. O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, Because He first loved me!
It tells me of a Savior’s love, Who died to set me free; It tells me of His precious blood, The sinner’s perfect plea. O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, Because He first loved me!
It tells me of a Father’s smile Beaming upon His child; It cheers me through this little while, Through desert, waste, and wild. O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, Because He first loved me!
It tells me what my Father hath In store for every day, And though I tread a darksome path, Yields sunshine all the way. O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, Because He first loved me!
It tells of One whose loving heart Can feel my deepest woe; Who in my sorrow bears a part, That none can bear below. O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, Because He first loved me!
It bids my trembling heart rejoice; It dries each rising tear; It tells me, in a still small voice, To trust and never fear. O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, Because He first loved me!
Jesus, the name I love so well, The name I love to hear! No saint on earth its worth can tell, No heart conceive how dear. O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, Because He first loved me!
This name shall shed its fragrance still Along this thorny road, Shall sweetly smooth the rugged hill That leads me up to God. O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, Because He first loved me!
And there, with all the blood-bought throng, From sin and sorrow free, I’ll sing the new eternal song Of Jesus’ love to me. O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, Because He first loved me!
Words by Frederick Whitfield, 1855
Music: Traditional 19th Century American Melody
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
Ephesians 1:7
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1 John 3:1
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15
After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
1 Kings 19:12
I’ll be honest with you, I hate using the telephone. I always have. You make a phone call to relay information. When the information has been relayed there is no point to staying on the phone. Now I am not alone, my Grandmother was very much the same way. This doesn’t mean that I don’t know proper phone etiquette of that I don’t like talking to people, I do. I simply do not like talking to people on the phone. That having been said, there are exceptions. When my mom or dad call I am more than willing to spend time with them on the phone. It of course does not take the place of spending time with them in person, but sometimes it is the best you can do. But I love to hear from them. There is something truly comforting to hear their voices. In my mind I picture them and the next thing you know I am with them. Just the simple thought of Mom and Dad brings a warmth to my heart. This same theme permeates through Frederick Whitfield’s hymn, “O How I Love Jesus.”
The hymn begins, “There is a name I love to hear, I love to speak its worth; It sounds like music in mine ear, The sweetest name on earth.” The name of Jesus brings comfort and joy to the heart of the believer. He is the hope for the sinner who has lost his way. He is the comfort of those who find themselves mourning. He is the joy of new life to those who have put their faith in him. It is music in our ears for “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
In light of this, the chorus rings out, “O how I love Jesus, because He first loved me!” The music rings so wonderfully in our ears as we realize the love He has for us. A love that came to us before our love for Him. “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) A love we did nothing to deserve. A love that came to us when we were far from Him. Romans 5:8 tells us that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
It is in Jesus Christ that we find salvation. This is why the hymn continues, “It tells me of a Savior’s love, Who died to set me free; It tells me of His precious blood, The sinner’s perfect plea.” Jesus shed His very blood for our forgiveness. In his love, He died for us. This is why Ephesians 1:7 tells us, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
This love does not end with simply forgiving our sins. It goes beyond mere redemption. It allows us to call God our Father. 1 John 3:1 tells us, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” We are children of God and our Father pours His love out upon us. This is why Whitfield writes, “It tells me of a Father’s smile Beaming upon His child.” Yes, the Father’s love is poured down upon us.
So the name of Jesus reminds us “of One whose loving heart Can feel my deepest woe; Who in my sorrow bears a part, That none can bear below.” Jesus is the one who knows what we face. He is the one stand beside us and leads us to the father as our advocate. This is what the writer of Hebrews is speaking of in chapter 4, verse 15 where we read, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin.”
So at the name of Jesus we are filled with joy as we listen for His voice. The hymn says “It tells me, in a still small voice, To trust and never fear.” So God calls to us, not in the loud booming voice, but in the still small voice. A voice that we can only hear when we choose to listen, just as Elijah did in the wilderness. (1 Kings 19:12)
Yes, at the mere mention of the name of Jesus our hearts are filled with joy. At the sound of His voice, we are drawn into His presence. It is at this time that we must declare His praise. So we join with our brothers and sisters in Christ as we “sing the new eternal song, Of Jesus’ love to me.”
Lead on, O King eternal, The day of march has come; Henceforth in fields of conquest Thy tents shall be our home. Through days of preparation Thy grace has made us strong; And now, O King eternal, We lift our battle song.
Lead on, O King eternal, Till sin’s fierce war shall cease, And holiness shall whisper The sweet amen of peace. For not with swords’ loud clashing, Nor roll of stirring drums; With deeds of love and mercy The heavenly kingdom comes.
Lead on, O King eternal, We follow, not with fears, For gladness breaks like morning Where’er Thy face appears. Thy cross is lifted over us, We journey in its light; The crown awaits the conquest; Lead on, O God of might.
Words by Ernest W. Shurtleff, 1888
Music by Henry T. Smart, 1836
For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.
Ephesians 6:2
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57
So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.
Zechariah 4:6
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
Titus 3:5
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
1 Timothy 4:7 – 8
Remember when you were a kid, all the games you used to play. Duck, Duck Goose, Red Rover and of course, Follow the Leader. My son used to play a version of follow the leader that he loved when he was little. I would say, “Hey, do the dance.” He would jump up and proceed to walk me through the steps. He would call out the move and do it, then wait for me to repeat it. Every time it was done, it varied slightly but had the same basic moves. It was loads of fun and he would be so excited to lead. And why not? Everyone likes to be the leader. The catch is that not everyone can be the leader. Someone has to follow.
It really doesn’t change that much when we grow up. Yes, many of us will have the opportunities to be a leader, but all of us are followers at some point in time. Now we really should not look down upon following, because that is how we learn and grown in our skills and roles in life. So it is to with our walk with Christ. Christ is the leader that we have been given the opportunity to follow and learn from so that we can grow to be more like Him. This is the theme found in Ernest W. Shurtleff’s “Lead On, Oh King Eternal.”
The hymn begins by presenting us with what appears to be a theme of war. “The day of march”, fields of conquest” and “our battle song.” Is this really a song of war? Well to begin with the concept of a battle is not foreign to the Christian faith but we do need to see it in context. Ephesians 6:1 says, “For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.” As followers of Christ we are in a battle, a spiritual battle. As Paul states in this passage, there are indeed evil spiritual forces that come against us. But we are not alone, Christ himself faced these battles as described most clearly in Matthew 4. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that He “has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin.” Christ is our example in the battle that we face each day against temptation, again the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.” By following His lead, we can find the strength and guidance to stand strong in the face of these battles.
No the message of this hymn is not war, but that we can stand strong in the face of attacks that come our way when we follow the lead of our King. So the hymn continues by not focusing on the battle, but the victory that we can have in Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57) So we read, “Lead on, O King eternal, Till sin’s fierce war shall cease, And holiness shall whisper The sweet amen of peace.” While we may be in a battle, we can look forward to the day when peace shall reign. We can look forward to the day when the struggles are gone and we can rest in God’s presence. It is a victory we can not achieve through our own strength in battle. As Zechariah 4:6 says, “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.”
No the victory does not come through our strength, but through God’s Spirit which he bestows on all those who believe. So we do not set out looking for a fight, but to live by Christ example, to follow his lead “with deeds of love and mercy.” For Christ Jesus has saved us through His love (John 3:16) and mercy (Titus 3:5).
Yes, God leads us through the struggles and battles of this life. He leads on to a day when we will can rest in the peace of His presence. And we can know that if we follow Him, “there is in store . . . the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award . . . on that day.” (1 Timothy 4:8) So as we look toward that day, we continue to call out, “Lead on, O God of might.”
Brian Olson is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and is a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ having worked with both youth and adults.
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word! What more can He say than to you He hath said, You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
In every condition, in sickness, in health; In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth; At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea, As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow; For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply; The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
Even down to old age all My people shall prove My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love; And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn, Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to its foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
Words by John Rippon, 1787
Music by Joseph Funk, 1832
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Matthew 7:24 – 27
Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
Psalm 71:3
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand
Isaiah 41:10
He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the LORD.
Malachi 3:3
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
1 Corinthians 3:10 – 15
We have all heard the story about the leaning tower of Pisa. How it was built straight but due to the foundation being set on unstable ground, over time it has tipped. A pretty telling story of the need for a solid foundation and anyone who has built a structure knows how true it is. The key to a building surviving is that it has a solid foundation. A truth that also applies to our lives. We need a solid foundation to keep our lives from completely falling apart. This is the theme of John Rippon’s hymn, “How Firm A Foundation.”
So the hymn begins with the words, “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!” You see, a shaky foundation will never hold what is built upon it, but a solid foundation will support anything that is built upon it. So just as the foundation is the critical key upon which any structure is built, so the Word of God is the critical key upon which the Christian faith is built. Jesus himself gives us this image in Matthew 7:24 – 27 where He says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” We can never expect our faith to last if we do not have the right foundation.
The hymn continues, “What more can He say than to you He hath said, You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?” Here the hymn reflects the message of Psalm 71:3 which declares of the Lord, “Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.” So our minds are drawn to the image of fortress, a fortress that again would not stand without the firm foundation. That fortress, that rock, that refuge is Jesus Christ, the Living Word. (John 1:1, Hebrews 4:12)
The hymn then continues, “Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.” One of the things to note about this hymn is that it is written from the perspective of God to His people. So rather than many hymns where we sing the praises of God to or about Him, here we are granted a glimpse of the incredible blessing that God bestowed upon us. In this verse we have God’s very word, taken straight from scripture, to those who believe. It comes from Isaiah 41:10 where we read, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” We are reminded that not only is God’s Word our foundation of faith and Jesus Christ our refuge, but that God will always be there for us to uphold and strengthen us not matter the situation.
As we move through the hymn we reads, “The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.” When we first hear these words it can seem a little like a change from where we were. We have been speaking of foundation, refuges and standing strong, but suddenly we find our selves speaking of a fire. Our first thought may lead us to Malachi 3:3 where we read, “He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the LORD.” And while this is a picture of our growing in faith, we ask how does it fit with the theme of a foundation? When we turn to 1 Corinthians 3:10 – 15 we read, “. . . If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” When our foundation is built on the Word, we can confidently build on it. What we build may at times be of God’s design with lasting materials, but far to often we build of our own design with things that can not last. When the the fire come, that which we built of our own will not remain, but we can find confidence in knowing that the foundation will continue.
Yes, there are many things we can build our lives upon. But at some point, each of these will fail. But we need not be dismayed, for God has given us a foundation that will not fail. A foundation found in His Word. When we have put our faith in Jesus Christ and allow Him to build on the foundation, we can believe with confidence that it will stand and we will never be alone. We can know that God tells us that He will “never, no never, no never forsake.”
He leadeth me, O blessed thought! O words with heav’nly comfort fraught! Whate’er I do, where’er I be Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me. He leadeth me, He leadeth me, By His own hand He leadeth me; His faithful follower I would be, For by His hand He leadeth me.
Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom, Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom, By waters still, over troubled sea, Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me. He leadeth me, He leadeth me, By His own hand He leadeth me; His faithful follower I would be, For by His hand He leadeth me.
Lord, I would place my hand in Thine, Nor ever murmur nor repine; Content, whatever lot I see, Since ’tis my God that leadeth me. He leadeth me, He leadeth me, By His own hand He leadeth me; His faithful follower I would be, For by His hand He leadeth me.
And when my task on earth is done, When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won, E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee, Since God through Jordan leadeth me. He leadeth me, He leadeth me, By His own hand He leadeth me; His faithful follower I would be, For by His hand He leadeth me.
Words by Joseph H. Gilmore, 1862
Music by William B. Bradbury, 1864
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:1 – 3
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13
What are you planning to do with your life? Every teenager has heard this question at some point in time. After all, we need to have our entire life planned out by the time we turn 18, right? Of course as a teenager, it can be a seemingly innocuous question, but when you get to be 25, 35, 45 it is not so innocuous a question. In fact it can seem a little judgmental condescending.
But it is a valid question for any of us. A question we often ask ourselves, even when everyone around us thinks we have it all together. So we ask ourselves, “What am I doing with my life?” “Where am I going?” “Is there a purpose to my life?”
Ultimately that is what we are looking for, a purpose, a meaning, a direction. A direction that seems to elude us when we search simply in our own strength. But we can find direction when we trust in God’s leading in our lives. This is the message behind Joseph H. Gilmore’s “He Leadeth Me.”
The hymn begins by straight out stating the theme, “He leadeth me.” A phrase that comes from what is one of the most well-known passages of scripture in the world, Psalm 23. Verses 1 – 3 reads, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”
The hymn then continues by reflecting on this theme, “O blessèd thought! O words with heav’nly comfort fraught! Whate’er I do, where’er I be, Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.” Stop for a minute and think about this. For those who have within them a desire for direction; for those who all to often feel that they are all alone with no purpose in their lives, what thought could compare with the truth that God is there to guide us along. What comfort can compare with knowing that while we may seem lost, God knows the direction He has for us.
The hymn continues by saying, “Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom, Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom, By waters still, over troubled sea, Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.” It does not matter the time or situation we are in, God is there. In times of trouble and times of joy, God is there with us to guide us. It draws our minds to Deuteronomy 31:6 where we read, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” God is always there for us to turn to and follow.
Gilmore then writes, “Lord, I would place my hand in Thine . . . Content, whatever lot I see.” A seeming reflection of Isaiah 41:13 where we read, “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Whatever circumstance may come our we, we need not fear, we need not worry for God has promised that he is there to help. In him we can find strength to move forward, even when we do not know what is to come. As a child taking his parents hand, we can take God’s hand and trust in his guidance and find contentment in knowing He is in control.
Yes, we all seek direction in our lives. A direction that gives us purpose. A direction that will encourage us to move on. Even when we do not have those in our lives to ask the question, we ask ourselves, “where are we going?” We can find the answer in God. We can find the answer in knowing that God has a purpose and direction for us and if we will trust in Him, He will lead us there. So let us lean on him, trusting in His leadership so that we may say, “His faithful follower I would be, For by His hand He leadeth me.”
All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with fear, His praise forth tell;
Come ye before Him and rejoice.
The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid He did us make;
We are His folk, He doth us feed,
And for His sheep He doth us take.
O enter then His gates with praise;
Approach with joy His courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless His Name always,
For it is seemly so to do.
For why? the Lord our God is good;
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.
To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
The God Whom Heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the angel host
Be praise and glory evermore.
Words by William Kethe, 1561
Music by Louis Bourgeois, 1551
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
James 1:27
do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:4
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.
1 Peter 3:8
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
The earth is a pretty big place. 7.3 billion people by the latest count. It breaks down to 32% Christian, 23% muslim, 14% Hindu, 7% Buddhist, 12% other faiths, 10% non-religious and 2% atheists. All these people worshiping who they believe to be God, or choosing to live without a god. It can seem a pretty sad state of affairs if you look at it. All these people looking different direction for hope, for a purpose. Different directions, that do not, can not, meet at a common place. This is what led John Lennon to write, “Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky . . . and no religion, too.” With all the difference, maybe it would be easier if there were none of these separations. But this is not the only option. What if rather than no faith, all our voices were joined together in worship of the one true God? This is the image that is presented in William Kethe’s hymn, “All People That On Earth Do Dwell.”
He sets out to present a restating of Psalm 100. The hymn begins with the words, “All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice. Him serve with fear, His praise forth tell; Come ye before Him and rejoice.” Imagine the picture with me for a minute. Imagine every person on earth singing praises to God. Imagine every person on earth living their life in service to God, a God whom James tells us in 1:27 sees, “Pure and undefiled religion [as] . . . this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress . . .” A God who Paul tells us to follow the example of “look[ing] out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” in Philippians 2:4.
This is an incredible image of what Peter calls us to in 1 Peter 3:8 when he writes, “Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.” Imagine a world where we live out our faith in Christ by caring from one another. Where we don’t get caught up in our petty differences, where we don’t spend our time arguing and fighting with one another. Instead a world were we always put others needs and feeling ahead of our own. It is a beautiful image of the world we will one day live in, but it is not the world of today. Instead, we can only seek to live this life today, looking to the future when all of us who are believers in Christ will live in such a world.
The hymn continues, “The Lord, ye know, is God indeed.” This is the challenge, for us to be of one mind, we must agree on this point. This point, that divides so many. “Know that the Lord Himself is God.” (Psalm 100:3) He is the maker and sustainer of the world. It is from Him that we receive all that we need. For those of us who have realized and accepted this truth we can “enter then His gates with praise; Approach with joy His courts unto.” We can find peace in knowing that “His loving kindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:6)
God is faithful and those who have put their faith in him can trust in this. Yes the world seems divided today. We may at times, find ourselves wondering where God is in the midst of everything. But we can know that He is there. As Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” God wants all to come to faith, but we must make that choice. When we do, we can look forward to the day we imagine. Until then we continue glorify Him, knowing that “To Father, Son and Holy Ghost . . . Be praise and glory evermore.”
Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore;
Mortals give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
Jesus, the Savior, reigns, the God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains He took His seat above;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
His kingdom cannot fail, He rules o’er earth and Heav’n,
The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus giv’n;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
He sits at God’s right hand till all His foes submit,
And bow to His command, and fall beneath His feet:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
He all His foes shall quell, shall all our sins destroy,
And every bosom swell with pure seraphic joy;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice,
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
Rejoice in glorious hope! Jesus the Judge shall come,
And take His servants up to their eternal home.
We soon shall hear th’archangel’s voice;
The trump of God shall sound, rejoice!
Words by Charles Wesley, 1744
Music by John Darwall, 1770
The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice! Let the farthest coastlands be glad.
Dark clouds surround him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire spreads ahead of him and burns up all his foes.
His lightning flashes out across the world. The earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness; every nation sees his glory.
Psalm 97:1 – 6
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1 – 2
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Everybody loves a celebration. Some are looking for a huge blow-out, while others simply want a little recognition. My birthday is coming up in a few weeks, which of course seems like a good reason to celebrate. Now are we going to have a big party? Probably not. But people will wish me Happy Birthday and I will appreciate the recognition. Some may not consider this celebrating, but however you define celebration, it is a time of excitement and rejoicing. This is the theme of Charles Wesley, “Rejoice The Lord Is King.”
The title and first lines sums up the whole point of the hymn, “Rejoice the Lord is King.” That is to say, we need to be filled with excitement at the realization that the Lord is King. A message that draws our minds to Psalm 97:1 where we read, “The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice!”
The Lord as King is a theme that is found through out scripture. But we as Americans have a unique challenge in understanding what that really means. You see, for Charles Wesley in 18th century England, the idea of a King was in the front of his mind. He lived in a Monarchy where the King was the final power and authority, but for us, the concept of a King is very foreign to our minds. We live in a land where no one person holds that level of power. So we must ask ourselves, what does it mean to say, “The Lord is King.”
For one thing, a king is a ruler for life. A reminder that God is not simply in a position of authority here and there. It is authority that spans from the time before creation and on through eternity. Beyond this, a king is usually revered as the sovereign leader of his nation. So God is the sovereign ruler of all He has created. From this world and beyond, He is ruler. And more specifically, He is the absolute ruler over his people.
The Lord is King, the sovereign ruler over all creation. This could be a terrifying reality, but our God is not a malevolent ruler, but a God who cares for His creation. This is why Wesley writes that we are to rejoice. And then, in an echo of Philippians 4:4, he writes, “Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!”
The hymn concludes that our rejoicing in not simply that the Lord is King. We also “Rejoice in glorious hope! Jesus the Judge shall come, And take His servants up to their eternal home.” This is the hope that Paul wrote of in Romans 5:1 – 2 where he states that, “since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” We have peace with God and can come before the throne of our glorious King. We need not fear Him, for by grace we have been justified through faith in Jesus.
No, we need not fear God, rather we can rejoice that He cares for us. We can rejoice that He has opened the door for us to know Him. We can rejoice that He has provided the way to eternal life. (John 3:16) We can rejoice that He is King. When this joy wells within us, we can not help but Lift up our hearts and voices declaring, “Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!”
God of our fathers, whose almighty hand Leads forth in beauty all the starry band Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.
Thy love divine hath led us in the past, In this free land by Thee our lot is cast, Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay, Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.
From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence, Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense; Thy true religion in our hearts increase, Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way, Lead us from night to never ending day; Fill all our lives with love and grace divine, And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.
Words by Daniel C. Roberts, 1876
Music by George W. Warren, 1888
Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.
Deuteronomy 8:2
Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.
Psalm 119:90
The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 58:11
The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.
Isaiah 60:19
I love to learn about historical events and items. It is always so amazing learn about how things were done, where we are today compared to then and what can be learned from history that can apply to today. After all, what happens if we do not remember history? George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” There is truth in this. If we can not remember the mistakes that were made in the past, we are simply going to continue to make the same mistakes.
But there is a slightly different view of this subject that Winston Churchill proposed. In his speech before the House of Commons, on November 16, 1948 Churchill worried not so much that those who forget the past are condemned to relive it, but that the loss of the past would mean “the most thoughtless of ages. Everyday headlines and short views.” If we do not remember the things that have happened before, we find ourselves living in a vacuum, not being able to see beyond the here and now. That is, if we do not look backward, we can never truly look forward. This is the theme found in Daniel Roberts, “God of Our Fathers.”
Roberts picks up on a theme that God himself gave to Israel. God commanded that when ever Israel came together they were to “Remember how the Lord” had cared for them throughout history. This was one of the very purposes behind the festivals. Passover, the Harvest festival, even the Festival of Lights (Hanukkah) were intended to help Israel to remember God’s faithfulness.
In this same vein, Roberts begins with the words, “God of our fathers, whose almighty hand.” One of the greatest mistakes made by Christians is forgetting that we are not the first ones to follow Christ. We are not the first ones to have struggles with theological questions. We have not the first ones to have struggled with our place in society. The God whom we now follow, is the same God of our “fathers”, that is those who came before.
He is the same God who “ Leads forth in beauty all the starry band.” Since the very creation, he has held everything together. How can we live in the vacuum of today and forget what he has done in the past.
His faithfulness reaches to more than just the world, but personally to those who follow him. Psalm 119:90 declares, “Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.” So the hymn continues, “Thy love divine hath led us in the past.” Do we remember the roads God has led us down? Do we appreciate the true faithfulness of God?
When we understand all that God has done in the past, we can begin to understand who He is today and that we can trust Him for the future. It is to this point that the hymn continues, “Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay, Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.” God has shown us His faithfulness, and so we can trust in Him for as Isaiah 58:11 says, “The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
When we see what He has done, when we know that we can put our trust and faith in Him, we can trust Him to “Lead us from night to never ending day.”
For it is to those who put their trust in God, that Isaiah writes in chapter 60 verse 19, “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.”
So let us take time to reflect on all that God has done. Let us remember his faithfulness to those who have come before that our prayer might be for God to “Fill all our lives with love and grace divine, And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.”
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more, And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair; When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise, And the glory of His resurrection share; When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun, Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care; Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
Words and Music by James M Black, 1893
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 – 18
Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Matthew 24:30 – 31
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:55 – 57
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
The practice of using a trumpet or bugle to communicate to large groups or over a distance, especially when it comes to military application, traces its history back to ancient times. One clear example is that God commanded Israel to use trumpets when they marched around Jericho in Joshua 6. Trumpets were used to announce celebration of victory, to sound an attack and to signal a retreat. As the use continued and developed they began to us it to signal the start of the morning, the roll call and the end of the day in military camps. Traditionally in an american military setting “Taps” signaled the end of the day and “Reveille” signaled the start of the day and roll call. This is the image that James Black draws upon in his hymn, “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder.”
Black writes, “When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more.” The Trumpet is used as a signal of the end times in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 where we read, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God.” The blast of the trumpet signals something is happening. In this case, the apostle Paul is speaking of a day all Christians await. The day Jesus will fulfill the promise of Acts 1:10 – 11 and return.
The hymn continues “When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.” This time Black draws our minds to a second passage that references the sound of the trumpet signalling the end of time. In Matthew 24:31 we read, “And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
The hymn continues by saying, “On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise, And the glory of His resurrection share; When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies.” Again, we are brought back to the 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – 17 where Paul tells us, “and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” The glorious news is there. Death has no final power over those who believe in Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55) For as Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In light of this truth, the hymn declares what our response should be. It says, “Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun, Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care.” If the gift of God is eternal life, if we can know with confidence that we will one day share in his glorious resurrection, then our response can be nothing else. We are compelled to give our all for Him knowing what we have been given. “Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.”
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Search me and try me, Master, today! Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now, As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Wounded and weary, help me, I pray! Power, all power, surely is Thine! Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o’er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see Christ only, always, living in me.
Words by Adelaide Pollard, 1907
Music by George Stebbins, 1907
Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:8
But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?“Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?
Romans 9:20 – 21
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23 – 24
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Psalm 51:7
Do you remember those early art classes from when you were a kid? You know, the one where you got to try everything for the first time. I remember painting pictures, building sculptures and molding bowls out of clay. I look back at those bowls I made from clay, and honestly, I am not sure I would want to actually use it. I now have kids of my own and each them has done likewise. I have developed an appreciation of how special each of these unique items is. But when I walk through a museum and see what such items can be when entrusted to the hands of a master, I am amazed. This same clay that in the hands of a novice a poor excuse for a bowl, in the hands of the master is a work of art. In the hymn, “Have Thine Own Way” we find the theme of the master’s handiwork presented.
The hymn begins, “Have Thine own way Lord, have Thine own way.” This flies in the face of what the world tells us. We are told that we need to have it our way. It’s all about what we want. And we as Christians are not exempt from such thinking. I once read a list entitled, “Hymns We Really Sing.” In this case, all too often the hymn we really sing is “Have My Own way Lord, Have My Own Way.”
But Pollard refocuses us to look where we should be looking. It is not our way that matters in the end, but God’s. To make this point she draws on an image found in scripture itself. She writes, “Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will.” Just as the potter forms and manipulates the clay into the form it must take to accomplish its purpose, we to must be willing to allow God to mold and form us. This image is found in Isaiah 64:8 and is further developed in Romans 9:20 – 21 where we read, “But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? ‘Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?”
God has a purpose for each of us. Yes it is true, that one person’s purpose may not seem as spectacular as another’s, but each has a purpose no less or more important than the next. Be it the world famous evangalist or the custodian who picks up that garbage, each is of equal importance to the mission in God’s eyes.
The hymn cries out to God that he would use us to accomplish His mission. But the next line realizes, that even if this is the desire of our hearts there are things within us that we allow to get in the way. Some of these things we know right away such as our creature comforts, and our desire to be liked. But some of them, we do not so readily notice in ourselves. Things like a fear of letting go of those we know and love to move forward. Sometime, it is that secret sin that we have held onto so long, that we have forgotten it is even there. It is to these things the hymn refers when it says, “Search me and try me, Master, today!”
It is not an easy thing to do, to ask God to search us. But this is exactly the cry of David in Psalm 139:23 – 24 when he writes, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” David understood what each of us must as well. If our true desire is to be used of God, then we need to let Him bring to light in our lives all those things that may be standing in the way. Only when we know what we are holding onto, will we be able to let go of them.
It is when we have seen these things that we can lay them in God’s hands and allow Him to clean us. It is in this light that Pollard continues, “Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now, As in Thy presence humbly I bow.” Only when we are willing to hear God’s voice and respond to those things in our lives that he reveals, can we truly become clean and be whiter than snow. This echoes the message of Psalm 51:7 where we read, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”
Only when we allow God to clean us can we live up to our potential use in His plan. Only when our heart cries out “Wounded and weary, help me, I pray! . . . Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.” will we find strength to stand and to move forward.
God has a purpose for each and every one of us. For some, it is to stand before the world, for other it is to support behind the scenes. Whatever the call is on each of our lives, we must trust Him to be in control. We must yield to His authority in all matters. We must allow Him to cleanse and heal us. We must allow Him to mold us to the shape he desires. To this end and purpose, we join together in calling for God to “Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see Christ only, always, living in me.”
Brian Olson - Christian Speaker, Bible Teacher and Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ 