Hymns of the Church (Part X) – Battle to March On

Sermon Title: Hymns of the Church – God is Marching on

Good News Statement: God fights with us in our battles

Summary: God is marching on, giving us footsteps to follow during our battles

Preached: Sunday, November 16^th, 2025, at Dogwood Prairie & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Ephesians 5:8-10 – Today’s Scripture reading comes from the Book of Second Thessalonians, Chapter One, Verses Five thru Ten. Paul is writing to the people about the Christ’s return but in a way that reminds us that God is with us in our battles. May the hearing, reading, and understanding of the word add a blessing to your life.

 

The Judgment at Christ’s Coming 

⁵ This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God and is intended to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering. ⁶ For it is indeed just of God to repay with affliction those who afflict you ⁷ and to give relief to the afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels ⁸ in a fiery flame, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, ¹⁰ when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at on that day among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

 

Introduction[1]:

For almost two thousand years, Christians have used music as a way to worship. In the Bible the Apostle Paul writes: “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” In the Book of Psalm we read these words, “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” (Psalm 98:4 and Psalm 100:1). For the past two thousand years, music has been used across denominational boundaries, beliefs, religious practices, and traditions as a means to embrace and celebrate the lessons of scripture. Needless to say, music has become an essential practice of one’s faith.

Hymns originated in ancient cultures and evolved through Jewish, Greek, and Roman practices, eventually becoming systematic in early Christianity with Latin chants. The roots of hymns can be traced to ancient civilizations like Egypt, Greece, and India. The word “hymn” comes from the Greek word “hymnos” which means “a song of praise”. Originally, hymns were written to honor various gods of varying traditions. The first recorded hymn, found in Exodus 15, is the Song of Moses in the Old Testament, celebrating the Israelites’ crossing of the Red Sea. Later on, in the same chapter, Miriam, Moses’ sister, encourages those around with tambourine in hand to “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously…” (Exodus 15:21).

Hymnody—the singing or composition of hymns—has evolved and changed since that first hymn in the Old Testament as well as over the centuries and has been affected by new thinking and developing religious beliefs. For example, throughout the history of the church, whenever there has been renewal, a revival or restoration, new songs of worship have appeared. During the Middle Ages hymnody developed in the form of Gregorian chant or ‘plainsong’. It was sung in Latin and most often by monastic choirs. But in the 16th Century, church goers were given much greater access to hymns as a result of the invention of the printing press and the influential German theologian, Martin Luther, who began encouraging people to sing together in congregations. As one resource noted, “Martin Luther in the 16th Century revolutionized Christian hymnody by encouraging congregations to sing hymns in their own languages (vernacular) rather than just Latin, a movement that spread widely with the invention of the printing press.”[2]

In England the non-conformist minister Isaac Watts (1674-1748) began a transformation of congregational singing. Watts believed strongly that hymns should express the religious feelings of the people and he became a prolific writer, creating hundreds of new hymns—such as “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” and “Joy to the World.” Watts has been described as “the liberator of English hymnody” as his hymns moved people away from simply singing Old Testament psalms to inspiring people to sing from the heart with great faith and understanding.

In the same time period, another significant movement affected the hymns of the church: the Methodist movement, led by John Wesley. Wesley and especially his brother Charles used simple rhythms and sing-able melodies to help congregational singing. It has been noted that Charles Wesley wrote over 6,000 hymns during his lifetime from 1707-1788, and most of the hymns that he wrote were written to accompany specific sermons by John Wesley to convey a particular theological message. Some of Charles Wesley’s 6,000 hymns are still sung today in churches around the world: “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” and “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” and “ Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” and probably his two most famous hymns are “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” and “Hark! The Harold Angels Sing.”

Then in the late 19th Century a new style of hymnody known as “gospel” emerged. These songs were usually characterized by a strong lead vocal and exciting harmonies, and were a great influence on later contemporary worship worldwide. Then in twentieth and twenty-first centuries we have seen an explosion of new hymn writers and approaches. Old texts have been refreshed by new tunes. African American spirituals, especially those during the slave era, are now found in hymnals and churches around the world, and lots more contemporary hymns have sprung up. In the non-traditional church movement there has been a move away from the previous style of congregational singing to worship led by one singer or a worship band. Instrumentation has become more popular and musical styles have become much freer. The church today is richer than ever in musical resources and continues to bring congregations together through song.

It is clear, that throughout history—from Old Testament times to Gregorian Chants to Luther’s reformation to the thousands of hymns composed by Charles Wesley to spirituals to gospels and finally to contemporary music—hymns have been an essential building block of and for the church. But the question that we will be exploring is not necessarily about the history of hymns but of what hymns has the church found to be foundational all these years: “What hymns have shaped the church of yesterday for today?”

 

Body:

Battles are real. Battles are all around us. Battles are part of our life. Battles are something we choose to fight but also choose to push away and flee from. We endure emotional, financial, mental, physical, psychological, religious, spiritual, and social battles every day of our life. Some of those battles we come out victorious; and some of those battles conquer us. Today, you might be fighting a battle.

Throughout history, battles have become the deciding factor for future plans. Just think about the Revolutionary War—a battle for freedom and independence—it gave us the home of the brave and the land of free. Just think about the Civil War—a battle between the North and the South, people living in the same country, fighting one another, for freedom, rights, and citizenship for slaves. Just think about World War I and World War II. Just think about the battles that this nation has fought over the past 30 years. Just think about the battles the “church” has fought for centuries: slavery, racism, schisms, social economic status, political debates, gender roles, who can lead the church, who is and is not welcome, cultural changes, societal acceptances, and denominational splits. Just think about the battles that have existed or still exist within your own family. It’s strange to think that at times the battles in our life have come to define our life and what we can and cannot do as human beings. The battles fought yesterday have shaped today; and the battles fought today will shape tomorrow. Battles are part of our life, our story, and our DNA. Today, are you fighting some sort of battle?

The next hymn that we look at today is a hymn that probably didn’t shape the church, or influence the church, but it has become an anthem of the church, especially when the church’s eyes can’t see the glory of the Lord. The hymn we examine today is titled “Battle Hymn of the Republic” or as it was initially named “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory.” Many of you have either heard this hymn or have sung it before in your life. In the life of the church, we often sing this hymn around Memorial Day, the 4^th of July, and Veterans Day. This hymn is a tribute to those who have served and are currently serving this very nation in some way as they fight battles for us, protecting this very nation. However, it’s also a hymn for civilians who need the reminder that, in all battles of life, God is marching on. God is on the move. God is pressing forward. God is conquering. God is victorious. But this hymn also begs us—as individuals and as a church—to ask ourselves, “Are we marching with God during our battles?” Who are you marching with today?

 

Movement One: “Battle Hymn of the Republic”

One of the most popular patriotic songs is “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Many people don’t realize it comes from the Civil War era. It was actually written to be a recruitment song for the Union Forces.[3] Among the northern states, there was a popular song called “John Brown’s Body.” John Brown was a militant abolitionist who was tried and hanged for his raid on the Federal armory at Harper’s Ferry in West Virginia. He became a martyr for the cause of abolition. There was a popular song that said, “John Brown’s body lies a-mouldering in the grave; but his soul is marching on.”

In 1861, Julia Ward Howe, another abolitionist, took that tune and applied it a poem she wrote after traveling to Washington D.C., where she met with Abraham Lincoln at the White House. Again, we know this hymn as the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The Civil War was a chaotic, and during this chaotic time in our nation’s history, many Americans thought it was the end of the world, and Jesus surely must be coming soon. Julia Ward Howe certainly saw God’s hand at work in the War. The first stanza says, “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 hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword: His truth is marching on.” The second stanza describes the scene of a Union camp. It says, “I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps, They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps: His day is marching on.” There are six verses to her poem, but this final verse is hardly ever printed in hymnals. It speaks of the Second Coming. It says, “He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave, He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succor to the brave, so the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave, Our God is marching on.”

When our young nation—not even a century old—was at its darkest hour, Howe gave the people hope, a truth, that no matter what may conspire, God—and all that God represents—will still march on. As soldiers fought day and night, night and day, God marched on. As soldiers battled hunger, exhaustion, defeat, and uncertainty, God marched on. As cities were left in ruins and up in flames, God marched on. As hope was lost to the “grapes of wrath,” God marched on. In moments that “will live in infamy,” as President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated on December 7, 1941, God marched on. God marched on preparing us for the Second Coming of Christ.

This hymn, an anthem of the church, has stood the test of time. Lyndon Johnson had it sung at his inauguration in 1965.  Andy Williams sang it at Robert Kennedy’s funeral in 1968. But the loveliest story comes from James Humes, a presidential speechwriter.  Humes interviewed General Eisenhower a few weeks after Winston Churchill’s funeral in 1965. He asked Eisenhower to talk about the most moving moment of that funeral—and Eisenhower mentioned this song. He noted that Churchill had learned this song at his American mother’s knee.  It was one of his favorites.[4] This hymn is part of the church’s history, and it’s one that helps us to keep marching on through the battles in our life as our eyes are turned toward the Lord’s glory.

 

Movement Two: God is Marching On…The Second Coming of Christ

This leads us to our scripture passage for today. Our scripture passage comes from 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10. Paul is writing to the people of Thessalonica in the years 50-51 AD, while he was travelling with Timothy, Silas, Luke, and several others spreading the good news and growing the church. In this text, Paul offers four things to consider about the Second Coming of Christ. After a brief salutation and words of thanksgiving, very typical of Paul’s letters, Paul wrote, “This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God and is intended to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering. For it is indeed just of God to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to give relief to the afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in a fiery flame, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at on that day among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”

First, Jesus gives relief in troubled times. Paul wrote, “He will … give relief to you who are troubled [or afflicted]” (2 Thessalonians 1:7). The believers in Thessalonica were facing opposition and hostility for their faith, much like the early church was as it was growing, learning, preaching, and doing new things. The same members of the synagogue, who had run Paul out of town, also hated these believers. Many of these men belonged to vocational guilds that had their own idols. When a man gave his heart to Jesus, he often lost his job because he would refuse to sacrifice to the god of that particular guild. So life was tough. Paul told them Jesus would give them relief in their troubles.

There are three kinds of people here today: those who are in trouble; those who are just getting out of trouble; and those who are fixing to get into trouble. You’re in one of those categories today. But don’t worry, because the Bible says Jesus will give you relief when you face trouble. There used to be a Rolaids commercial that asked, “How do you spell relief?” The answer was ROLAIDS. But according to the Bible, the way to spell relief is J-E-S-U-S. The word Paul used for relief meant, “release from tension.” It was the same word used when a warrior placed an arrow in the bowstring and then drew it back until it was tight. Then he would release it. In our crazy world, too many people are wound up as tight as a bowstring. But Jesus can give you release from tension and stress. These are dark days we’re living in, but we don’t have to be afraid because the darkest hour is just before the dawn. Our hope is not in politics. Our hope is not in sociology or in science. Our hope is in Jesus Christ. He knew that life would be full of trouble.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus offered to give us rest for our souls. Sometimes you walk through a cemetery and you see the words “Rest in Peace.” Some people think the only time they will finally experience rest is when they sleep in the grave. But the good news is you can rest in peace without a tombstone. Jesus can give you rest and relief in the midst of your troubles right now. But we all know more troubles will come, and when they do, God will give us more grace and peace. But Paul mentions a time in the future when we will experience the end of all our troubles—when Jesus returns in power and glory. But until that day comes, whenever it does come, we must remember that God is marching on with us through our troubles and afflictions to give us relief and rest. Have the battles you’ve been facing left you without rest? Are you willing to let God fight those battles for you so that you can find peace?

Second, the return of Christ is a series of events. When will we experience final relief? Paul notes, “This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels” (2 Thessalonians 1:7). The word “revealed” is the word apokalupto. It’s the same word used as the title for the last book of the Bible, Revelation. It means “unveiling.” Sometimes a sculptor is commissioned to build a statue in a public park. On the day the statue is revealed it is covered with a large cloth. At the moment of revelation, the cloth is removed and the sculpture is “revealed.” That’s what this word means. For many people on planet earth, the true nature of Jesus remains veiled. But on the day he returns in glory, his power and majesty will be revealed to everything and everyone; and this unveiling will take place in a series of events.

The first event that will occur to start the Day of the Lord is when Jesus returns in the clouds and all of us who are alive are caught up to be with him. That’s what Jesus meant when He said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:2-3, NKJV).

The second event will take place when there is a global crisis. Out of this crisis a world leader will arise who will be the head of a one-world government and one-world economy. At the beginning, this world leader will appear to be an individual of peace who unites a divided world. But after a few years, the Bible predicts this leader’s true satanic nature will be revealed as proclaimed in the Book of Revelation. In the second chapter of 2 Thessalonians, Paul also describes this evil leader: “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

Lastly, Christ will return with is heavenly armies. According to Zechariah 14, Jesus will return at this climactic battle and place his foot on the Mount of Olives. That will be the first time since his ascension 2000 years ago that he will step on planet Earth.[5] Jesus described this aspect of His return in Matthew 25: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (Matthew 25:31-32). His return will be the world’s shortest battle. Jesus will slay his enemies with one Word that comes out of his mouth. Until this day arrives, we must not give into the battles before us: we must do our best to not let them win, we must strive to find ways to overcome them, and we must seek to trust in the return of Jesus Christ, who is unveiled and revealed within our life every day.

Third, those who reject’s God’s gift of help will be punished for eternity. Paul told the people of Thessalonica, “[God will inflict] vengeance on those who do not know Him and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. [They] will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might…” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). The Bible teaches that there are only two possible eternal destinations, heaven or hell. The Bible also says that God does not want “anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). However, there are some who refuse to accept His free offer of salvation. Those who reject His love will spend eternity shut out from the presence of the Lord.

I want to point out that Paul doesn’t say that those in Thessalonica are punished because they have done bad things. We all have done bad things—we are all sinners—but yet God still receives us. These people are punished for one reason: they do not know God. Salvation isn’t about doing more good things than bad things. It is about knowing God. It’s about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s about trusting in the Lord with all your heart; it’s about submitting to Him; it’s about leaning not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). It’s about knowing that He will split the Red Sea so that you can get to the other side. It’s about believing that he will calm the storm. It’s about realizing that he’s in the boat with you. It’s about accepting that he will fill your basket with more than enough. It’s about knowing that with him in your life you can walk on water. The battles in your life are overcome by knowing God, about knowing that you can have a relationship with Jesus right here, right now, just as you are. Are your eyes seeing the glory of the Lord? Have you committed to having a relationship with him?

When it comes to knowing God, C.S. Lewis said it perfectly, “The matter is serious: let us put ourselves in His hands at once—this very day, this [very] hour.” If you are going through a battle right now—experiencing struggle of some sort, feeling as if you are being pulled in too many directions, don’t have a leg to stand on—then put yourself in the Lord’s hands. Let him fight this battle for you so that you can march on developing a deeper relationship with him. Don’t fight your battles on your own. Give those battles to God. If God can help David overcome the giant Goliath with just a slingshot and five smooth stones, just think about what he can give you to fight the giants in your life when you seek to know Him today.

Lastly, we have the opportunity to witness a glorious victory. Paul notes, “[W]hen he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at on that day among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:10). Paul makes it clear that Jesus will not be glorified by his people. He will be glorified in his people. And when Jesus returns in glory, we will return with him, and we will marvel at his majesty and greatness. Christ’s coming is like a sunrise. First, you can’t hurry a sunrise. And second, you can’t stop a sunrise! And when it comes to the return of Christ, there’s nothing we can do to hurry it and there’s nothing we can do to stop it. Jesus will come in God’s perfect time. He will return; and those of us who know him and love him will see the glory of the coming of the Lord.

Friends, there is victory in Jesus. Amen. There is victory in the one who died on the cross. There is victory in the one who was laid in the tomb. There is victory in the one who rose from the dead. There is victory in the one who rolled the stone away, folded the cloth, walked out of the tomb, and called Mary by name. There is victory in the one who fed the people, who healed the people, who walks with the people, who sees the people, who hears the people, and who saves the people. There is victory in Jesus! And this victory will always rise and nothing will stop it. In the victory of Jesus, we are able to find victory in our own battles and wars. We are glorified as we keep moving forward. Even when you don’t feel victorious, remember you are because the glory of Christ and the promise of his return is far greater than anything that you are fighting today. But I do need to ask, “Are you willing to march on with God even when the outcome of the battle is unknown?”

 

Movement Three: “The Charge of the Light Brigade”

Thinking about the idea of marching on with God, I found myself reflecting on the poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred Lord Tennyson. The poem goes like this: Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. “Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns!” he said. Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. “Forward, the Light Brigade!”

Was there a man dismayed? Not though the soldier knew someone had blundered. Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die. Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred… Flashed all their sabers bare, Flashed as they turned in air, sabering the gunners there, charging an army, while all the world wondered. Plunged in the battery-smoke Right through the line they broke; Cossack and Russian Reeled from the sabre stroke Shattered and sundered. Then they rode back, but not, Not the six hundred…. When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made! The entire world wondered. Honor the charge they made! Honor the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred!

During the Crimean War, a British cavalry charge mistakenly attacked Russian artillery in 1854. A badly-worded order led the Light Brigade to charge into a “valley of death” with cannons on all sides.  It was a devastating military failure, with around 40% of the brigade killed or wounded. The poem is a tribute to the soldiers’ bravery and a critique of the incompetence of war leaders. Its meaning includes the tragedy of senseless loss, the futility of war, and the nobility of soldiers who obey orders without question, even when it leads to their own destruction. The Light Brigade, not fully understanding the outcome of their orders, fought the battle before them. They kept marching on just like many of those who served, are serving, and will serve this very nation have done and will do, and just like us when we encounter a battle but God says “Keep going. Ride on. Put one foot in front of the other.”

We are the Light Brigade when it comes to facing battles in our life. God gives us orders: we don’t fully understand those orders, attacks come from every direction from the enemy, and the outcome is unknown. But yet, we find the will to keep marching on because God has repeatedly told us that He is with us and that we are not to be afraid. Isaiah 41:10 notes, “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.” God tells Paul while Paul is growing the church, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent” (Acts 18:9). Before ascending to heaven, Jesus tells the disciples, after citing the Great Commission, “I am with you always until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). In times of trouble, in times of uncertainty, and in times of battles, we are not alone. We are the Light Brigade who is marching into battle with God on our side.

Today, you may be dealing with some sort of battle. Yesterday, you battled something. Tomorrow, you will battle something new. Life is a constant battle—fighting the enemy and marching into the unknown. However, no matter the battle you are fighting, know that God is marching with you and He is asking you to follow His footsteps, which lead to victory. Into battle rode the six hundred; into battle rode the believers of Christ; and into battle rode those who are seeking a new beginning.

 

Conclusion:

What sort of battle are you fighting today? Is it an emotional battle, a financial, a medical battle, a mental battle, a physical battle, a psychological battle, a religious battle, a spiritual battle, or a social battle? Every day you encounter some sort of battle, but every day you are given the chance to experience victory in Christ as God marches with you and before you. In times of battle, God doesn’t want us to feel defeated or depleted or even left feeling dismantled; rather, God wants us to remember that in troubled times He is there, that our earthly battles will be no more once Christ returns, that in every battle God is drawing you closer to Him so that you can have a stronger relationship with Him, and that with Him in your life the battle is already won because there is victory in the one who believes. Battles are part of our life, but they don’t have to control our life.

Even as a church we have and will continue to face battles—going into war-zones without knowing the outcome, with fear on our heart, and worry on our mind. But that is what we are called to do. We are called to fight in God’s army, to meet people where they are—even on battlefields—and to know that God’s truth is marching right beside us as we find ways to bring victory to others. Every town, village, and city that the early disciples travelled to while growing the church was a battlefield, but they marched on because they knew that the message they were sharing and the church they were growing is what the people needed in order to find victory in their life. Church, are we marching on or are we comfortable with staying behind the walls of the fort? In either circumstance, we need to answer the question that is proposed in Acts 21:22, “What, then, is to be done?” What needs to be done to overcome the battles before us? What needs to be done to reach people on the battlefield? What needs to be done to assure victory for the oppressed, the orphaned, the windowed, the hungry, the lost, the hurting, the vulnerable, and those in need? What needs to be done to keep marching on?

This is all to say, as individuals and as a church, we have battles before us. So, when the road gets long, remember Jesus wins in the end. When your finances get tight, remember Jesus wins in the end. When you get afraid from what’s happening in the world, remember Jesus wins in the end! When you get frustrated with what’s happening in your life, remember Jesus wins in the end. When your relationships get tough, remember Jesus wins in the end. When your body is hurting and diseased, remember Jesus wins in the end. There is victory in Jesus and there is victory in your life if you are willing to keep marching on. In the words of Julia Howe, “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 hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword; His truth is marching on.” Are you ready to keep marching on with God?

Let it be so…

 

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for marching on. Thank you for marching on before us and leaving footprints for us to follow. Thank you for being with us in all our battles. And thank you for the victory found in Jesus Christ. Help us this week to march on through the battles so that our eyes can continue to see the glory of the coming Lord. In your victorious name, we pray. Amen.

 

Benediction:

Battles are real, but they don’t have to define you. Lean on God, trust in Jesus, and victory will give you the strength to keep marching on. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, go forth seeking ways to be victorious over the battles in your life. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen

 

 

[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4vMxs6kctQgkwkvgQbJTXDk/a-brief-history-of-hymns

[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4vMxs6kctQgkwkvgQbJTXDk/a-brief-history-of-hymns

[3] Of course, the favorite song of the Confederate forces was “Dixie.”

[4] https://sermonwriter.com/hymn-stories/battle-hymn-republic/

[5] This event is described in detail in Revelation 19.