Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family.  During my devotional time, normally I have background music, and this morning I was listening the Master’s Chorale’s rendition of “Lead On, O King Eternal” and want to share with you about this lovely hymn.

The author was Ernest Warburton Shurtleff.  He was born in Boston, Mass., April 4, 1862. He was educated at Boston Latin School, Harvard University, and Andover Theological Seminary. It was in 1887 when he graduated from Andover Seminary, and because he had already written four books of poems his classmates asked him to write a new one for graduation day.  Instead, he wrote a hymn for the entire graduating class to sing.  The name of the hymn, “Lead On, O King Eternal.”

He told his fellow seminarians, “We’ve been spending days of preparation here at seminary.  Now the day of march has come, and we must go out to follow the leadership of the King of kings, to conquer the world under His banner.”

For us, we can use this hymn as a prayer to our God, asking Him to lead us every moment, every day.  Maybe we are not graduating from a seminary right now, but in our daily tasks we need the guidance of our gentle Shepherd; pray this prayer today.

Lead on, O King eternal,
the day of march has come;
henceforth in fields of conquest
your tents will be our home.
Through days of preparation
your 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
or 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 your face appears.
Your cross is lifted o'er us,
we journey in its light;
the crown awaits the conquest;
lead on, O God of might.

In His service.

Israel.