Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family,
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10).
This verse is the beginning of a very familiar passage about the “Armor of God”, a picture that Paul is telling believers to be strong in the Lord, because they cannot do this in their own efforts. We are weak and we need a King to lead us during this spiritual warfare. And this is the picture, as well, that Ernest W. Shurtleff painted in his hymn, “Lead On, O King Eternal.”

“Lead on, O King Eternal,
The day of march has come;
Henceforth in fields of conquest
Thy tents shall be our home:
Thro' days of preparation
Thy grace has made us strong,
And now, O King Eternal,
We lift our battle song.”

This hymn was written by Shurtlett for his graduation day from Andover Theological Seminary, a Congregationalist seminary, that had a very strong focus, at that time, in evangelism. His idea was that his fellow seminarians sing this hymn while marching to pick up their diplomas, and a tradition was born, because many seminaries are doing this until this day,

Now, in the second stanza, we see a contrast  that Ernest does between a warfare, led by a conquering King, and a time of peace that will come under the kingship of Jesus, the King of Peace.

“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 heav'nly kingdom comes.”

This hymn is a call to go to missions, and this hymn became a favorite one for ordination services, missions week.

“Lead on, O King Eternal,
We follow not with fears;
For gladness breaks like morning
Where'er Thy face appears;
Thy cross is lifted o'er us;
We journey in its light:
The crown awaits the conquest;
Lead on, O God of might.”

Ernest was a congregational minister, and served several churches in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and California. In 1905, he and his wife went to Germany to organize a church and World War I started and they helped there feeding the poor and displaced. He died in Paris in 1917, during the war.

The Lord, our King, is calling to share the gospel with every creature and serve others, let us obey this call.
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In His service,
Israel