Sound the Battle Cry!

Sound the Battle Cry!

William F. Sherman

Sound the battle cry! See, the foe is nigh;

Raise the standard high for the Lord;

Gird your armor on, stand firm every one;

Rest your cause upon His holy Word.

Refrain:

Rouse, then, soldiers, rally round the banner,

Ready, steady, pass the word along;

Onward, forward, shout aloud, “Hosanna!”

Christ is Captain of the mighty throng.

Strong to meet the foe, marching on we go,

While our cause we know must prevail;

Shield and banner bright, gleaming in the light,

Battling for the right we ne’er can fail.

O Thou God of all, hear us when we call,

Help us one and all by Thy grace;

When the battle’s done, and the vict’ry’s won,

May we wear the crown before Thy face.

            I used to lead this gospel song in congregational for many years as a camp meeting rally song. It is loaded with meaning for evangelical Christians.  “Sound the battle cry” often can serve as a mental awakening for Christians.  It is a reality that when a fellowship of evangelical Christians plan an evangelist campaign, Our foe who is Satan will presence himself.

            If Christians are going to do battle with the enemy of our soul, they must, as Ephesians 6:11 admonishes, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”  Only then can they rest their cause upon God’s holy Word.  Without Christ our Captain, Christians are not able to win spiritual battles over Satan.

            This song contains some blessed assurances for Christians who are doing battle in God’s great army: “Strong to meet the foe, marching on we go, While our cause we know must prevail; Shield and banner bright, gleaming in the light, Battling for the right we ne’er can fail.”  If you are doing battle with the devil, remember that Christ is your Captain.  Also, do not forget to pray, O Thou God of all, hear us when we call,

Help us one and all by Thy grace; When the battle’s done, and the vict’ry’s won, May we wear the crown before Thy face.”

Thought for the Day 

Christians must raise God’s battle flag high, but we should be reminded that what Jahaziel declared in 2Ch 20:15b is still true today, “Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's”.