Time of War
Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the warhorse from Jerusalem; and the battle-bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. Zechariah 9:9-10
God the Omnipotent! LBW 462
1. God the omnipotent! King who ordainest great winds thy clarions, lightning thy sword:
show forth thy pity on high where thou reignest; give to us peace in our time, O Lord.
2. God the all-merciful! Earth hath forsaken meekness and mercy, and slighted thy Word;
bid not thy wrath in its terrors awaken; give to us peace in our time, O Lord.
3. God the All-righteous One! We have defied thee, yet to eternity standeth thy Word;
falsehood and wrong shall not tarry beside thee; give to us peace in our time, O Lord.
4. God the all-wise! By the fire of thy chast’ning earth shall to freedom and truth be restored;
through the thick darkness thy kingdom is hast’ning; thou wilt give peace in thy time, O Lord.
5. So shall thy people, with thankful devotion, praise him who saved them from fire and sword.
Singing in chorus from ocean to ocean, peace to the nations and praise to the Lord!
Text: Henry F. Chorley, 1808-1872, sts. 1-3; John Ellerton, 1826-1893, sts. 4-5; alt.
There was no war ongoing in 1842 when Henry Chorley wrote the first three verses of this hymn under the title “In Time of War”. What we call the “First World War” begin in 1914, the first ‘world war’ actually began in 1870, between Prussia and France. Battles were fought in Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia! While tame compared to its 20th century results, it was the beginning of a century of warfare that would eventually cost the lives of over 300 million people. This is when John Ellerton added the last 2 stanzas. Wars and rumors of wars may abide, but the prayer “give to us peace in our time” is eternal.
External peace is always a challenge, and perhaps an improbable hope in this sin-darkened world. But internal peace is always a possibility if we but place our trust in the omnipotent, all-merciful, all-righteous, all-wise God. In the last century the rise of Fascism and Communism assailed the faith. In this century pandemic and politics challenge the promise of peace. But our hope is in the name of the Lord, and that is a very large hope as hopes go!
Prayer: God, the all righteous one, the victor and our ultimate hope, keep us focused on Christ and help us to be your people, to speak your words of hope and challenge, and to persevere until the end. Give to us peace in our time! Amen.