Veteran's Day
Psalm 44:1-4
We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old: you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free; for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm give them victory; but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your countenance, for you delighted in them. You are my King and my God, you command victories for Jacob.
God of Our Fathers LBW 567
1 God of our fathers, whose almighty hand leads forth in beauty all the starry band
of shining worlds in splendor through the skies: our grateful songs before your throne arise.
2 Your love divine has led us in the past; in this free land by you our lot is cast;
oh, be our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay; your word our law, your paths our chosen way.
3 From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence, make your strong arm our ever sure defense.
Your true religion in our hearts increase; your bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
4 Refresh your people on their toilsome way; lead us from night to never-ending day;
fill all our lives with heav’n-born love and grace until at last we meet before your face.
Text: Daniel C. Roberts, 1841-1907, alt.
The song written by Daniel Roberts as a hymn for the nation in 1876, commemorating the centennial of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. In his small town, it was sung at the local celebration in Vermont where he served as a pastor. Later, in 1897, for the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution, he submitted it to the committee planning the celebration. They chose it as the official hymn for the occasion, and sent it to the organist of the St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City, to write the tune. This is one of the only hymns written with a trumpet fanfare as part of its opening.
As a boy, marching trombone in my high school marching on Veteran’s Day, this was the song we played. Our director, Dean Stitz, was also my choir director at Good Shepherd Lutheran in West Milton. He arranged it for the band using the setting of the old SBH. The trumpet fanfare always got to me, it still does. When I hear it, and the grand marshal tune that follows, I am filled with hope anew.
In this post-election time, we need to hear this hymn written for the nation, to move beyond the acrimony of loss and focus on words that might unite us in a common purpose: “Refresh your people, on their toilsome way…lead us from night, to never ending day! Fill all our lives, with love and grace divine, and glory, laud, and praise be ever thine!
Prayer: God, of our fathers, be with us now. We the comfort of your nearer presence, we yearn to be healed and held, so that together we may do your will. Amen.