October 20, 2005

Have faith in God –
Our heavenly Father and Friend;
Have faith in God –
And to His holy Word attend;
Have faith in God –
Who will keep us unto the end.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

The Son of God Goes Forth to War

Reginald Heber, 1783-1826

    All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. . . . And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11:13-16, 32-40.

    This text was written in 1812 by Reginald Heber, an important 19th Century Anglican church hymn writer. Heber wrote it especially for use on St. Stephen's Day, which occurs the first day after Christmas. On this day the liturgical churches honor the memory of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
    The hymn's first stanza portrays Christ as the leader of a great army going forth to win His kingly crown. The challenge is given: "Who follows in His train?" The response: Those who demonstrate that they can bear the cross patiently here below.
    The second stanza reminds us of Stephen's martyrdom. The Scripture account tells us that Stephen saw Jesus "standing on the right hand of God" with Stephen praying for his murderers, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." (Acts 7:54-60).
    The third stanza refers to the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given to "the chosen few". The verse then reminds us of the twelve apostles and their martyrdom for the sake of the Gospel. The final stanza is a picture in heaven of the noble martyrs throughout the ages before God's throne--men, boys, matrons, maids--dressed in robes of white.
    This hymn was sung in the 1975 movie “The Man Who Would Be King,” which was nominated for several Academy Awards.

The Son of God goes forth to war,
A kingly crown to gain;
His blood red banner streams afar:
Who follows in His train?
Who best can drink his cup of woe,
Triumphant over pain,
Who patient bears his cross below,
He follows in His train.

That martyr first, whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave;
Who saw his Master in the sky,
And called on Him to save.
Like Him, with pardon on His tongue,
In midst of mortal pain,
He prayed for them that did the wrong:
Who follows in His train?

A glorious band, the chosen few
On whom the Spirit came;
Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew,
And mocked the cross and flame.
They met the tyrant’s brandished steel,
The lion’s gory mane;
They bowed their heads the death to feel:
Who follows in their train?

A noble army, men and boys,
The matron and the maid,
Around the Savior’s throne rejoice,
In robes of light arrayed.
They climbed the steep ascent of Heav’n,
Through peril, toil and pain;
O God, to us may grace be given,
To follow in their train.

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission