Songs of the Scripture - Pt. 6

 

And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 20:20-21 ESV).

 

Texas A&M has so many traditions that I often find myself wondering how I was fortunate enough to be exposed to the depth of loyalty and spirit I found there over five decades ago. However, one of those traditions Aggies don’t have is an official fight song. Instead, we have an official war hymn that is iconic and dates back all the way to World War 1. In fact, the Aggie War Hymn is a little over 100 years old now. It was written by American soldier and Aggie Former Student J.V. “Pinky” Wilson. It takes multiple jabs at the school’s arch-nemesis, the University of Texas. It is recognized all across the country, especially from football games at Kyle Field. Pinky Wilson arrived at the start of WWI, and like hundreds of other Aggies, he went abroad to fight. It was during battle, as he sat in a trench in France, that he wrote the lyrics to the de facto college fight song we all know today. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to listen to the video I’ve attached (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=038AU5JQD5M).  

 

Today, as we continue our look at the Songs of the Scripture we have another kind of “war hymn.” It is a fascinating account of how God protected his people from a vast enemy army. King Jehoshaphat learned that a huge army from neighboring lands was coming to attack Judah and Jerusalem. Knowing that his army had no power to stand against them, he cried out to the Lord, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” God sent a message: “Do not be afraid or discouraged… For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” And in faith the king marched out to face the enemy, calling the people to trust and praise the Lord, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”

 

While there may be many military dangers around the world today, we may also face the threat of personal challenges. How can we get food for tomorrow? How can I fight my addiction? How can we fight the cancer that is destroying my loved one? By his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead, Jesus has won the greatest battle facing each of us—the battle against sin and death! Celebrate that victory!