Lead On, O King Eternal

We’re at the start of a new year! I always love to think about the year ahead a journal full of empty pages waiting to be filled.

During the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, I have spent time going back through my 2022 journal entries. Wow, what a year! My journal entries are filled with sad, happy, crazy, fun, and sobering entries. These entries reflect one spiritual battle after another.

With these entries in mind, I began looking toward 2023, with the realization that I absolutely must continue depending upon the Lord’s enablement to fight the spiritual battles I will face in the coming year.

Two Scripture passages kept coming to my mind:

Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! (Psalm 24:8).

“You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.”

Exodus 15:13

These passages brought to mind the hymn I have chosen to be my focal hymn for 2023: Lead On, O King Eternal. The lyrics were written by Ernest Warburton Shurtleff.

Stanza 1
Lead on, O King Eternal,
The day of march has come,
Henceforth in fields of conquest
Thy tents shall be our hope,
Through days of preparation
Thy grace has made us strong,
And now, O King eternal,
We lift our battle song.

As Christ-followers, we must always be prepared to go into battle against whatever hardships may come. To prepare for battle, we must be diligent to read, study, memorize, contemplate, and meditate upon the Word of God. We know from Ephesians 6:10-20 that we are to Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. We are also to be actively involved in the battle as we Fight the good fight of the faith (1 Timothy 6:12).

Stanza 2
Lead on, O King Eternal,
To lands of deepest night;
We follow where Thou leadest
As heralds of the light.
May we to souls immortal
Thy Word of life convey
And open heaven’s portal
Through Christ, the truth, the way.

As we sing this stanza, we express our determination to follow the King Eternal anywhere He leads us, even into persecution and suffering. We vow to follow Him into the darkest places where the Light of the Gospel is needed. We will proclaim the Good News of Jesus Messiah to those lost and dying in their sin (Mark 16:15).

Stanza 3
Lead on, O King Eternal,
Till sin’s fierce war shall cease,
And holiness shall whisper
The sweet Amen of peace;
For not with swords loud clashing,
Nor roll of stirring drums:
With deeds of love and mercy,
The heavenly kingdom comes.

As we sing this stanza, we remind ourselves that spiritual battles will only cease when God brings peace. This will not come through traditional earthly weapons, but by utilizing the armor that God supplies (Ephesians 6:10-17).

Stanza 4
Lead on, O King Eternal,
We follow, not with fears;
For gladness breaks like morning
Where’er Thy face appears;
Thy cross is lifted o’er us:
We journey in its light;
The crown awaits the conquest:
Lead on, O God of might.

Because we trust in the omnipotence and faithfulness of our King Eternal, we do not fear failing in the battle. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. His presence breaks through and provides a guiding light by which we travel in our march of conquest against sin.

Image by Peace,love,happiness from Pixabay