July 5th
"Facing evil?"
In 1887, Ernest Shurtleff was about to graduate from Andover Seminary. Ernest wrote a hymn for the entire graduating class to sing. He told his fellow seminarians, "We've been spending days of preparation here at seminary. Now the day of march has come, and we must go out to follow the leadership of the King of kings, to conquer the world under His banner."
Thus, "Lead On, O King Eternal" was written for a seminary graduating class. The commencements today are not always so dramatic, but there is no reason our eternal King cannot open a new door for us today. We can step out and march under His banner, "not with fears, for gladness breaks like morning where'er [His] face appears."
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was seated on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Hovering around him were mighty seraphim, each with six wings.…In a great chorus they sang, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty! The whole earth is filled with his glory!"
Isaiah 6:1-4
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.
Ernest Warburton Shurtleff
Heaven
