“Lead on O King Eternal,” ELW 805 and LBW 495
1 Lead on O King eternal! The day of march has come;
Henceforth infields of conquest Your tents shall be our home.
Through days of preparation your grace has made us strong;
Lead on O King eternal, we lift our battle song.
2 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,
But deeds of love and mercy Thy heavenly kingdom comes.
3 Lead on O King eternal: We follow, not with fears,
For gladness breaks like morning where’re your face appears.
Your cross is lifted o’er us; we journey in its light;
The crown awaits the conquest; lead on, O God of might.
Devotion
The underlying imagery of this hymn is that of God leading God’s people on their march through the wilderness, the exodus. A similar metaphor lies in one of the most frequent verbs describing discipleship that Jesus used, “follow me” (as in Matthew 10:37 – “take up your cross and follow me”).
Exodus images continue. The tents are those of the people of God who traveled light and were assured of the presence of God by the tent of the tabernacle. The Gospel of John used that same imagery to describe Jesus as the One who “tented” among us (John 1:14).
The saving acts of God for God’s people are shown to us most clearly in our Savior, who leads and sustains us in our day-by-day march of faith. To follow in God’s way is best declared not with clashing swords but “in deeds of love and mercy.” And the destination? “The sweet amen of peace.”
Prayer
O God, we thank you for leading and sustaining us along the way through times of joy and difficulty in our lives. May we follow your way of peace. Amen.