There’s a battle going on and you’re in the midst of it, whether you know it or not. It’s a world war. I call it LOE (Life On Earth), and lo and behold, you are in it every waking hour. You restless sleepers may even be experiencing it in your sleep! There are only two sides in this war, and if you’re not on one side, then you’re on the other. Do you need some help choosing sides if you haven’t done so already? Do you want further information as you reconsider whose side you want to be on?
Frances Ridley Havergal wrote a hymn based upon David’s call to commitment given to his army in I Chronicles 12, and his army’s response to him. Verse 13 says that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Amasai, chief of the captains, and he said: “We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse.” The title of her hymn is: WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE? Below I’ve written the first stanza of that hymn.
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side, Savior, we are Thine.
With our enlistment papers already signed, may we be clothed in His armor and standing together at the battle line. May it be obvious to everyone we know and everyone we meet, that we are on the Lord’s side, and we will not retreat!
The Scriptures have already told us Who is ultimately going to win. The question is: “Who is going to win on your own battle field today?” If you are on the Lord’s side, trusting Him as you pray, then you won’t have to worry, for you both will win today, hands down!
A NOTE ABOUT THE WRITER OF THIS HYMN:
Frances Ridley Havergal struggled with debilitating illness for most of her life. She wrote several inspirational hymns as well as a book for invalids entitled “Starlight Through the Shadows”, dying at the age of 43 before completing the book. Her sister added the final chapter from Havergal’s unpublished papers. That chapter is entitled “Marching Orders” and concludes with the words to this hymn: “WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE”.
