Hymn 332 - Arm These Thy Soldiers, Mighty LORD

We will be celebrating the confirmation of several of our young people this weekend in our worship service. Confirmation is an opportunity for the Christian (young or old) to declare before their fellow believers their Christian faith and to assure their fellow believers that they are agreed with them on the teachings of Scripture as they prepare to join them in the celebration of the Lord's Supper. As the confirmands make this profession of their faith, their fellow believers join in praying for the LORD to keep them in that faith, and give them strength as they join us in the fight of faith against the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh.

With this in mind, we will be singing a hymn that is especially appropriate for Confirmation. The hymn "Arm These Thy Soldiers, Mighty Lord" was written by Christopher Wordsworth (who was the nephew of the famous poet William Wordsworth). Christopher Wordsworth was classically trained and extremely gifted in many ways. Even though he was extremely intelligent and thoroughly rooted in Scripture, his hymns are very simple and down to earth as we will see in this hymn.  

The hymn is primarily based on Ephesians 6:13-18: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

This hymn reminds us that our Triune God is the only one who is able to sustain us and give us the strength and tools that we need in this battle. So we go to Him in prayer, for our confirmation students and for all of us, asking for Him to be with us and bless us in the work that He has called us to as His people and soldiers in His army. As we do so, we rejoice in the final destination of heaven and the crown of righteousness which is ours because of Jesus' work for us on Calvary.  

Join us as we encourage these young people in their faith walk this weekend, and as we reflect on our own service in the Lord's army. We joyfully join together to praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost -- our Triune God, for all that God has done to secure our salvation!