Wars are fought and won by soldiers! We’ve honored our veterans this month and each day we should express our ‘thanks’ for their sacrifice. But we must never forget that soldiers fight for a cause. They strap on their gear (armor) and charge into the fray for a common cause, to defeat the foe. And though our methods of battle are much more ‘sophisticated’ today, we still are engaged in wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6).
Since the day God delivered His people from the Egyptians (Exodus 14), armies have sung songs to rally the troops and encourage the victor. Songs like Moses and the sons of Israel sang in Exodus 15; “I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; the horse and rider He has hurled into the sea…” Following the example from those men of old, we have continued to sing in triumph on the battle field.
The Civil War holds some strong examples of battle songs as we recall some familiar tunes from the 1860’s; “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”, “Dixie Land” and “Rally Round the Flag Boys”. Like the Civil War, both World Wars and other battles fought over the years, songs of encouragement were sung to inspire the troops.
In the battle for right vs. wrong, God’s children find themselves fighting as soldier’s of Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). We recognize this and even teach the idea to our children at the youngest ages. Who hasn’t attended a Vacation Bible School and not sung, “I’m in the Lord’s Army”? But do the ‘battle songs’ end with children? Obviously not when we consider; “Soldier’s of Christ, Arise” or “The Battle Belongs to the Lord” or “Victory in Jesus”. Let’s look at one particular battle song that the Christian has sung since the days of the Civil War. A song by William F. Sherwin 
entitled “Sound the Battle Cry”. Notice the call for soldiers to be aware of the impending battle (the foe is nigh) and the call from Ephesians 6 to ‘put on the armor of God’. The second verse encourages the soldier to realize and see the importance of never quitting (marching on in the strength of God). And the final verse is a plea to the ‘Captain’ to continue with us, support us and reward us at the close of the war.
With the sound of distant cannons echoing in his mind, Sherwin pens the chorus as if singing the Civil War tune, ‘rally around the flag boys’; “Rouse then soldier’s (of the cross), rally round the banner…” , but who is the banner? Notice Isaiah 11, “In that day the Root of Jesse (David’s father) will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to Him, and His resting place will be glorious.” Who is the “Root of Jesse”? Look to John as he wrote in Revelation 5, “…behold the Root of David (son of Jesse)…a Lamb, standing, as if slain…”. When we sing about ‘the banner’, we’re singing about the Christ. When we “rally ’round the banner,” we are rallying around our Savior.
Sound the battle cry! See, the foe is nigh;
Raise the standard high for the Lord;
Gird your armor on, stand firm every one;
Rest your cause upon His holy Word.
Strong to meet the foe, marching on we go,
While our cause we know, must prevail;
Shield and banner bright, gleaming in the light,
Battling for the right we ne’er can fail.
O Thou God of all, hear us when we call,
Help us one and all by Thy grace;
When the battle’s done, and the victory won,
May we wear the crown before Thy face.
Refrain:
Rouse then, soldiers, rally round the banner,
Ready, steady, pass the word along;
Onward, forward, shout aloud, “Hosannah!”
Christ is Captain of the mighty throng.
For generations, soldier’s have marched into battle motivated by a melody of courage, strength and victory. During the United States Civil War a song was written to inspire the northern army (the Union.) But due to the songs ‘sing-ability’ the southern army (the Confederates) adopted the tune and adjusted the words to fit their own rally. The words, for the North, were a simple cry to rally the troops;