Weekly Word

** Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.

The song Battle Hymn of the Republic was written by Julia Ward Howe during the Civil War as a pro-Union, anti-slavery anthem. Its lyrics, “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord . . . His truth is marching on” provided troops with a marching cadance. In Mark 13:26 Jesus declared upon His return, “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” The Hymn continues with, “As He died to make men holy; let us live to make men free,” a reference to freeing the slaves. Since so many are slaves to sin, I’ll close with John 8:32, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”