Today I’d like to look at No. 122, “In the Army of the True and Living God,”  by looking at the meaning and application of the song, because it’s too easy to sing without paying attention to the words and their meaning.

122. IN THE ARMY OF THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD

VERSE 1
Stand tall, it’s a mighty name to bear,
Stand free, Jesus bought your liberty;
Stand proud, there is no dishonor here,
In the army of the true and living God,
In the army of the true and living God.

VERSE 2
Soldiers all, here’s the armor you must wear,
Brave and strong here’s the cross that you must bear;
Marching on, with the sword and with the rod,
In the army of the true and living God,
In the army of the true and living God.

VERSE 3
There’s a fight, and we know it must be won,
There’s a place that’s assigned to ev’ry one;
Take your place, for we cannot know defeat,
In the army of the true and living God,
In the army of the true and living God.

©2005 Arlene Lea Buffington

In every army, we find a leader, let’s say a general, who is in ultimate command of his soldiers.

As a soldier, you are required to respect and obey his commands. As a soldier, you represent your country and are honored to fight for it or to defend it and the principles for which it stands.  As a soldier, you’re given the necessary equipment and weapons needed to be victorious because the battle being fought is critical to the success of the mission.  

This natural analogy helps position this song (as repeated six times) that we serve “in the army of the true and living God.”

Often, we honor soldiers who have heroically fought in the army with a variety of medals awarded to members of the military for various reasons, such as the Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star, to name a few. But for those special soldiers who perform an act of valor above and beyond the call of duty, the Medal of Honor is awarded.  This medal is the United States of America’s highest military honor and is only awarded by the President of the United States, with similar honors awarded by other governments and countries throughout the world.

Maybe you know someone who performed an act of valor above and beyond the call of duty, who was worthy to be honored for their service. But whether they received a medal or not, it’s always a good reminder to thank and acknowledge our veterans and active soldiers for their service to their country.  

So, let’s consider, as this song suggests, isn’t Christ the ultimate example of someone who battled the enemy of our soul?  Isn’t He the ultimate and supreme general who led by example and who willingly suffered and gave His life? Isn’t Jesus the one who conquered death and was victorious over the grave that we might have salvation?

Instead of “honoring” Christ with a medal presented by a dignitary, we are privileged to honor Him by enlisting in His army through our willingness to enter into a covenant (by faith, repentance, and baptism) and thereby serve Him in the greatest army. 

By doing so, we surrender our will to Him, that His Spirit (the gift of the Holy Ghost) might direct our choices and decisions in life.  Honoring Jesus Christ through the way we live our lives is the greatest way we can show our love, respect, and gratitude. It’s our honesty, integrity, and truthfulness in every action, behavior, and thought that reflects our sincerity and desire to serve the true and living God.

Sadly, some find that it’s easier to “honor” or respect celebrities or the wealthy or influential rather than serving in HIS army and offering the honor and loyalty that He so much deserves.

We understand that all honor belongs to God and His Son Jesus Christ because God prepared a plan of salvation that included the sacrifice of His only Son for the sins of every man and woman.  

As Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, encouraging him to be strong in the grace of Jesus Christ and be faithful that he might… “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”  (2 Timothy 2:3)

It’s interesting to note that when Sister Arlene received this song in 2005, she could hear the sound of a trumpet along with the words and melody!  Just another reminder that in scripture (such as the walls of Jericho), battlefield trumpet blasts also came to symbolize spiritual warfare, divine guidance, and ultimate triumph over an enemy.

May God bless you.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Songs of Zion, listening to the Songs or downloading them, here’s a link to the church website: Church Songs and Music