Psalm 72

James Montgomery penned the words of "Hail to the Lord's Anointed," as a Christmas song based on Psalm 72., This Messianic Psalm's expectant mood fits the season of Advent well.



As with so many songs based on Messianic prophecy, this one rings with the notes of victory.

Hail to the Lord’s anointed, great David’s greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free;
To take away transgression and rule in equity.

He comes in succor speedy to those who suffer wrong;
To help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong;
To give them songs for sighing, their darkness turn to light,
Whose souls, condemned and dying, were precious in His sight.

By such shall He be fearèd while sun and moon endure;
Beloved, obeyed, reverèd; for He shall judge the poor
Through changing generations, with justice, mercy, truth,
While stars maintain their stations, or moons renew their youth.

He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth;
Love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in His path to birth.
Before Him, on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go,
And righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow.

Arabia’s desert ranger to Him shall bow the knee;
The Ethiopian stranger His glory come to see;
With offerings of devotion ships from the isles shall meet,
To pour the wealth of oceans in tribute at His feet.

Kings shall fall down before Him, and gold and incense bring;
All nations shall adore Him, His praise all people sing;
For He shall have dominion o’er river, sea and shore,
Far as the eagle’s pinion or dove’s light wing can soar.

For Him shall prayer unceasing and daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing, a kingdom without end:
The mountain dews shall nourish a seed in weakness sown,
Whose fruit shall spread and flourish and shake like Lebanon.

O’er every foe victorious, He on His throne shall rest;
From age to age more glorious, all blessing and all blest.
The tide of time shall never His covenant remove;
His Name shall stand forever, His Name to us is Love.

A Meditation on Psalm 27:1

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm27:1)

Do you ever wonder how you will perform in the moment of truth? Whether you'll take appropriate action or just choke in fear? 

Even if you've been there, done that, you may wonder if you'll be up to the challenge next time. This is why it's important that you, as a Christian sheepdog, to keep your motives anchored in your relationship to your God and King.

I like the way this Psalm begins, because it has the same theme as Romans 8:31, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Whether you have to face an orc who threatens those whom you care about or just face another day of life in the swamp of moral decay, you can do so with the confidence that if you are on God's side, He will be on your side. 

Since that's the case, "Of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 27:1 Sung by the Georgia Boy Choir 

Psalm 1

Jesus, the Anointed King, will prevail in time and on earth. From Heaven, He will subdue the nations BEFORE His final coming.

I believe any other philosophy of history . . . . 


To continue reading this post over at Christian Warrior Online, CLICK HERE.

Psalm 27

Pastor preached on verses 1-6 of Psalm 27 today. It's one of those Christian Martialist passages that I like so much.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. (Psa 27:1-3)

This puts me in mind of a very practical application of this passage, which I hope to post soon.

Psalm 146

From a time long before Russelists (Watchtower-ites) tried to co-opt God's covenant name, Presbyterians have been singing praises to Jehovah. In this morning's service, we sang this version of Psalm 146 from the Psalter of 1912. (To the tune of Ripley)

What a wonderful hymn for Christian Martialists to sing for inspiration, encouragement and comfort.

Hallelujah, praise Jehovah,
O my soul, Jehovah praise;
I will sing the glorious praises
Of my God through all my days.
Put no confidence in princes,
Nor for help on man depend;
He shall die, to dust returning,
And his purposes shall end.

Happy is the man that chooses
Israel’s God to be his aid;
He is blest whose hope of blessing
On the Lord his God is stayed.
Heaven and earth the Lord created,
Seas and all that they contain;
He delivers from oppression,
Righteousness He will maintain.

Food He daily gives the hungry,
Sets the mourning prisoner free,
Raises those bowed down with anguish,
Makes the sightless eyes to see.
Well Jehovah loves the righteous,
And the stranger He befriends,
Helps the fatherless and the widow,
Judgment on the wicked sends.

Hallelujah, praise Jehovah,
O my soul, Jehovah praise;
I will sing the glorious praises
Of my God through all my days.
Over all God reigns forever,
Through all ages He is King;
Unto Him, thy God, O Zion,
Joyful hallelujahs sing.

The Scottish Games & Highland Festival

On Saturday, my wife, my soon-to-be-eighteen-year-old daughter and I attended the 4th annual Greenville Scottish Games & Highland Festival. We've attended all four, and each year it gets better.

As a Christian Martialist, I felt at home . . . stepping into a warrior culture. I would have liked to see more representation of the Scots' Christian heritage, however.

We watched burly men in kilts toss the caber while others tossed the sheaf. Then came a border collie demonstration that would raise the standard for all you sheepdogs out there. The dog was tirelessly persistent, marvelously skilled, and singlemindedly loyal to the shepherd.

One disappointment was that there had been an unannounced change of schedule, so we missed the massing of the bands. It is always a thrill to see score upon score of pipers marching onto the field, filling the arena and saturating the soul with the stirring skirl of bagpipes.

It's little wonder that the English outlawed the warpipes. As this fat old man has listened to the pipes, he's been ready to pick up a great-sword and follow them into battle.

We managed to catch a concert of traditional Scottish music played by a hammer dulcimer, fiddle and Celtic harp. The harpist played a piece that was used in an episode of Firefly. (When she asked who was familiar with the show, only my daughter & I raised our hands.)

We also watched some of the competitions for the "sword dance". Mostly young girls, although one competitor was a teen-aged guy. Since it's a traditional warrior's dance, it would be good to see more young men take an interest.

I also caught two presentations by the European Medieval Arts of Arms group from Greensboro, NC. As always, their unchoreographed fights and duels were impressive, and the knights were friendly, courteous and eager to answer questions (like mine about how the European staff technique compared to Japanese bo).

Sprinkled among the attendees were many who wore kilts, some bearing swords and/or dirks. A refreshing respite from the hoplophobic spirit of our national culture.

Another interesting feature of the Festival was the appearance of a few black folk in attendance. One young black man wore a kilt. (The first year, there was a black girl in the Highland dance competition.) I see this as a positive, wholesome cultural influence, and I can only hope that it will grow in time.

Now, if only they would put Christ's crown & covenant at the center, add Psalm singing and honor Scripture, they'd have a true Christian Martialist festival.

Psalm 144:1-2

I was pleased to see this included in this morning's worship at our church. We sang it to the tune of Amazing Grace.

O blessed ever be the LORD,
Who is my strength and might,
Who doth instruct my hands to war,
My fingers teach to fight.

My goodness, fortress, my high tow'r,
deliverer and shield,
In whom I trust: who under me
My people makes to yield.
--- 1650 Scottish Psalter

Psalm 136

My daughter Merrianna published her thoughts on Psalm 136 over at Helium. Here's the link:

Thoughts on Psalm 136

Psalm 83

This hymn based on the 83rd Psalm expresses some of what I have felt lately concerning the enemy's bold opposition to God and his persecution of Christ's people.

You can sing it to the tune of Forest Green, a traditional English melody.

O God, no longer hold Thy peace,
No longer silent be;
Thine enemies lift up their head
To fight Thy saints and Thee.
Against Thine own, whom Thou dost love,
Their craft Thy foes employ;
They think to cut Thy people off,
Thy church they would destroy.

Thine ancient foes, conspiring still,
With one consent agree,
And they who with Thy people strive
Make war, O God, on Thee.
O God, who in our fathers’ time
Didst smite our foes and Thine,
So smite Thine enemies today
Who in their pride combine.

Make them like dust and stubble blown
Before the whirlwind dire,
In terror driv’n before the storm
Of Thy consuming fire.
Confound them in their sin till they
To Thee for pardon fly,
Till in dismay they, trembling, own
That Thou art God Most High.

Christian Martialism on a Budget, 11

Odds & [Loose] Ends:
At one point in this series I directed you to a Russian site which has an online copy of Get Tough! I neglected to also provide you with a link to an easily download-able PDF version of the same book. This is the version I have both on CD-ROM and in my flash drive.

In "Christian Martialism on a Budget, 9", I mentioned Point Shooting by W.E. Fairbairn. I just found where you can get a PDF download of it. I am also going to include that link in the aforementioned post.

As long as I'm linking you to free combat classics, I should give you a link to Cold Steel. This is also at the Russian website. There is a PDF version here, but it includes only the hand-to-hand & stick (baton) sections, but not the bayonet & knife. Steven mentioned this book in his comment, and you should have it, although I'd suggest you learn the Get Tough! techniques before diving into this material.

In case you haven't noticed, I'm sold on the book of Psalms as a mindset source for the Christian Martialist. The Psalms are inspired songs, and God intends for the warriors of Zion to sing them. Here is a link to a page where you can hear some of the Psalms from the KJV and NKJV in musical settings. They are in the public domain, so you can download, listen and even sing along. We use these in our family worship time.

Well, that's about it for now. I may add to this series, from time to time, but I don't want to overwhelm you with material, especially if you're just beginning your training. I would like to hear from the readers, though. Did I leave out anything you would consider vital? Perhaps you disagree with my priorities or my approach, and you'd like to suggest an alternative path. I'd like to hear from you. My approach to Christian Martialism isn't the only approach, and for you it may not be the best approach. That's what the comments section is for: to enrich & supplement each other's knowledge & options.

Psalm 91

Psalm 91 is a song that seems good to sing on the eve of battle. I can see and hear God's warriors singing this on the march that takes them toward the enemy's camp.

To me, the sonorous melody and insistent -- almost ponderous -- LM rhythm of Old 100th ("The Doxology") in combination with these words evokes a mental image of an advancing band of men not to be trifled with.

 1  The man who once has found abode
   Within the secret place of God,
   Shall with Almighty God abide,
   And in his shadow safely hide.

2  I of the Lord my God will say,
   He is my refuge and my stay;
   To him for safety I will flee;
   My God, in him my trust shall be.

3  He shall with all protecting care
   Preserve thee from the fowler's snare;
   When fearful plagues around prevail,
   No fatal stroke shall thee assail.

4  His outspread pinions shall thee hide;
   Beneath his wings shalt thou confide;
   His faithfulness shall ever be
   A shield and buckler unto thee.

5  No nightly terrors shall alarm,
   No deadly shaft by day shall harm,
   Nor pestilence that walks by night,
   Nor plagues that waste in noon-day light.

6  A thousand at thy side shall lie,
   At thy right hand ten thousand die
   But thou unharmed, secure, shalt see
   What wicked men's reward shall be.

7  Because thy trust is God alone,
   Thy dwelling-place the Highest One,
   No evil shall upon thee come,
   Nor plague approach thy guarded home.

8  O'er thee his angels he commands,
   To bear thee safely in their hands;
   To keep thee in thy ways each one,
   Nor dash thy foot against a stone.

9  Thy foot shall crush the adder's head,
   On lions and on dragons tread;
   And since on me he set his love,
   I Will his constant Savior prove.

10  Because to him my name is dear,
   I'll him exalt above all fear.
   To me he'll lift his earnest cry,
   And I will answer from on high.

11  I will be near when troubles press;
   I'll save him, and with honors bless;
   With life he satisfied shall be,
   And my salvation he shall see.

Psalm 2

I love Psalm 2. There's no hint of the namby-pamby begging that passes for evangelism today. None of the please-come-to-Jesus-because-He'll-feel-so-bad-if-you-don't kind of pleading that you hear from some preachers. The conclusion of this Psalm is clear and uncompromising: acknowledge God's Anointed (Christ) as your King or be broken in pieces.

(It is not our assignment to break them, but to warn them of that doom should they persist in their rebellion.) Moreover, the Christian Martialist must never forget that he serves under the discipline and at the good pleasure of his King. I like to sing this Psalm to the tune St. Anne (Our God, Our Help in Ages Past).

   1  Why rage the heathen? and vain things
     why do the people mind?
2  Kings of the earth do set themselves,
     and princes are combined,

      To plot against the Lord, and his
     Anointed, saying thus,
3  Let us asunder break their bands,
     and cast their cords from us.

   4  He that in heaven sits shall laugh;
     the Lord shall scorn them all.
5  Then shall he speak to them in wrath,
     in rage he vex them shall.

   6  Yet, notwithstanding, I have him
     to be my King appointed;
  And over Zion, my holy hill,
     I have him King anointed.

   7  The sure decree I will declare:
     The Lord hath said to me,
  Thou art mine only Son; this day
     I have begotten thee.

   8  Ask of me, and for heritage
     the heathen I'll make thine;
  And, for possession, I to thee
     will give earth's utmost line.

   9  Thou shalt, as with a weighty rod
     of iron, break them all;
  And, as a potter's shard, thou shalt
     them dash in pieces small.

  10  Now therefore, kings, be wise; be taught,
     ye judges of the earth:
11  Serve God in fear, and see that ye
     join trembling with your mirth.

  12  Kiss ye the Son, lest in his ire
     ye perish from the way,
  If once his wrath begin to burn:
     blessed all that on him stay.

Psalm 144

Psalm 144 is one of my favorites. I picture David looking across the field the night before a great battle. In 24 hours, the battlefield will be littered with corpses, will smell of blood and will echo with the moans of the dying.

First, he blesses the God who has equipped him as a warrior. Then, he muses over the disgust God must have with those whose sinful hearts create the horror of war. What is man that thou art mindful of him? Then he calls upon God to come and miraculously defeat the enemy, to deliver David from the carnage and death of just this one battle.

Then, finally, he remembers why he fights. It is to preserve and protect the sons and daughters of the covenant, that they may live and flourish and prosper in the land given to them by the covenant Lord. And, finally, David ends, as he began, with a word of blessing.

Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD.

This song is for all the sheepdogs out there who follow Christ. I like to sing it to Azmon (usually, the C.M tune setting for "O, for a Thousand Tongues")

   1  Blest be the Lord my strength, that doth
     instruct my hands to fight;
  The Lord that doth my fingers frame
     to battle by his might.

   2  He is my hope, my fort, and tow'r,
     deliverer and shield;
  In him I trust, my people he
     subdues to me to yield.

   3  O Lord, what thing is man, that him
     thou dost so highly prize!
  Or son of man, that upon him
     thou thinkest in such wise!

   4  Man is but like to vanity,
     so pass his days to end,
  As fleeting shade. Bow down, O Lord,
     the heav'ns, and thence descend;

   5  The mountains touch, and they shall smoke,
     cast forth thy lightning's flame,
  And scatter them; thy arrows shoot,
     consume them with the same.

   6  Send down thy hand from heav'n above,
     O Lord, deliver me;
  Take me from waters great, from hand
     of strangers set me free;

   7  Whose subtle mouth of vanity
     with flatt'ring words doth treat,
  And their right-hand is a right-hand
     of falsehood and deceit.

   8  A new song will I sing to thee,
     O God the Lord most high,
  And on a ten-stringed lute also
     praise thee most joyfully.

   9  E'en he it is that only gives
     deliverance to kings;
  Unto his servant David help
     from hurtful sword he brings;

  10  From strangers' hand me save and shield,
     whose mouth talks vanity,
  And their right-hand is a right-hand
     of guile and subtlety.

  11  That so our sons may be as plants
     which growing youth doth rear,
  Our daughters as carved corner-stones,
     like to a palace fair;

  12  Our garners full and plenty may
     of sundry sorts be found;
  Our sheep bring thousands, in our streets
     ten thousand may abound:

   13  Our oxen be to labor strong,
      that none may us invade;
   No goings out there be, nor cries
      within our streets be made.

  14  The people happy are that with
     such blessings great are storm;
  Yea, blessed all the people are,
     whose God is God the Lord.