There are songs to help us quiet down in the Lord. Then there are songs like this one to help us ramp up in the Lord. This is a song about spiritual battles, not military or athletic — though all three do share some of the same strategies and tactics. “Rise at the Cry of Battle” is about a century old and has appeared in only a few hymn books. It is probably not everyone’s cup of tea, but it certainly deserves a look. Its lyrics speak with a voice that demands attention, and its music is both ear-catching and unusual for a hymn of its day. Give it a sing-along listen, then come back for some more thoughts on this song and its exhortation.
“♫♪ Quit you like men … ♫♪” ???
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
(1 Corinthians 16:13 KJV)
To our modern ears this King James translation “quit you like men” sounds odd. A quick trip to the dictionary — and to other Bible translations — helps us here.
Check a dictionary and find “quit” can mean lots of different things, including
“to leave a place”,
“to resign (a job)”,
“to discontinue (an action or behavior)”
… then the archaic (old) meaning:
“to behave or act a certain way”.
BINGO!
Checking 1 Corinthians 16:13 in other Bible versions more modern than the KJV, we find:
English Standard Version:
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Amplified Bible:
Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] men and be courageous; be strong.
There it is — here “quit” means “act”.
These versions also help us see that Paul’s exhortation can apply to anyone, be they male or female, young or old, and not just men.
With this understanding, “Quit You Like Men, Be Strong” could certainly be another good title for this song.
♫♪ The well-fought battle ♫♪
In the lyrics we see the words
“♫♪ after the well-fought battle, join in the victor’s song ♫♪”.
We can keep reading in 1 Corinthians 16 to learn more about HOW to fight these spiritual battles well. Exhortation found there includes:
Be on the alert.
Stand firm in the faith.
Be men of courage.
Be strong.
Do everything in love.
Be devoted to the service of the saints.
Submit and show appreciation to those who serve the saints, and to every fellow worker and laborer.
Our song also says, “♫♪ Arm for the fight in the armor of light ♫♪” — which refers to putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6). Read more about how to prepare for spiritual battles at “Put On The Armor“.
Till death do us part
“Till death do us part” is said in traditional wedding vows. Our song’s first verse includes similar words —
“By night and day you must fight your way
Till you pass through death to life.”
Neither marriage nor engaging in spiritual battle demands that a person must die in their service. These words are about the duration of the commitment — that we remain faithfully engaged until we take our last breath.
But there are differences. People choose to live lives married instead of single. But spiritual warfare comes to people whether they choose it or not.
When the battle comes, we can become collateral damage by being ignorant of it, or by pretending it is not happening. Or, we can heed the word of the Lord — and the exhortation of this song — and rise at the cry of battle.
God bless you lots
-Dale R.
LYRICS: Rise At The Cry Of Battle
Text: Ada R. Greenaway (1916)
Tune: Alan Gray (1916)
1. Rise at the cry of battle,
Arm for the coming strife,
By night and day you must fight your way
Till you pass through death to life.
Ready to face the danger,
Ready to right the wrong,
There are many a foe on the way you go,
Quit you like men, be strong!
2. Fiery and fierce the conflict,
Daring and swift the foe;
His hosts are found on the battle ground,
Where they wait to lay you low;
Sharp are his darts and deadly,
Keen is the strife and long,
Then arm for the fight in the armor of light,
Quit you like men, be strong!
3. Strive till the strife is over,
Fight till the fight is won,
Though sore oppressed, seek not for rest,
Until the day is done;
After the well-fought battle
Join in the victor’s song,
Your trophies bring to Christ your King,
Quit you like men, be strong!
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Love it – greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world♥
Hi Dale,
That is a great, great song…thanks so much for sending it to me. Please keep them coming.
They are an encouragement and a blessing!!!