FORBIDDEN HYMNS #8 “Dark the Battle Clouds are Closing” (#372, 1927) For the last several weeks, we have varied our Forbidden Hymns™ offerings with a number of compositions on diverse themes, but this week, we return to our favourite genre of suppressed hymnody: defiant songs of spiritual warfare. As its title implies, “Dark the Battle Clouds are Closing” fits in perfectly with our 2015 quorum theme (“Christ, the greatest warrior, will help us win every battle”). This hymn is a rousing call to arms, a summons to all Christian combatants to fight on behalf of the Lord our God. It begins with ominous storm-clouds gathering prior to the conflict, then exhorts all men of faith to rally to the “war cry,” to press onward, to remember that even demons must obey the will of the righteous, and that it is better to die than to falter or fail. The most vivid of the hymn’s lyrics reads as follows: Tho’ your life-blood dyes the altar, What are life and death to you? What a vivid image: the blood of the heroic Christian warrior crimsoning the white altar that he defended with his very life! The destruction of Satan and his minions is depicted in sublimely apocalyptic terms: As the melting snow, mad pouring Down the mountain side, they flee; Fire from heaven their ranks devouring — Shout! for God and victory! Picture it: the foe devoured by “fire from heaven.” Imagine singing lyrics as powerful as these with a host of your fellow Christian brothers in arms. Little wonder that the early Saints were such indomitable heroes, when they voiced hymns as powerful as this. Would that we could recapture some of their defiant militancy and titanic willpower. We could then recapture Western civilization from the enemies that seek to destroy it and restore the timeless ideals of nobility that prevailed in centuries past. - - - - DARK THE BATTLE CLOUDS ARE CLOSING Dark the battle clouds are closing Round the chosen ranks of God; Mighty ones, their courage losing, Kneel and kiss the tyrant’s rod. Sons of Israel! Heirs of glory! Is it now ye quake and quail? Read again your lineal story: — Die ye may, but dare not fail. Pray’rs of millions, watching, waiting, Nerve our battle-wearied arms; Powers eternal o’er us fighting Quell the foemen’s worst alarms. Onward, sons of faith, nor falter, With the glorious goal in view! Tho’ your life-blood dyes the altar, What are life and death to you? Fetters — dungeons — shall they frighten Men whom demons must obey? Walls shall burst, and shackles brighten Into sceptres at that day. Hark! the trumpet. Heroes rally! Sounds the war cry of the free; Lo! they swarm from hill and valley, Loyal sons of liberty. See! they raise the starry standard, Long by traitors trampled low, Valor wronged and virtue slandered Fall upon the cowering foe. As the melting snow, mad pouring Down the mountain side, they flee; Fire from heaven their ranks devouring — Shout! for God and victory! Lo! from out the clouds descending, Now the conquering host appears — King Immanuel, earthward wending, Here to reign a thousand years! Lo! from out the clouds descending, Now the conquering host appears — King Immanuel, earthward wending, Here to reign a thousand years! Orson F. Whitney Samuel B. Mitton
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 00:55:36 +0000
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