Today I remembered a hymn from my childhood. I went to a protestant school and we had assembly every morning. We sang hymns and recited, “Our Father, who art in Heaven.” The hymn I am going to share with you, was one of my favorites. The music teacher played the piano, and in senior school, we could select the hymns.

My favored hymn was, “Stand up, stand up for Jesus,” written by George Duffield Jr in 1858, for Dudley Atkins Tyng. Dudley Atkins Tyng had been removed from his local Episcopalian community for speaking against slavery. Dudley gave a sermon in March 1858 at the YMCA, which converted thousand men out of five thousand, who attended the sermon. Dudley was maimed in a farming accident, which caused his death. Before he died, he told his father, “Tell my brethren in the ministry, wherever you meet them, to stand up for Jesus.” Duffield then wrote the hymn based on these words.

Stand up, Stand up for Jesus

Stand up, stand up for Jesus! Ye soldiers of the cross; Lift high his royal banner, it must not suffer loss: From victory unto victory, his army shall he lead, till every foe is vanquished and Christ is lord indeed.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus! The trumpet call obeys: Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day; Ye that are men now serve him against unnumbered foes; Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus! Stand in his strength alone, the arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own; Put on the gospel armor, and watching unto prayer, Where calls the voice of duty, be never wanting there.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus! The strife will not be long; This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song; To him that overcometh, a crown of life shall be; He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.

I just looked up the background for this hymn and it is truly inspiring.

Aim Hrim Klim

Photo by Haley Rivera on Unsplash