Battle Song

What a terrible and beautiful picture! The severity of it strikes deep in the heart. Men of war, going to war. Their leader a moment earlier had stared at the great adversary, far greater than they would be able to have victory over. For a moment he stood with fear in his eyes and hesitation in his stance. Suddenly, though, the king is awakened from his trance. Ride on! He calls to his men and his horse. They all burst onto the battlefield with their leader always before them. Then come these lines...

"For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang and they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City." J.R.R. Tolkien, Return of the King.

Singing in battle! What a terrible thing to behold! One day, Christ will ride on his white horse. He will look upon what seems a great enemy as all the kings of the earth will gather. He, like King Theoden, will lead his men into war. He will call and his people will answer. He will swing his sword and shield and claim his rightful throne. He will invite his followers to fight along side. And then, I imagine, they (we) will burst into song, and we will sing as we slay, for the joy of the battle will be upon us. Our song will be fair and terrible and heard even to the ends of the earth, for our king will lead us to victory.