Scripture Verse

Do not be discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15

Introduction

portrait
Leander L. Pickett (1859–1928)

Words: Eli­sha A. Hoff­man, 1914.

Music: Le­an­der L. Pick­ett (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a bet­ter pho­to of Pick­ett,

portrait
Elisha A. Hoffman (1839–1929)

Lyrics

Men of faith and men of cour­age,
Waiting or­ders from the Lord,
Here’s a te­le­gram from Hea­ven!
Onward! for­ward! is the word;
Get you rea­dy for the bat­tle,
Press into the hot­test fray,
Onward! for­ward! be the watch­word
All along the lines to­day.

Refrain

Ever for­ward, up and on­ward!
Men, lift up your hearts and pray,
Trust in God and press the bat­tle,
Vict’ry will be ours to­day.

Ever for­ward! up and on­ward,
Our Je­ho­vah bids us go;
Onward! for­ward! ev­er on­ward!
Every heart with faith aglow;
Nerveless sy­co­phants may cow­er,
We will bold, un­fear­ing be,
For Je­ho­vah’s pledge as­sures us
Ours will be the vic­to­ry.

Refrain

Strike for right and strike for jus­tice,
Strike for home and na­tive land!
Strike for God and for His king­dom
With a firm and fear­less hand!
Dare to front the ev­il le­gions
That would fill us with af­fright,
For the Lord who reigns in Hea­ven
Will be with us in the fight.

Refrain

Press the bat­tle! fearl­ess ev­er,
And the foe­man must give way!
Press the bat­tle! ne­ver fal­ter!
Vict’ry waits our flag to­day!
God has pledged His arm of pow­er
And His might will be di­splayed,
If we press the ear­nest con­flict,
Trusting Him and una­fraid.

Refrain