Inspiration from "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
- Jody Tester
- Feb 7
- 5 min read
Watching portions of the 2025 Presidential Inauguration, it felt like we were seeing the rebirth of America. As the U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic, I was deeply moved when considering the godly shift taking place that day from the mess of yesterday. It made me so thankful that God heard our prayers and intervened in our affairs.
2Ch 7:14 “…if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land”.
At the conclusion of the singing of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Holy Spirit speaking to me about the inspired messaging in the song. The full lyrics to the song can be found here, along with the history of its writing. And the performance of the song just after the presidential oath-taking can be found here.
Looking at one particular stanza of this song we see can God’s inspiration:
The Battle Hymn of the Republic, 2nd Stanza
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps, They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps: His day is marching on.
Watch-fires
“Watch-fires” speak of intercessors, those individuals and churches that have labored in prayer to see right-living and righteousness restored in America. It also speaks of those prophetic voices that have heard God’s voice and declared the Lord’s intentions for this time in America.
Isa 62:6-7 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; All day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the LORD, take no rest for yourselves; And give Him no rest until He establishes And makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
“Fires” themselves speak of God’s light, which reveals truth and exposes deception. And fires also bring conviction, as foretold of Holy Spirit’s role once released from heaven to earth. In addition, fires provide a rallying point, bringing individuals together.
A Hundred Circling Camps
“Camps” signify small clusters of warriors making up a large fighting force, just as we have many small (and large) churches advancing God’s kingdom, while belonging to the big “C”… the Church of Jesus Christ. We are a collective “army” made up of small groups of believers following the ‘King's orders. And camps are temporary, just as we are pilgrims on this earth, ready to move and deploy at the King's command.
“Circling”:
Circles speak of completeness, just as a circle has no beginning or end. And it suggests a planned arrangement of the camps, not random or individualized agendas. A pity God’s church isn’t so arranged in practicality. Nevertheless, our Lord and King will bring this about as we move forward. Circles also speak of unity; hearts and minds joined in common purpose, and looking after each other in the common cause of Christ Jesus. And its in that unity of Zion that the Lord commands the blessing.
Psa 133:1-3 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron's beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing—life forever.
I have seen Him
God Himself was revealed in the circled camps with watchfires! Just as the unified, shining Church reveals the glory of the Lord. We are His testimony for all to see.
They Have Builded Him an Altar
“Builded” signifies a call to action for His Church to get involved in executing His plans. And the reference to “they” speaks to the elements of the Church working together in harmony.
An “Altar” speaks to humbling ourselves and coming to God with a repentant heart. This can also be seen in 2 Chr 7:14 and Rom 12:1.
Evening Dews and Damps
At the time of evening dew, the altar is raised because its needful, not because the circumstance is convenient, warm, or sunlit. Therefore, its critical that the altar be seen in dark times and in the dampness of the moment. (Note: the song was written in Nov 1861 as union troops were massed just south of DC). “Evening” also speaks to the importance of lights from the fires at twilight as increasing darkness drew near.
2 Tim 4:2: be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
His Righteous Sentence
Our prayer was that we wouldn’t get the sentence we deserved, but to receive grace and mercy from a righteous Lord. As a nation, America deserves the Sodom and Gomorrah treatment.
But thankfully His righteous response was/is conditioned by His grace as His people raised the Altar, repented and prayed.
Dim and Flaring Lamps
“Dim” light: the light of God’s truth has been growing dim in America over many years. Its been hard to see God’s presence in our culture given the gravitation to secular humanism. There has been an abandonment of truth; in favor unholy, and godless living. (2 Tim 3:1-5)
“Flaring Lamps”
In God’s great mercy, we’ve seen flares of bright light; mini-revivals and outbreaks of Holy Spirit fire across this land. But these revivals have usually been short-lived, despite being genuine fires of truth and power in America. Nevertheless, God’s holy fire was never extinguished.
His Day is Marching On
“His Day” speaks to a season of time in which God’s plans and purposes unfold. Its not speaking of The Judgment Day yet to come, but rather a season in which God moves the chess pieces around in response to His people. In this season, God realigns rulers (some up, some down)
§ Dan 2:20-22 Daniel said, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding. It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him.
“Marching On” speaks of people moving in formation and cadence; an orderliness to what has been chaos. Moving forward, not standing still, to see God’s plans and purposes unfold.. It also speaks to our co-laboring with God in the execution of His plans and purposes. Equipped for war, soldiers marched toward an established enemy in order to set others free!
2025 Inauguration Video: Battle Hymn of the Republic (US Naval Academy Glee Club)
Click here for the audio version of this message.
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