The fields lay bare beneath the sun;
The people hid from fear.
Yet God who split the waters once
Still drew His people near.
Behind a winepress Gideon
Beat out the stolen grain;
His hands were worn with labour,
His heart was bound by shame.
Beneath the oak an Angel came,
And silence filled the air.
“The LORD is with you, mighty man;
A man of valour, rise.”
“If You are with us, where are now
The wonders fathers told?
They saw the sea before them part;
We hide from fear and cold.
My clan is poor in Manasseh,
My name the least they know.
How shall a man so small as I
Against this army go?”
“Go in the strength that I will give;
My presence goes with you.
You shall strike Midian as one man;
My promise shall prove true.”
Arise — the Lord is with us!
Arise — the Lord is peace!
He calls the weak and trembling,
And makes our bondage cease.
He brought the broth and meat and bread
And laid them on the stone;
The Angel touched them with His staff,
And fire rose alone.
“Peace be with you; do not fear.”
He named the altar there:
“The LORD Himself is peace.” By night
He cast down Baal’s throne.
His anxious heart still sought to know
The word that God had said;
He laid a fleece before the Lord
Beneath the midnight dew.
The fleece was wet, the earth was dry;
Again the fleece was dry,
While dew lay heavy on the ground;
God heard his fearful cry.
The patient God confirmed His word;
He would not stand alone.
Arise — the Lord goes before us!
Arise — lift up your eyes!
No boast will rise among us;
His strength shall be our prize.
He chooses jars of common clay
To bear His living light;
The Lord Himself is peace for us
In every darkest night.
The Spirit clothed the fearful man;
The trumpet called them near.
At Harod’s stream three hundred stood;
God made His purpose clear.
No army could proclaim its strength,
No human hand take praise;
The Lord would save His people there
And show His mighty ways.
With Purah at the enemy camp,
He heard a dream unfold:
A loaf of barley struck a tent
And sent it crashing down.
He bowed in worship, rose and called,
“Arise! The day has come!”
The LORD has given Midian’s camp
Into our waiting hands!”
Take up the horn! Take up the torch!
Stand where I stand tonight!
Break every jar! Let hidden fire
Scatter the gathered night!
The pitchers broke! The torches burned!
The trumpets filled the air!
The LORD struck fear through Midian;
His people stood in prayer!
The fire on rock, the bread, the fleece,
The jars that broke in light,
Were signs along the ancient road
That led us into Christ.
The God who gave His peace at Ophrah
Drew near in human frame;
He rose in glory, now ascended,
And poured the promised flame.
Jesus, You entered darkness;
You carried grief and sin.
Your cross broke condemnation;
Your risen life begins.
A hundred twenty waited
With one accord in prayer;
The sound of heaven filled the house,
And fire rested there.
Arise — the Lord is with us!
Arise — the Lord is peace!
His light in earthen vessels,
His life for all to see!
Arise — your light has come now!
The glory of the LORD
Has risen on His gathered Church,
His household round one table.
The Lord Himself is peace!
Jesus Christ be seen!
