soldier down

standing together in prayer

Another Song

The next song, "Another Soldier Down," holds a special place in my memory. It's the first song where I experimented with using a capo higher up the fretboard to achieve a different sound. The C chord played with all six strings creates a richer texture with three octaves of the "g" note. When we performed the song, we used the key of F. This meant I could capo the 5th fret and play the familiar C chord shape. The song also features a "double slap" rhythm pattern that I've found useful in other pieces. For example, playing in Eb, I would capo at the 3rd fret and use the C chord shape.

---

Lyrics

We′re in a mighty conflict here the army of the Lord
We must join forces standing tall and lean upon his word

The enemy is now in view and bravely circles round
Then comes the cry from the battle field another soldier down

Go then with haste stand by his side and lend your strength once more
Oh bear him up with faith and prayer until battle's o′er

The fight before the victory the cross before the crown
Be ever watchful ere the cry another soldier down

We've set our minds on victory advancing day by day
We've got our hope our strategy a fortress on the way

And at the end there is a rest an everlasting crown
All in the field no more will hear another soldier down

The fight before the victory the cross before the crown
Be ever watchful ere the cry another soldier down

---

Meaning

As I mentioned last time, Ephesians 6:10-17 describes the armor of God. Since we fight a spiritual battle, our armor is also spiritual - that is it’s not physical. Belt of truth, armor of godliness, shoes to spread the gospel - then the shield of faith, which is to put out the flaming arrows from satan. The helmet of salvation and then the sword which is the Word - the Bible.

This describes our fight and how we are to prepare for it. The next verses talk what the song is referring to…

Ephesians 6:18-20 NIRV - At all times, pray by the power of the Spirit. Pray all kinds of prayers. Be watchful, so that you can pray. Always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me. Pray that whenever I speak, the right words will be given to me. Then I can be bold as I tell the mystery of the good news. Because of the good news, I am being held by chains as the Lord’s messenger. So pray that I will be bold as I preach the good news. That’s what I should do.

Paul is writing this letter, and he’s asking the church at Ephesus to pray for him. We are Christians just like Paul, and we need boldness to preach the good news as well!

But he is also saying pray at all times and all kinds of prayers! Be watchful so you can pray for others. The song mentions an army of the Lord’s people and how soldiers fall on the battlefield. The same happens in our spiritual lives and battles. And aren’t we all on ‘the same side’ as Christians?

---

Pray for Others

Remember, Paul and the song say to pray for others, especially those that are fallen. Do we do that now? Or do we gossip about them? If a Christian brother or sister is having a problem, are we friends to them in the same way that Job had friends? Or do we go to them and pray WITH them as well as pray FOR them when we are not around them? Do we try to lift them up? Or do we join the world and the enemy and tear them down?

I hope you can infer by my words what the proper thing to do is… And this is for me as much as you. The carnal, natural thing to do is look on someone’s mistakes and say “I’m glad it’s not me,” or even worse, “yeah I’m not surprised.” If that’s the way you feel in your heart, repent - and do the opposite! Lift them up in prayer! Go to them and offer to help! One day it might be YOU that is hit by an arrow…

Grace to you, dear friend. Keep the armor on and the battle moving forward per His will… Who can you think of RIGHT NOW to pray for? Who do you know is struggling and could use a kind word?