Who Is On the Lord's Side?
[MHB 820]
Frances R. Havergal
1.    Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

2.    Not for weight of glory, nor for crown and palm,
Enter we the army, raise the warrior psalm;
But for love that claimeth lives for whom He died:
He whom Jesus saveth marches on His side.
By Thy love constraining, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

3.    Jesus, Thou hast bought us, not with gold or gem,
But with Thine own lifeblood, for Thy diadem;
With Thy blessing filling each who comes to Thee,
Thou hast made us willing, Thou hast made us free.
By Thy grand redemption, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

4.    Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe,
But the King’s own army none can overthrow;
’Round His standard ranging, vict’ry is secure,
For His truth unchanging makes the triumph sure.
Joyfully enlisting, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!


5.    Chosen to be soldiers, in an alien land,
Chosen, called, and faithful, for our Captain’s band;
In the service royal, let us not grow cold,
Let us be right loyal, noble, true and bold.
Master, Thou wilt keep us, by Thy grace divine,
Always on the Lord’s side—Savior, always Thine!



FRANCES R. HAVERGAL
The Consecration Poet

Frances R. Havergal was born on December 1846 in Astley, Worcestershire, Great Britain to a humble bur influential Pastor and Hymnist, the Rev. William Henry Havergal.

As a girl she wondered if she would make the mark in case the trumpet sounded and it was her dying Mother who sowed the first seed of faith as she told young Frances “…I do pray for the Holy Spirit to lead and guise you. And remember, nothing but the precious blood of Christ can make you clean and lovely in God’s sight.” Finally she found Christ at 15 and began writing poems and hymns for Him.

Young Frances was of a sharp mind for she excelled in the academic field with scholastic achievements in proficiency in several modern languages including Hebrew. A devoted Bible scholar she knew by rote the Psalms, Isaiah etc. She also had a clarion voice, and a radiant personality living a simple life characterized by much prayer.

During her thirties she began writing her famed Devotional Books, which along with her Hymns, poems and other books made her much, sought after. This however did not change her love for God as she continued her normal practice of always praying before writing a line of poetry, hymn or book.

Her work and ministry soon took it toll on her health as her doctor warned about a physique too weak to balance nerves and brain. She was thus not to write further. She did however unaware that it was almost time to go home to the Lord. In 1879 her health failed alarmingly while she was busy with book and hymn and missionary travels.

In May of the same year her strength collapsed and on her dying bed looked up and smiling said “Splendid to be so near the gates of Heaven! I am lost in amazement! There has not failed one word of all His good promises!” Raising her feeble voice she tried to sing but her voice failed and as her brother commended her soul to the Lord, Frances R. Havergal was numbered among the great cloud of witnesses.

This Hymn was written in 1877 and inspired by a study she did on Exodus 32. The Hymn is actually based on verse 26, which reads: “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.” [KJV]. Israel chose to worship a gold calf in Moses’ absence and the matter was settled with a choice between God and “other gods”. The Levites and some others chose to be on the Lord’s side. So also we by God’s call of mercy and His divine grace can join Frances R. Havergale in a resounding:
“We are on the Lord’s side – Saviour we are Thine!”