“Rise Up, O Men of God”

I heard the hymn “Rise Up, O Men of God” this morning. I have always been stirred by its lyrics, especially the first stanza. God is working powerfully in my life these days calling me to “Have done with lesser things.”

Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.

Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.

Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great!

Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!

Will­iam P. Mer­rill, 1911

I did not become familiar with these lyrics with the traditional melody. Phil Keaggy recorded his own music with these lyrics in 1981. You can listen to it HERE.