HOLY GOD, YOU RAISE UP PROPHETS

This is a hymn prescribed in the Episcopal Church (USA), the American constituent of the Anglican Communion, for the feast days (Jan. 15 and Apr. 4) of Blessed Martin (Luther King, Jr.), Pastor, Prophet, Martyr. It is sung to MARTIN'S SONG by Carl Haywood. The music is in Lift Every Voice and Sing II, 1993, and Wonder Love and Praise, 1998, and a simple melody-line-only MIDI is at this page. The lyrics are by Harold T. Lewis, who has written hymns for the feast days of a number of Black Saints; © 1992

1. Holy God, you raise up prophets;
        Praise and honor do we sing
   For your faithful, humble servant,
        Doctor Martin Luther King.

        Refrain (after each stanza):
   Blessed Martin, pastor, prophet,
        you the mountaintop did see;
   Blessed Martin, holy martyr,
        Pray that we may all be free.

2. Moral conscience of his nation,
        Reconciling black and white,
   Dreamed he of a just society,
        We must carry on his fight.

3. Teacher of Christlike nonviolence
        To the outcast, poor and meek;
   Greater weapon 'gainst oppression
        Is to turn the other cheek.

4. Preacher of Christ's love for neighbor,
        He won Nobel's prize for peace.
   Peoples, beat your swords to plowshares,
        Wars 'twixt nations all shall cease.

5. Champion of oppressed humanity
        Suff'ring throughout all the world;
   He offered pride and dignity:
        Let Christ's banner be unfurled!

6. So, when felled by sniper's bullet,
        Under heavens overcast,
   He could cry, "Thank God Almighty,
        I am free, I'm free at last!"

I have mixed feelings, as a Baptist, about seeing one of our boys glorified by our competition, but heck, they're right, the man was a Nobel laureate and a martyr, and it's kind of fun to pray to a Baptist saint... ;-)

Liland
Eve of the Birth Feast of Blessed Martin