The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon

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It was midnight in the valley, and the camp was dark and still

Author: P. P. Bliss
Tune: [It was midnight in the valley, and the camp was dark and still] (Smith)
Published in 6 hymnals

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Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 It was midnight in the valley, and the camp was dark and still,
Where the slumb’ring host of Midian lay along the sloping hill,
When a blinding flash of torches, and a trumpet loud and shrill,
Threw out the battle cry:

Chorus:
Blow ye the trumpet, for the Lord hath made us free;
Your blazing lamps raise high!
"The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon," shall be
Our conqu’ring Battle Cry.

2 Where the faint and fearful thousands had returned at God’s command,
By the chosen few and faithful, vict’ry came to Gideon’s band;
Hear them giving God the glory, and around the camp they stand
And shout their Battle Cry: [Chorus]

3 Christian soldiers, be not fearful; onward with your Captain go;
Ever "looking unto Jesus." you shall conquer ev’ry foe;
He hath triumph'd--take your trumpets, let the world your vict’ry know;
Sing loud your Battle Cry: [Chorus]

Source: Minnetonka Songs: for Sabbath Schools, compiled especially for the Minnetonka Sabbath-School Assembly #45

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Author: P. P. Bliss

Philip P. Bliss (b. Clearfield County, PA, 1838; d. Ashtabula, OH, 1876) left home as a young boy to make a living by working on farms and in lumber camps, all while trying to continue his schooling. He was converted at a revival meeting at age twelve. Bliss became an itinerant music teacher, making house calls on horseback during the winter, and during the summer attending the Normal Academy of Music in Genesco, New York. His first song was published in 1864, and in 1868 Dwight L. Moody advised him to become a singing evangelist. For the last two years of his life Bliss traveled with Major D. W. Whittle and led the music at revival meetings in the Midwest and Southern United States. Bliss and Ira D. Sankey published a popular series of hym… Go to person page >

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First Line:	It was midnight in the valley, and the camp was dark and still
Title:	The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon
Author:	P. P. Bliss
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	Blow ye the trumpet, for the Lord hath made us free
Copyright:	Public Domain

Judges 7:22
(hymns)

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Tune

[It was midnight in the valley, and the camp was dark and still] (Smith)

[It was midnight in the valley, and the camp was dark and still] (Bliss)

All tunes published with 'The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon'^ top