Ryan Cornett

O God, Arise to Do Your Will

Sheet music

WORDS: Ryan Cornett, 2023

MUSIC: Thomas Tallis, c. 1567

TUNE: TALLIS' ORDINAL (C.M.)

1.

O God, arise to do Your will,

Bring glory to Your name;

Your song we sing, Your flag we fly,

Your Gospel, we proclaim.

(Psalm 68:1, Isaiah 42:8, Psalm 96:2-3)

2.

Like ceaseless waves upon a shore,

All evil, overwhelm;

Send forth Your Church in Spirit-pow'r

To plunder Satan's realm.

(Matthew 16:18, Acts 1:8)

3.

Yea, lift Your sons to lofty heights

But cast the wicked low;

Tread down the serpent where our feet

In mission boldly go.

(Psalm 18:32-34, Psalm 147:6, Romans 16:20, Luke 10:19)

4.

Upheld by Your almighty hand

For might of men will fail,

With You we shall do valiantly;

Your banner will prevail.

(Psalm 73:26, Psalm 60:12 / 108:13, Exodus 17:15)

5.

This march across a dark domain

Will end in endless peace,

With broken bow and sundered spear

When strife and warfare cease.

(Psalm 23:4, Isaiah 2:4, Psalm 46:9)

6.

As watchmen yearning for the dawn,

We make this bold address:

O God, arise to do Your will,

And reign in righteousness!

(Romans 8:23-25, Isaiah 35:1-2, Psalm 97:1-2)

About the Hymn

This hymn was born from a single line in a Psalm paraphrase published by Crown & Covenant, "When God arose to do His will." That phrase lingered for weeks, ultimately giving shape to the central theme of the text: a petition for God to arise, not because He is inactive, but so that His people might witness afresh the triumph and advance of His Kingdom.

Drawing on the Bible's own language of battle, mission, and victory, the hymn presents the Church as God's empowered people marching through a dark world, upheld by His strength, and certain of final peace. Each stanza echoes the conviction that God's people, though weak in themselves, are made strong by His hand; that His banner will not falter; and that one day He will reign in visible righteousness.