Keith & Kristyn Getty – O Church Arise

Keith & Kristyn Getty are hymnists for a modern generation.  Keith had a solo career before he married Kristyn in 2004, morphing into a duet.

The Getty’s released seventeen albums and one EP together, including:

• New Irish Hymns 3: Incarnation (2004)
• New Irish Hymns 4: Hymns for the Life of the Church (2005)
• Songs That Jesus Said (2005)
• The Apostles’ Creed (2006)
• Modern Hymns Live (2006)
• In Christ Alone (2007)
• Keswick Live (2008)
• Awaken the Dawn (2009)
• Joy – An Irish Christmas (2011)
• Hymns for the Christian Life (2012)
• Modern and Traditional Hymns: Live at the Gospel Coalition (2013)
• Facing A Task Unfinished (2016)
• The North Coast Sessions (2018)
• His Mercy Is More (2019)
• Resurrection – EP (2020)
• Evensong: A Collection of Hymns and Lullabies at Close of Day (2020)
• Sing! Global (Live at the Getty Music Worship Conference) (2021)
• Sing! Live in Singapore (2022)

Also, check out my other reviews, including Speak O Lord, Lovingkindness, The Lord is My Salvation, See What A Morning (Resurrection Hymn), My Worth Is Not in What I Own, Christ Our Hope in Life and Death, and In Christ Alone.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

The Getty’s call us to:

• Put on the armor of God
• Hear and respond to Christ’s voice
• Resist the devil with God’s power
• Spread Jesus to others
• War with the flesh, world, and devil using God’s Word
• Remember that when it’s all said and done, Christ will emerge victorious
• Behold the cross, where God shows His compassion and grace through Christ’s death
• Jesus rose from the dead
• Endure to the end so that we’ll hear “good and faithful servant”

At the end of it all, God will be glorified.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

All of this song aligns with God’s inspired Word.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

O church, arise, and put your armor on

That is, the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Hear the call of Christ our captain

Jesus’ followers hear His voice and listen to Him (John 10:27).

For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given

The Getty’s strength comes from God (Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 22:19, Psalm 28:7-8, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 118:14, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 33:2, Isaiah 40:29-31, Habakkuk 3:19, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 3:16, Ephesians 6:10, and Philippians 4:13).

With shield of faith and belt of truth

See commentary in line 1.

We’ll stand against the devil’s lies

Satan is a liar (Genesis 3:1-5, John 8:44, 2 Corinthians 11:3, 2 Corinthians 11:14, and Revelation 12:9).  He will flee if we submit to God (James 4:7).

An army bold, whose battle cry is love
Reaching out to those in darkness

We boldly go where no one has gone before, or at least where most people don’t go (Matthew 9:35 and Luke 10:2): lovingly tell others about Jesus who don’t know Him (Matthew 28:18-20).

[Verse 2]

Our call to war, to love the captive soul
But to rage against the captor

We engage in Spiritual warfare (Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 7:14-25, Ephesians 6:12-17, and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5). against three enemies:

1. The flesh (John 3:6, Romans 8:5, Romans 7:14-25, Romans 8:6-14, Galatians 5:19-25, Philippians 3:18-19, Colossians 3:1-3, 1 Corinthians 2:14, and 2 Peter 2:1-10)
2. The world (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13, John 15:19, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 2:2, Colossians 3:1-2, 1 Timothy 6:10, 1 John 2:15-17, 1 John 3:17, 1 John 4:5, and James 4:4)
3. The Devil (Genesis 3:1-5, Matthew 4:11, Matthew 16:23, Mark 1:12-13, Mark 8:33, Luke 4:1-13, John 8:44, 2 Corinthians 11:3, 1 John 3:8-10, and Revelation 20:7-10)

And with the sword that makes the wounded whole
We will fight with faith and valor

That is, with the Word of God or Scripture (Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17), used to fight in the war mentioned in lines 1 and 2.

When faced with trials on every side
We know the outcome is secure

Ultimately, Jesus will be victorious (Revelation 17:14), and the evil in this world will burn in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15).

And Christ will have the prize for which He died
An inheritance of nations

That is, the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-32 and Revelation 19:7-9).

[Chorus]

Arise, shine for your light has come

That is, to drive out darkness (Psalm 107:10-16, Luke 1:79, John 1:1-13, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13, and 1 Peter 2:9).

Arise, shine for the Risen Son
Lift your eyes, we are His radiant bride
Arise, o church arise!

The bride, or church of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-32 and Revelation 19:7-9) fixes their eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).

[Verse 3]

Come, see the cross, where love and mercy meet
As the Son of God is stricken

This describes God’s love and mercy through the cross, that He died for His enemies who broke His laws (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8, and 1 John 4:9-10).  The Getty’s invite us to come and see (John 1:39).

Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet

The enemies of God will be His footstool (Psalm 110:1, Luke 20:41-43, Ephesians 1:20-22, Hebrews 1:13, and Hebrews 10:12-13).

For the Conqueror has risen!
And as the stone is rolled away
And Christ emerges from the grave
This victory march continues till the day

Jesus resurrected permanently (Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

Ev’ry eye and heart shall see Him

Quotes part of Revelation 1:7.

[Verse 4]

So Spirit, come, put strength in every stride
Give grace for every hurdle
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful

This prayer is that the Holy Spirit grants us the power to endure the race of faith so that we may attain the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24-27), that is, to hear “well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23) and inherit eternal life (Mark 10:29-30, John 3:15-16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:27, John 6:40, John 10:28, John 17:3, John 20:31, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:22-23, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Galatians 6:8, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:11, Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:23-27, 1 John 5:10-13, 1 John 5:20, Jude 1:20-21, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 7:16-17, and Revelation 21:3-4).

As saints of old, still line the way
Retelling triumphs of His grace
We hear their calls, and hunger for the day

References the Christians who came after the first-century followers of Jesus.  Their testimonies are building blocks that help lead us to Christ, developing a hunger for more of Him.

When with Christ we stand in Glory

This will take place during the Final Resurrection (Luke 20:34-38, Acts 24:15-16, Romans 6:1-5, Romans 8:11-13, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 1 Corinthians 15:50-56, 2 Corinthians 4:13-14, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will know it’s Christian because it mentions Jesus, the cross, and the stone that rolled away.  They will see a lot of war language, where the church and their leader, the crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ, will ultimately be the victor against the devil, setting captives free.  Christians will stand in glory with Jesus.

Score: 9/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God as the conquering Ruler who shows His love through the cross, that Jesus is alive, and that we respond by proclaiming His name to the masses, obeying His commandments, and leaning on His power to endure and push through circumstances.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Keith & Kristyn Getty’s O Church Arise is great.  It contains battle phraseology, which calls Christians to prepare to fight the flesh, the world, and the devil until we go to be with our Lord.  Christ, who died for us on the cross and rose from the dead, will be the ultimate victor, bringing Him glory.  Unbelievers should easily interpret similarly.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: O Church Arise (listen to the song)

Artist: Keith & Kristyn Getty

Album: In Christ Alone

Genre: Hymn

Release Year: 2006

Duration: 4:21

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

Updates:

03/25/2024 – Hien discovered that I did not comment on Chorus!  I fixed this.

10/06/2022 – Removed criticism of “For now the weak can say that they are strong”.  Thanks to Tino for correcting me!