Lyrics
Verse 1
Conquering now and still to conquer, rideth a King in His might;
Leading the host of all the faithful into the midst of the fight;
See them with courage advancing, clad in their brilliant array,
Shouting the Name of their Leader, hear them exultingly say:
Chorus
Not to the strong is the battle, not to the swift is the race,
Yet to the true and the faithful vict’ry is promised through grace.
Interlude
I need thee, oh I need thee,
Every hour I need thee,
Oh bless me know my Saviour
I come to thee.
Verse 2
Conquering now and still to conquer, Jesus, Thou Ruler of all,
Thrones and their scepters all shall perish, crowns and their splendor shall fall,
Yet shall the armies Thou leadest, faithful and true to the last,
Find in Thy mansions eternal rest, when their warfare is past.
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Victory Through Grace is a hymn about following a conquering King into spiritual battle. The first stanza pictures a King riding in His might, leading the host of the faithful into the fight, with courage and brilliant array, shouting the name of their Leader. The refrain says that the battle is not to the strong nor the race to the swift, but that victory is promised through grace to the true and faithful.
A short inserted section borrows the familiar words "I need Thee, oh I need Thee, every hour I need Thee," asking for a blessing and coming to the Savior. The last stanza looks ahead to the time when thrones, scepters, crowns and splendor perish, while the armies that He leads find eternal rest in His mansions when the warfare is past. The themes follow Ecclesiastes 9:11 on the race not going to the swift, Revelation 19:11-14 on the armies following the rider on the white horse, and 2 Corinthians 12:9 on grace being sufficient. The marching rhythm gives the hymn a bold, triumphant tone.
Related Scripture
- Ecclesiastes 9:11 The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong.
- Revelation 19:11-14 Christ rides out as a conquering King followed by the armies of heaven.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 God's grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness.