We Gather Together

[438 words] As a young teenager, I was introduced to the song, “We Gather Together.” Some of you may remember it as a song used to celebrate Thanksgiving. I never really gave it much thought until this week when it came to mind as I read a bulletin article on worship. I googled the song and learned that it was a Dutch hymn written around 1600 to celebrate the freedom of the Netherlands from Spain. It is suggested that the song is probably inappropriate for worship due to its militant and patriotic associations. It is not found in our song book today.  I thought about it in context with the need to meet together as God’s people on Sunday. The words of the song remind us that we are in a battle against the spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 6:12). But even more, a reminder that “God is our refuge…