"Ride On, Ride On, O Savior-King"

We sang this hymn today during 1st service to set the theme of this Sunday around The Triumphal Entry. I for one, had not heard the song before practicing it. But as I read the lyrics, I found it to be quite fitting to be telling the story of Christ's entry into Jerusalem just 4 days before His crucifixion.

The lyrics are:

Ride on, ride on, O Savior-King

To set the prisoner free!

To sin-cursed souls salvation to bring

And peace eternally!

Ride on to dark Gethsemane, 

To untold agony,

And on the cross of Calvary

Procure our victory!

Ride on, ride on, O Savior-King,

To claim the hearts of men!

Now death has lost its dreadful sting

And hope is born again.

O come, in human hearts to reign--

Suppress the pow'r of sin!

Our own endeavor is in vain--

Lord, Thou must help us win!

Ride on, ride on, O Savior-King!

Ride on o'er land and sea,

For Thou alone to men can bring

Eternal liberty.

Ride on to sin-bound nations, Lord

Until each hearts shall own

Thy saving, sanctifying word

And bow before Thy throne!

Written by a pastor, C.K. Solberg, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN back in 1932, is among one of the recorded 11 hymns he wrote during his lifetime. Rather than translating hymns, Carl Knutson Solberg was gifted as an original hymnist; composing hymns with his own lyrics.

Among the 11 recorded (meaning, written down & kept record of; not necessarily an audio/mp3 file), "Ride on, Ride on, O Savior-King" is one of the most unpopular of his writings. Because of this, it has been quite difficult to find details on this particular hymn. 

Since it is labeled in PFBC's hymnal as "Christ: The Triumphal Entry" we have reason to believe that C.K. Solberg wrote this hymn with Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem in mind.

Interestingly enough, this hymn ties together Jesus riding into Jerusalem with the real reason why He came; which was to teach us that Rome and other people are not the problem, but that the human heart is the problem. With each deceitful heart that seemingly welcomed Him into Jerusalem, betrayed Him just a few days later shouting out their desire to crucify Him. But Jesus died for every one of them who chose to crucify Him. Including us. 

I half-wonder if Solberg wrote these lyrics as what he would say to Jesus if he were at the entrance to Jerusalem on the day Jesus rode in on a colt.  

Whatever the case, I'm thankful God led me to this hymn. Its scarceness, yet with the lyrics having pure faith and trust in Jesus Christ to fulfill the true reason of why He came (to redeem us by dying for us on the cross to reconcile us back to God) makes it become a hymn to keep in my collection for years to come.

If you would like a copy of it, here are some hymnals that still have it in print:  

Revival Hymns and Choruses

and

Sing Joyfully

I pray this hymn blesses you as you advance on the journey that Holy Week has in store for you and your relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior King.