Edward Roy Hindman

West Point, 1949

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Susan Lee Hindman on March 20, 2012:

I sang Swing Low, Sweet Chariot and other Christian songs directly to Dad in his hospital room when he was soon to pass a day and a half later into heaven to be forever with our loving and gracious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot is a well known black spiritual and folk song that uses biblical imagery and was written by Mr. Wallis Willis who was actually a Choctaw Indian freedman who lived in the old Indian Territory sometime before 1862. The Red River reminded Mr. Willis of the Jordan River and of the Prophet Elijah being taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire in a whirlwind. The Old Testament Book of II Kings 2:9-12 says, "And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces." Elijah passed on his mantle which was the symbol of his God given spiritual power and a double portion of his spirit to his disciple Elisha. Mr. Alexander Reid was a Christian minister at a Choctaw boarding school and he heard Mr. Willis singing this song and then transcribed the lyrics and melody. Mr. Reid sent this music to the Fisk Jubilee Singers of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, who made the first recording of this song in 1909 and it became popular during their tour of the United States and Europe. The musical term spiritual was taken from the New Testament Epistle to the Ephesians 5:18-20 which says, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." The traditional lyrics of this Christian spiritual are written below. SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT Chorus: Swing low, sweet chariot Coming for to carry me home, Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home. I looked over Jordan, and what did I see Coming for to carry me home? A band of angels coming after me, Coming for to carry me home. Chorus Sometimes I'm up, and sometimes I'm down, (Coming for to carry me home) But still my soul feels heavenly bound. (Coming for to carry me home). Chorus The brightest day that I can say, (Coming for to carry me home) When Jesus washed my sins away. (Coming for to carry me home). Chorus If I get there before you do, (Coming for to carry me home) I'll cut a hole and pull you through. (Coming for to carry me home). Chorus If you get there before I do, (Coming for to carry me home) Tell all my friends I'm coming too. (Coming for to carry me home). Chorus The New Testament Epistle of Paul to Titus 3:4-7 says, "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." The New Testament Book of I John 4:14-19 says, "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us." The Old Testament Book of Zechariah 4:6-7 says, "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it." With much grace in our loving Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Susan Lee Hindman Christian Daughter and Administrative Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Office of the Secretary of Defense The Pentagon (703) 697-7448 direct telephone number

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