Channels, Fall 2019

Page 56 Punzi • A Religious Interpretation God” is the one who enabled the king’s dream to be interpreted. Finally, in Titus 2:13, the coming of the “great God” in the form of Jesus Christ brings salvation. This borrowed title of God highlights His supremacy. The soldier’s declared their trust in a great God, and they called on Him to act on their behalf. They relied on God to guard and deliver them. The borrowed phrase, “great God,” seems to highlight the Union’s believed God was mighty and would act accordingly during the Civil War conflict. This belief is consistent with the usage of the phrase in the Bible. The North fought to protect the nation from division assuming that God not only sanctioned their actions, but also worked on their side. “God Save the South!” 37 In this song, the South prays for what they want God to do, namely save them. But the song also describes what God has already done, claiming that He will continue to act accordingly. It then claims to justify the actions of the South in the Civil War. “God be our shield, at home or afield. Stretch thine arm over us, strengthen and save.” The South asks God to intervene and aide the Confederacy, to protect and save. One particular phrase is borrowed from the Bible, and that is the language of God being a “shield.” In Psalm 33:19-20, the psalmist hopes in the Lord to deliver him from death. His soul hopes in the Lord because God is his “help and shield.” In Psalm 59:8-11, the psalmist describes God slaying his enemies and being his own defense, specifically calling the Lord his “shield.” Psalm 84:8-12 describes the blessing that comes from God to His people because he is their “shield.” The song borrows this language and uses it similarly to how it is used in Scripture. Using this language shows that the soldiers interpreted that God would intervene on behalf of those whom He shields in the war. The South relied on God to defend them in their fight to secede. “God made the right stronger than the might…Let the proud spoiler know, God’s on our side.” The evidence for this example of borrowed language is not as simple as ones previously mentioned, but the connection is still significant. The use of the word “right” to refer to a particular side is similar to the use of the “righteous” in the Bible, specifically in the Psalms when the righteous and wicked are contrasted. Over and over, the righteous are blessed and given life, while the wicked are judged and destroyed. 38 In these Psalms alone, the righteous win over the wicked, and the use of “the right” here seems to draw from this language. The Confederacy identified with the righteous and anticipated God acting on their behalf and granting victory to them. The song also claims that “Rebel’s the righteous name Washington bore.” This further corresponds with the South seeing themselves as the “right” and connects to the Revolutionary War. They considered their actions in the Civil War, not only in line with historical actions of the country, but also morally righteous according to Scripture. “The Cross of the South” 39 Metaphors for the South’s struggle as a fight for peace, justice, and victory fill this song. The overarching metaphor for the struggle itself is “the Cross of the South,” which is repeated throughout the song. The idea of equating the burden, mission, and duty of these people as a “cross” 37 Chas. W.A. Ellerbrock and Earnest Halphin, God Save the South! (1863) Notated Music. 38 Psalm 1:5-6; 5:12; 7:9; 11:5; 34:15, 17, 19, 21; 37:21, 29, 39; 69:28; 92:12, 125:3; 146:8. 39 The Cross of the South. 1861. Notated Music.