“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” -Psalm 23:2
Perhaps one of the most famous American hymns is He Leadeth Me. This hymn was written by Joseph Gilmore in 1862. This song is based on the Psalm 23:2. Joseph Gilmore wanted to write a hymn about the entire psalm, but he could not get past the words of the second verse. He wanted to convey the comfort that comes from knowing that it is God who is leading.
He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
The years of the Civil War were dark times for the United States. Although the hymn does not explicitly mention the war, it does draw on the 23rd psalm, beginning the second verse with the line, “Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom.” Joseph Gilmore understood that in life’s daily darkness, we can lose sight of God’s loving and leading hand. We do not have to worry. God is faithful and is leading us.
Sometimes ’mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, o’er troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.
Gilmore knew that God would lead us through times of joy and moments of trials. He also knew that we should seek to connect with God. Like a child holding their parents’ hand to cross the street, we should reach out to God and let Him guide us along. We are blessed because our shepherd wants to lead us. Let us reach out our hand and be guided to places of peace and rest. Let the shepherd lead us “beside the still waters.”
Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur or repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since it is Thou that leadest me.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
