The King of love my Shepherd is

1
The King of love my Shepherd is,
  Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His,
  And He is mine forever.
2
Where streams of living water flow
  My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And, where the verdant pastures grow,
  With food celestial feedeth.
3
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
  But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
  And home rejoicing brought me.
4
In death's dark vale I fear no ill
  With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
  Thy Cross before to guide me.
5
Thou spread'st a table in my sight;
  Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And oh, what transport of delight
  From Thy pure chalice floweth!
6
And so through all the length of days
  Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
  Within Thy house forever.
25
Ana Lara

Storrs, Connecticut, United States

Henry Williams Baker was an Anglican pastor who served in a small rural community of less than 200 people, just next to Wales, in England. His father was a decorated naval officer who had fought with distinction against the Americans in the War of 1812. As Henry settled into this quiet neighborhood, he pulled out his pen, and came up with some well-known hymns. This particular one, “the King of my love my Shepherd is, ” is interesting in it that it combines the idea of the Lord as our Shepherd, in Psalm 23, and the Good Shepherd, that Jesus identified Himself with in John 10.

After graduating from Cambridge University at the age of 30, Baker took up his pastorate in this little community, where he became greatly loved. He opened the first village school house, and the early buildings still exist today. After one unsuccessful test of the waters, Baker decided to remain unmarried, and instead served the people of the parish until his death at age 55.

One of his main accomplishments was contributing to the publication of “Hymns, Ancient and Modern, “ which unusual for the day, combines texts, and tunes on the same page, so that anyone could sing the music more easily. And, as he lay dying, Baker repeated some of the words of this hymn, according to his good friend, who was with him during his dying moments. It was also sung at the at the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997.

(Lewis-Els Codington)


Charles George

Bangalore, Karnataka, India

to share this with notes to group on fb; 'great hymns and songs of the faith' thank you hymners


Winston Pettus

Loughrea, Galway, Ireland

We used to sing this hymn at my prep school in England. It just came back to me today aged 67. A beautiful memory ❤️


Anonymous

Love this hymn very much . Just came back to my recollection while I was doing house chores


Junior Ezenwa

FCT, Abuja, Nigeria

Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise

Within Thy house forever..... This part of the hymn will be hard to leave my memory


Ibe Chukwudi Timothy

Lagos, Nigeria

One of my best hymns: 'on His shoulders gently laid and home rejoicing brought me'. That Love is so significant to me considering my past stubbornness.


Robert Brown

Kirkcaldy, Fife, United Kingdom

..... Thy rod and staff my comfort still,

Thy Cross before to guide me. ... my daily prayer.


Olufemi Ayandokun

Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria

This hymn sums up so much to who God is to me! The love of God has me! I remain grateful to God for loving me ALWAYS!!


Jennifer Adams

Co. Down, United Kingdom

I have experienced the divine rescue of Jesus the good shepherd. I was brought up in Christian faith. Through sinful actions I stopped praying going to church as considered myself unworthy. I experienced a series of episodes which brought/involved darkness in form of strange happenings occurring in my home. At same time a Christian calendar was put through my letterbox. The first page wrote "And Jesus said I am the light of the world" another read "All have sinned & come short of the glory of God."

When a dark episode occurred I confronted what I believed must be demonic. I came across by coincidence or not... a certificate I had from sunday school which read "from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which has kept you wise unto salvation through our Lord Jesus Chirist.". After that I asked Lord for forgiveness & prayed alot. I firmly believe Jesus became my good shepherd & brought me back to His flock. This hymn sums up my feelings & the Lord’s love to rescue His lost sheep whom the Lord never gave up on. Such love.


John M. Johnstone

Richmond, Kentucky, United States

Truly wonderful! And so inspiring.