He leadeth me! O blessed thought

1
He leadeth me! O blessed thought,
O words with heav'nly comfort fraught;
Whate'er I do, where'er I be,
Still 'tis Christ's hand that leadeth me.
  He leadeth me! He leadeth me!
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
  For by His hand He leadeth me.
2
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.
3
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.
4
And when my task on earth is done,
When, by Thy grace, the vict'ry's won,
E'en death's cold wave I will not flee,
Since Thou in triumph leadest me.
89
Martin Benjamin-Addy

Accra, Gt. Accra Region, Ghana

In the delivery of my duties to God and mankind, I have been accused, abused and called names, but this hymn keeps reminding me of the origin of my mandate, and therefore should be unperturbed.

This hymn is a strengthener, a counselor and a stand-by. It tells of the the presence of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.

Thank You Lord Jesus, I have truly found a friend in You.


Luthando Galada

Cape Town, South Africa

I'm so blessed... great lyrics. Indeed He leadeth us.


Henrique Paulo

Praia Grande, SP, Brazil

Linda canção, que nos faz meditar em nosso amado Senhor Jesus Cristo, nosso amigo fiel!!! Louvado seja nosso Deus e nosso Senhor Jesús Cristo!!!

Beautiful song, It makes us meditate on our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, our faithful friend !!! Praise our God and our Lord Jesus !!!


Possible

Helsinki, Finland

One of my all time favourite. In the course of pursuing my what He once told me, about pursuing further studies, I got into the mid scenes of deepest gloom, almost doubting the vision and dream, but then some way some how I came across this song as sang by Candi Pearson. It just resonated in my spirit for several days, the assuring that I am not going off what He showed me came to me again, building faith in my spirit. It didn't last look, my "Edens' bower bloom" and showed up.

Thank You Lord Jesus for the vessel You used to bring this song (Joseph Gilmore).


Diana French

Maysville, Kentucky, United States

3:20 am, lying here in the dark next to my husband, in our granddaughter's bed, as we are visiting at our daughter's home. Wide awake for nearly an hour now, mind racing with events of the day, several very frustrating, old concerns still very much current issues; I place my hands on my face, begin to recite the 23rd Psalm to comfort and ease the tension in my mind, and I pause at, "He leadeth me." Instantly the Holy Spirit brings to my mind this precious old hymn from our Methodist days. As I sing in my head, over and over through the chorus with perfect memory, the Lord refreshes me, even in the midnight hour. Thank You sweet Jesus. Grabbed my phone to replenish the contents of the verses. Thanks!


Amos Kimani

Naivasha, Nakuru, Kenya

How wonderful is to be lead by The Mighty Lord. I can never go wrong when lead by The Lord. Even in hardship, with The Lord will overcome.


Steve Miller

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Joseph Gilmore was born in Boston, Mass. He served as pastor of several churches in the East and later taught Hebrew and English literature at Newton Seminary and Rochester University and wrote several college texts on these subjects. Although Gilmore was highly respected in his day in both religious and educational circles, today he is best remembered for this one hymn, hurriedly written when he was just 28 years of age.

"I had been speaking at the Wednesday evening service of the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia about the truths of the 23rd Psalm, and had been especially impressed with the blessedness of being led by God Himself. At the close of the service we adjourned to Deacon Watson's pleasant home where we were being entertained. During our conversation the wonder and blessedness of God's leading so grew upon me that I took out my pencil, wrote the text just as it stands today, handed it to my wife, and thought no more of it."

"Without my husband's knowledge, I sent the quickly written text to the 'Watchman and Reflector Magazine', where it first appeared the following year. You can imagine my husband's surprise when he discovered his own hymn text already in print."

"3 years later I went to Rochester, New York, to preach as a candidate for the 2nd Baptist Church. Upon entering the chapel I took up a hymnal thinking, 'I wonder what they sing here.' To my amazement the book opened at 'He Leadeth Me', and that was the 1st time I knew that my words had found a place among the songs of the church."

William Bradbury discovered Joseph Gilmore's text in the 'Watchman and Reflector Magazine' and composed a fitting melody to match the words. Bradbury also added the last 2 lines of the refrain.

When the 1st Baptist Church building of Philadelphia was demolished in 1926, it was replaced at the busy Broad and Arch intersection by a large new office building with a prominent bronze tablet containing the words for the 1st stanza of "He Leadeth Me." The inscription stated:

"This is in recognition of the beauty and fame of the beloved hymn, and in remembrance of its distinguished author."

Perhaps more than any other of our time, this hymn has been translated into many different languages. It is often one of the 1st hymns that missionaries translate into a native tongue. Servicemen during World War II were greatly surprised to find "He Leadeth Me" widely sung by the primitive Polynesians in the South Pacific. Like the 23rd Psalm on which it is based, the hymn meets a very basic and universal need in the lives of God's children everywhere - assurance of the Lord's guidance for every decision and crisis in life. - '52 Hymn Stories Dramatized' by Kenneth W. Osbeck


B. Uwera

Arlington, Virginia, United States

This morning this beautiful hymn has been on my heart. I am so thankful to have a faithful Savior who leads with love and care. It's so encouraging to see how this song has and is still blessing many. Praise be to our Lord.


Peter Mwaura.

Nairobi Kenya, Kiambu, Kenya

This song reminds me the role of a shepherd where Jesus says in John 10 that He walks ahead of His sheep. I desire to be led by Him.


Cynthia Stevens

Kingston, Jamaica

A short while ago I was searching for the hymn " I am Thine O Lord" but could not locate in the hymnal as the index is missing, God led me to it.

That's why I am singing this song. It’s a powerful testimony that God will lead us and instruct in the way we should go. The devil wanted to obstruct but God said ,"No way" Thank You Jesus for coming to my rescue. Amen.