He leadeth me! O blessed thought

Joseph Henry Gilmore, the writer of this hymn was born at Boston, on April 29, 1834. He became professor of Hebrew at Newton Theological Institute, and for some time held a Baptist Ministerial charge at Fisherville, New Hampshire, and at Rochester, New York.

“He leadeth me“ was written in 1862, at the close of the service which the author had conducted in the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia. Mr. Gilmore had taken as his theme the 23rd Psalm, especially emphasizing the blessedness of being led by God—of the mere fact of His leadership—altogether apart from the way in which He leads us, and what He is leading us to. Reaching the home of a friend with whom he was staying, Mr. Gilmore tells us is that as he pondered on the blessedness of the divine leadership of God, instinctively there came to him the impulse to write. “I took up my pencil, ” he says, “and wrote the hymn just as it stands today. ” He afterwards handed it to his wife, and thought no more about it. Praying that God might have a mission for the verses her husband had been inspired to write, Mrs. Gilmore sent a copy, without her husband’s knowledge, to a Christian periodical and there it first appeared in print.

It was then that the hymn came to the awareness of William B. Bradbury who composed for it the very appropriate tune, with which it has since been associated.

The hymn strikes a bright note of confidence throughout, and it’s still a much loved song of praise. In the third stanza is described a sustaining power, which, to the weary pilgrim, has proved an unfailing antidote when the road is rough and the sky is overcast:

“Lord I would clasp Thine hand in mine,
And never murmur or repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ‘tis my God that leadeth me.

Beautiful

I've had this song in my lips for too long. Playing to me even in my subconscious. I decided to invest in it and the wordings are so comforting even in the midst of crisis.

May His holy name be praised

God has been my guide throughout this covid-19 time. He has been faithfully providing for me and my family. I am so grateful. I bless his name, I adore Him. His name be glorified.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye. Psalms 8:32. Whether you turn turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it. Isaiah 30:21. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:6.

What a wonderful accompaniment to the words that I’ve written in my journal today: “Make sure His Lordship translates into His “lead-ship. ”. Amen!

I remember singing this at boarding gate 49 of Hong Kong International Airport before boarding flight CX101 to Sydney. I trusted in God and he led me for the month there.

Since then, this has become one of my favourite hymns.

I like it.

My morning bread.