January 13, 2005

He Leadeth Me

Joseph H. Gilmore, 1834-1918

      He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. Psalm 23:2.

    The blessedness and awe of being led by Almighty God Himself so impressed the author of this text that he wrote these beloved words spontaneously -- and these exact words have been sung by believers around the world for more than a century. Although Joseph Gilmore became a distinguished university and seminary professor, an author of several textbooks in Hebrew and English literature, and a respected Baptist minister, he is best remembered today for this one hymn, hurriedly written when he was just 28.
    In 1862, as a 28-year-old student who was about to become a pastor, Henry was invited to preach at the historic First Baptist Church of Philadelphia. "I set out to give the people an exposition of the Twenty-third Psalm. I had given this exposition on three or four other occasions; but this time I did not get beyond the words 'He leadeth me.' So greatly impressed was I with the blessedness of divine guidance that I made this my theme." He later felt that the dark days of the Civil War may have subconsciously led him to focus on God's leadership.
   At the close of the meeting, Henry and some others went to the home of a deacon. "There," he wrote, "we continued our discussion of divine guidance. While I was still talking and listening, I wrote on a piece of my exposition manuscript the words to this hymn. I handed the paper to my wife and more or less forgot the incident."
    Without telling her husband, Mrs. Gilmore sent the verses to The Watchman and Reflector magazine, where it first appeared the following year.
    Three years later, having pastored for some time in New Hampshire, Henry was invited to preach a trial sermon at the Second Baptist Church in Rochester. "I picked up a church hymnal to see what songs they sang and was surprised to have the book fall open to the very song I had written three years earlier," he wrote.
    "When I returned home, I related this experience to my wife. 'I do not understand it,' I said. 'My words had been set to music by Dr. William B. Bradbury; yet I had not given the words to anybody.' My wife smiled and said, 'I can explain it, Joseph. I felt that the words would bless the hearts of people in these troublesome times; so I sent the poem to The Watchman and Reflector. I am glad to know that they have printed it.'"
    William Bradbury, an important American contributor to early gospel hymnody, added two additional lines to the chorus:  "His faithful foll'wer I would be, for by His hand He leadeth me." Does that describe you?

    He leadeth me! O blessed thought! O words with heav'nly comfort fraught! Whate'er I do, where'er I be, still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.
    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.
    Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine, nor ever murmur nor repine, content, whatever lot I see, since 'tis my God's hand that leadeth me.
    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 God thru Jordan leadeth me.
Chorus:  He leadeth me, He leadeth me, by His own hand He leadeth me; His faithful foll'wer I would be, for by His hand He leadeth me.