Sir Henry Williams Baker (1821-1877), the author of this hymn and also the vicar of Monkland Priory Church in Herefordshire, England. He wrote many hymns of fine emotion and intellect, and yet his lyrical transcription of the 23rd Psalm was what came to him as he approached “death’s dark vale.” He died in 1877 in the parsonage of the church where he had served for more than thirty years – he is said to have spoken stanza three of this hymn as his last words before dying¹.

The King of love my shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never.
I nothing lack if I am his,
And he is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow,
My ransomed soul he leadeth;
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me;
And on his shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

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.

And so through all the length of days,
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
Within thy house forever.

¹umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-the-king-of-love-my-shepherd-is

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This song is a versification of the Authorized (King James) Version of the Bible (1611), now often ascribed to Cornish nobleman Francis Rous (1580–1659); it appeared only four decades after the KJV and remains one of the most assuring versions of Psalm 23 nearly four centuries later. I have included 2 modern versions below.

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want
He makes me down to lie;
In pastures green: He leadeth me
the quiet waters by.

My soul He doth restore again
and me to walk doth make;
Within the paths of righteousness
ev’n for His own name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale
Yet will I fear no ill;
For Thou art with me, and Thy rod
and staff, my comfort still.

My table Thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost with oil anoint
And my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God’s house for evermore
My dwelling-place shall be.

¹worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/michael-hawn-ten-favorite-hymns-on-psalm-23/

This hymn based on Psalm 23 was written during the American Civil War by Joseph Gilmore (1834–1918), a New England seminary professor and Baptist minister. Preaching at First Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Gilmore described the hymn’s origins: “I set out to give the people an exposition of the twenty-third psalm, which I had given before on three or four occasions, but this time I did not get further than the words ‘He leadeth me.’ Psalm 23:2, ‘he leadeth me beside the still waters,’ became the theme of the song.” The hymn lyrically follows the flow of the psalm and is anchored in the refrain added by composer William Bradbury (1816–1868), which states the theme “He leadeth me” four times, offering abiding assurance¹.

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.

Refrain:
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.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
sometimes where Eden’s flowers bloom,
by waters calm, o’er troubled sea,
still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

Refrain

Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine,
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

Refrain

And when my task on earth is done,
when, by thy grace, the victory’s won,
e’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
since God through Jordan leadeth me.

Refrain

¹worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/michael-hawn-ten-favorite-hymns-on-psalm-23/

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The next song based on Psalm 23 is this song from Sovereign Grace’s latest album; I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one!

Jesus the shepherd of my soul,
All of my needs supplies;
By living waters gives me rest,
Keeping me by His side.
Bringing my wandering spirit back,
When I forsake His ways;
Leading me for His mercy’s sake,
In paths of truth and grace.

Jesus the shepherd of my soul,
When in the valley deep;
Death like a shadow hides my way,
Still You are leading me.
I will not fear the darkest hour,
Faithful You will remain;
Comforting with Your rod and staff,
Driving my fears away.

Jesus the shepherd of my soul,
Keeping me from all harm;
Ever until He leads me home,
Safely into His arms.
When I behold Him face to face,
Then I will look and see;
Goodness and mercy from His hand,
Surely have followed me.

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One of the blessings we have as God’s church is a song book originally given to Israel, then to us, in the form of the book of Psalms. My husband has been working on a playlist to collect a song for every Psalm, as close to the ESV translation as he can find, so he can mediate on the truth throughout the day. Inspired by this endeavour, this week will be dedicated to hymns and songs based on probably is the most famous Psalm – Psalm 23!

My favourite song based on Psalm 23 is “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” written by Isaac Watts, who wrote many hymns based on the Psalms. I have included my favourite version, as well as a more traditional one, below.

My Shepherd will supply my need;
Jehovah is His Name;
In pastures fresh He makes me feed
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wand’ring spirit back
When I forsake His ways,
And leads me, for His mercy’s sake,
In paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death,
Thy presence is my stay;
A word of Thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows;
Thine oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may Thy house be mine abode,
And all my work be praise!
There would I find a settled rest
While others go and come,
No more a stranger or a guest,
But like a child at home.

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