The Good Shepherd Leads Us
Psalm 23 is a portion of Scripture that I often use as a prayer. When I was a little girl going to Sunday School, I memorized it in the King James Version, and those archaic words remain my favorite. Today’s prayer post also includes a hymn written in the 1800’s with some old-fashioned language. I hope you will enjoy both.
Psalm 23
(King James Version)
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
In the book of John, Jesus makes seven “I am” statements. This is one, and for me, it adds a depth of meaning to Psalm 23.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me” (John 10:14)
I imagine the writers of the hymn, “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”* had both Psalm 23 and Jesus’s “I Am” declaration in mind when they wrote this prayerful hymn in the 1800’s.
Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
Dorothy A. Thrupp (1779-1847) and Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)
Blessings as the Good Shepherd leads you this day,
