Saturday, August 3, 2013

Hymn of the Month - The King of Love My Shepherd Is

I apologize that this hymn is a couple of days late.  I've been busy getting stuff ready for school and just remembered that I hadn't yet written my post for August!  Part of the goal before school starts is to get the hymn of the month posts done through November.
Anyway, this month I picked one of my many favorite hymns - "The King of Love My Shepherd Is" by Henry W. Baker.  This hymn is mostly based on the 23rd Psalm.  My confirmation verse was Psalm 23:1.  Here is Psalm 23 in its entirety:
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.
Frankly, I am not really going to go into an explanation of the hymn as it is rather self-explanatory.  As you read this, use it as a prayer.

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.

Thou spread'st a table in my sight;

Thine unction grace bestoweth;
And oh, what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days

Thy goodness faileth never.
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever!

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