I. Introduction
William Bradbury (1816-1868). The blessedness and awe of being led by God so impresses the author of this text that he wrote these words spontaneously--and these exact words have been sung around the world for more that a century. The 23rd Psalm seems to have been his greatest inspiration for this hymn.
II. Verse 1
A. "He Leadeth me!" It is important for us to decide what it means for God to lead us and what it doesn't mean. When a Shepherd leads his sheep, the path that they take to achieve the goal of safety, nurturing (things that are done to cause or enhance our growth), and guidance, is solely dependent on the Shepherd. When one of the sheep strays from the path set by the Shepherd, these goals are endangered. We as Christians must accept God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as Shepherd. The Word of God guides us to the safety and nurturing that we can receive in this life and most importantly to Eternal Life. Matt. 9:35-38, Matt. 25:32-, John 10:11, Heb. 13:20-21, I Pet. 2:24-25, 5:4.
What this doesn't mean is for God to be a part time Shepherd in our lives. God must be the guiding force in a II that we do. We need to be excited that we can put the responsibility for what we should be and do in God's capable hands. Also, it doesn't mean that he manipulates our actions outside the realm of our own will.
B. "O Blessed Thought" How often do we cherish in our thoughts the fact that the Almighty God who created us has considered us worthy of his time and effort by being our Shepherd! What are we to deserve such attention by him? This attention to our needs even went to the point of him offering up his only son for us! What motivation this should be for us to remember him in our lives.
C. "O words with heav'nly comfort fraught." The words, He leadeth me, should not only excite us about his concern for us but should serve to comfort us. When we turn our lives over to God, we should be comforted by the fact that the universe's creator is in control of our lives. Worry and anxiety should vanish as we depend on God and his word to guide us. Matt. 6:25-34
D. "Whate'er I do, where'er I be, still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me." Let's get down to the nifty gritty of what we are talking about. This is a statement of our commitment. When we are confronted with questions in our lives about what we should say or do--it is the word of God and its guidance that we look to. When we try to make decisions concerning dancing, smoking, drinking, gambling, pornography, drugs, premarital sex, filthy conversation, what type friends to have, who to marry, whether to attend services, how to treat each other, what type job to have, whether to attend certain functions, how to approach our duties at school or work, which church to attend, etc., our decisions must be based on what God would have us to do. If we could imagine Jesus Christ literally being with us as we confront every issue in our lives would we behave differently? Guess what--He is To turn away from the sin of this word, should create such joys that it is hard for us to express it! God has given us to freedom to put the responsibility for what we should do and be on him. What a burden to lift from our shoulders!!!!!
III. Verses 2 and 3-Read
"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." John 6:42-48, I Cor. 10:1-12 A Bower is a leafy shelter or recess. Man must understand that in and of ourselves we are nothing. The children of Israel were not content in wilderness with the way God took care of them. The resulting problems that they had were from discontentment. It is only when we put our faith and confidence in God and Christ, and embrace their word, without murmuring and repining, that we can find contentment. If we find ourselves content with what we have and are in this life, we will not look for and find those things that are unrighteous, but will seek the Lord and his righteousness.
IV. Verse 4-Read
"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 through Jordan leadeth me." t Cor. 15:52-57, t John 5:4. Our victory over death is made possible by the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is through the grace of God, that we have made available to us the blood of Jesus, that cleanses us from sin and gives us the victory over spiritual death. When God leads our lives, we not only benefit in this life but receive eternal life in the next.
V. Chorus
"Faithful follower" Eph. 5:1-2,1Pet. 3:13-17 To be a faithful follower we must be (as Bro. Whitworth puts it) full of faith. It should be evident in every part of our lives mat we nave God and Jesus as our leader, we can claim that we are followers but if we do not do the will of God, our claim is empty. Being a faithful also will entail suffering on our part, but this suffering that we endure will be accounted to us for righteousness.