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| Psalm 23--in a modern "Psalter" (notice the "page number" is the Psalm number) |
“The Lord is my Shepherd.” Who hasn't memorized those words that begin Psalm 23? Its words of protection and comfort are taught children and often quoted at the end of life. It's no surprise that the theme of Jesus as our Shepherd should run throughout the history of hymns.
Probably the best known hymn of the Scottish psalter, it was published four decades after the 1611 King James translation of the Bible. By adding rhyme and tune to chapters of Psalms, it was the preferred worship songbook for those (including early Calvinists) who believed only Bible passages should be sung in church. Then came reformers like Germany's Martin Luther, who felt Christians needed new songs to sing. He and others composed hymns embracing Bible truths but didn't try to squeeze Bible translation into poetic forms. Many were inspired by Psalm 23, the Shepherd song. You've probably sung many in your life. Here, in historical order, are a few:
“Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us” (1836)--Englishwoman Dorothea Ann Thrupp prepared little devotional and song books for children, usually just using her initials (D.A.T.) for published writings. But one little poem in her book, telling about Jesus' tender care and “pleasant pastures,” was left unsigned. Most believe it was hers, just an oversight of credit. American composer William Bradbury added a tender tune. How many millions have sung about “Blessed Jesus, thou hast bought us, thine we are.”
“He Leadeth Me” (1862)--Joseph Gilmore, son of a New Hampshire governor, became a minister and one day was supplying the pulpit at a Philadelphia Church. His text was Psalm 23, but when he began, he couldn't get past “He leadeth me beside the still waters.” Preaching during some of the darkest days of the Civil War, he likely felt emotionally overwhelmed. After the service, while in the parlor of his host that Sunday, a poem came to him and he scribbled words on a piece of paper. He later showed them to his wife; she sent them to a magazine, which published them. Unknown to him, well-known hymn composer William Bradbury (who did the music for the hymn mentioned above) noticed the poem and wrote a new tune for it—then put it in a hymnal! Three years after Gilmore jotted the lyrics, he opened the hymnal of a church were he was a guest preacher and discovered his poem-now-hymn. Of his poem, he remarked, “It makes no difference how we are led, or whether we are led, so long as we are sure God is leading us.”
“The King of Love My Shepherd Is”(1868)--The Welsh had their own hymn based on Psalm 23, but Anglican clergyman Henry Baker gave it a fresh translated face. It's reported that as he died, for his last words he quoted from that hymn: “Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, But yet in love He sought me.” That verse ends: “And on His shoulder gently laid, and home rejoicing brought me.”
“Shepherd of Love”(1966)--John W. Peterson (1921-2000), called the “Dean of Contemporary Gospel Singers,” wrote some 1,200 Gospel songs and hymns plus many cantatas. This song, and one he wrote in 1958 with another Gospel musician, Alfred Smith, “Surely Goodness and Mercy” rely on the imagery of Psalm 23.
“The New Twenty-third”(1969)--Ralph Carmichael (b. 1927) was introduced to music at the age of four when handed a fiddle by his pastor, also a fiddler. He also studied piano, trumpet and voice and became a minister of music and composer to Billy Graham films. He began his Psalm 23 Gospel song, “Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything that I need.”
“Gentle Shepherd” (1975)--Prodigious performers and composers Bill and Gloria Gaither, who left teaching for Gospel music careers, translated Psalm 23 to this tender hymn with a lullaby feel to it. The couple will celebrate their 59th year of marriage this year—a union that has produced memorable Gospel music that reached around the world.
“Shepherd Me, O God” (1986)--Representative of newer, not-as-well-known songs based on Psalm 23 is this one by Marty Haugen. One year in the 1980s while snowbound at the Holden Village retreat center in North Central Washington, he came up with his simple chorus based on Psalm 23. Full—like the original psalm—of comforting metaphors, it's been ecumenically embraced by several Christian faith traditions.
No matter which of these “shepherd” songs is nearest your heart, never lose sight of Jesus applying the metaphor to Himself:
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)
Here is a video with scenic background for “Shepherd Me, O God,” composed 35 years ago in Washington's Cascade Mountains:
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