TEACH ME....

"Teach" in the title, a ruler.... reminders for
a hymn about learning God's ways

A monthly feature on a hymn of the faith.

Some big media names in our times include Gordon Ramsay, the outspoken television chef (his name spelled with two A's), and Dave Ramsey, finance advice personality (his name with an A and E). But does the name “Benjamin Mansell Ramsey” ring a bell? Probably not. Maybe the title “Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord” does.

The history of hymnody includes many who wrote just a few hymns, and one rose to the top. Such is the case for Ramsey's “Teach Me Thy Way,” Born in 1849, he was known as an organist and amateur composer in his hometown of Chichester, in England's southeast coastal county, Sussex. Hugging the shoreline of the English Channel, the city had a colorful history going back to medieval and Norman times, as a Roman and Anglo-Saxon settlement. It was also the seat of the Church of England's Diocese of Chichester, boasting a cathedral that hailed back to the 12^th Century.

Ramsey spent his life in that area, moving in music circles. He taught music at a local school, served as an officer in the local music association, and conducted local orchestras, one of which he helped establish. His musical output included a children's cantata about Robinson Crusoe and another titled “Clouds and Sunshine: A Fairy Play.” His other hymn to become better known was “Lord, Bring Some Wanderers Home.”

Little was written about his private life. His daughter Lillian was a published writer of children's books.

But what of this hymn? Perhaps its endurance is its meditative tune, and how it expressed the teachings of several Bible passages. One is 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul's last known “goodbyes” to various friends who helped him and is charge to Timothy to persevere in preaching and living out the Gospel:

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.

Maybe these verses also influenced this hymn's lyrics:

Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. (Psalm 27:11)

Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. (Psalm 86:11)

Thought he suffered poor health in his old age, he organized and conducted a choral society in Chichester before dying at 74. It's worth noting that “Teach Me Thy Way” ends as he lived:

Until the race is run, until the journey's done,

Until the Crown is won; Teach me Thy Way.

Stunning photography accompanies this YouTube featuring “Teach Me Thy Way”:

Teach me Thy way, O Lord - with Lyrics - Bing video