“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”. A reflection courtesy of our music director, Rick Roberts.
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I believe one of Jo Anne’s favorite hymns is “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”. We sing it often and, I confess, I love the music.
It was written by William Williams (1717-1791) who is considered by many to be the father of Welsh hymnody. It is fitting that Williams should be the author of a hymn about the Christian’s pilgrimage on earth since as a traveling Methodist preacher, he was a pilgrim in both the spiritual and physical sense. He made Wales all of his parish. His travels for forty-three years are said to make an average of 2230 miles a year, at a time when there were no railroads and few stage-coaches. In this way the greater part of Williams’ life was spent, not in a preacher’s study, but in the great world of out of doors. (Tim Challies) We go thru life having to make important decisions. Should I purchase that new car? Should I accept that job offer? Should I move to a new location? Should I, should I, should I? Decision making is often a difficult matter. I’ve had to make some serious decisions throughout my life. I often struggled to make a decision. I’ve made some decision “blunders”. Why? Because I relied on my own thoughts and didn’t seek the guidance of God. I didn’t ask our Maker to “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land”. What a prayer in the form of a song! The hymn is #65 in our hymnal. Take a look at some of the phrases that Williams wrote. “I am weak, but Thou are mighty”……”Let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through”……”Bid my anxious fears subside”. I’m so glad we have a God that hears us, cares for us, and guides us all of our lives. We only need to ask. With a song in my heart, Rick |
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