Guide Me

1) Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, [or Redeemer, depending on the translation]
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.

2) Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield;
Be Thou still my Strength and Shied.

3) Lord, I trust Thy mighty power,
Wondrous are Thy works of old;
Thou deliver'st Thine from Thralldom,
Who for naught themselves had sold:
Thou didst conquer, Thou didst conquer,
Sin, and Satan and the grave,
Sin, and Satan and the grave,

4) When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell's destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee. 

5) Musing on my habitation,
Musing on my heav'nly home,
Fills my soul with holy longings:
Come, my Jesus, quickly come;
Vanity is all I see;
Lord, I long to be with Thee!
Lord I long to be with Thee!

So I waited awhile before coming to my favorite hymn.  Obviously, I haven't waited that long; it's still January and I intend to do this all year.  "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" was written by a Welsh hymnist by the name of William Williams.  I suppose calling him a hymnist is a little inaccurate.  Technically, he was a bard with the bardic name "Pantycelyn," meaning "Holly Hollow." (Admit it, you want a bardic name.)   Along with Howell Harris and Daniel Rowland, Pantycelyn was the leader of the Methodist Revival in Wales during the 18th century.  Interestingly enough, these Welsh Calvinistic Methodist eventually became the Presbyterian Church of Wales.  Pantycelyn wasn't just a song writer, he also wrote two long Christian poems "Golwg ar deymas Crist" (A view of Christ's Kingdom) and "Bywyd a marwolaeth Theomemphus" (Life and death of Theomempuhus).  Still, it was William Williams hymns that earned him the title of "Y per ganiedydd" (The Sweet Songster).  The most well known of his works is "Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch." That's hymn we're listening to today.  (If you think I'm typing all these Welsh names simply for fun, then you would be correct.)  Here is the classical version of the song with the tune by John Hughes.  Here is the Indelible Grace updated version.  Here is a great movie clip from the 40's of coal miners singing it in Welsh as they walk through a town.  ... Fine, here is a clip of the rendition at the Royal Wedding.

Pantycelyn uses this hymn to compare the Christian walk with the Israelites journey through the wilderness.  During that time, Israel had to completely rely on God's mercy and loving hand.  They couldn't farm, so they couldn't grow their own food.  It isn't like they were in any place to have steady labor.  The Israelites very sustenance came down from heaven on a daily basis (thus, "bread of heaven.").  {On a side note: the nation of Israel still complained about not having water (Ex. 17).  How strange is it that people became so used to manna from heaven that they doubt the Lord would provide water?  But that is how we all get occasionally, right?  We focus on the things we haven't received that we forget the overwhelming love that the Lord has shown and continues to show us.}  The Lord provides for His people.  He provides for us each and every day.  The Christian life is one that relies on Him.  Not out of any sense of laziness or lack of ambition, but we rely on Him because without Him we are lost.  We are not saved, we are not redeemed, we do not grow without the mercy and grace of Christ.

I want to look at the last verse real quick. "Musing on my habitation / Musing on my heav'nly home, / Fills my soul with holy longings; / Come, my Jesus, quickly come; / Vanity is all I see / Lord, I long to be with Thee! / Lord I long to be with Thee!"  Right now, even the most blessing filled days we have are but a sample of the marvelous things to come.  "Musing" on the full glory that is to come, praying for Jesus to return quickly ... these things enable us to have a proper perspective of the world.  It makes the rough patches seem less dark, knowing that there will be a day in which darkness no longer exist.  It makes the joyous occasions even more joyful as they remind us of the eternal love that the Lord has for His children.  So in that sense, it is okay to be an optimist.  In fact, all believers should be, because our journey has a glorious end.  Yes, there are parts in life that are disparaging, but eventually we come to the Celestial City and receive unceasing joy.