Joseph Gilmore

In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me. You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead me and guide me, take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
Psalm 31:1-5

He Leadeth Me LBW 501

 1    He leadeth me: oh, blessed thought! Oh, words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
     Whate’er I do, where’er I be, still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

      Refrain:     He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me.
                        His faithful foll’wer I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.

 2    Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom, sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
     by waters calm, o’er troubled sea, still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.  Refrain

3    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.  Refrain

4    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.  Refrain

Text: Joseph H. Gilmore, 1834-1918

             Joseph Henry Gilmore graduated from the Newton Theological Seminary in 1861 and was called as pastor to the Baptist church of Fisherville, N. H. It was the height of the Civil War, and the 16th New Hampshire regiment, many from the surrounding area, had been mustered out.  They survived several of the Civil War’s most brutal battles without a single loss, and were returning home by train, when disease struck. One third of the 600 man regiment died, most of the remaining were ill. When news of this arrived, Pastor Gilmore organized volunteers to meet the train in Indianapolis and accompany them.  At every stop, they had to hold funerals and make arrangements for those too sick to travel. By the time they got home another 100 had died, 1/2 of the regiment, not from battle but from disease.  And soon after, Pastor Gilmore’s own wife took sick and died leaving him a widower with two small children. Seeking words of comfort for himself and for his shell shocked congregation, he turned to Psalms 31 & 23 for inspiration, and wrote a poem; “He Leadeth Me” – using it at the funerals that followed, including his own wife’s.

            In 1864, he married a second time and took a new call to the First Baptism church of New York City. On the eve of his first sermon there he was perusing the Hymnal and discovered his words had been set to a tune.  Apparently, his second wife had submitted his poem for publication without his knowledge.  So they sang his hymn for his own installation service, and it has since become one of the most loved hymns of the American lexicon.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, through times of loss and sadness, take us by the hand and lead us to a safe pasture. And then, by your grace, empower us to lead others. For you are our shepherd, and we are the sheep of your pasture. Amen.