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Facts:
- Lyricist: William Williams
Lyrics Date: 1745
Translator: Peter Williams
Key: G
Theme: Guidance in Pilgrimage
- Composer: John Hughes
Music Date: 1907
Translation Date: 1771
Tune Title: CWM RHONDDA
Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.7
Scripture: Isaiah 43:2
Devotional:
Wouldn’t you like to know what is going to happen? For most of us, we don’t like unpredictable circumstances. Especially when we are in a fearful or difficult situation. But all of life is filled with events that are difficult to understand or figure out. CS Lewis in his delightful book, Prince Caspian, helps us to understand God’s dealing with His children:
"Please, Aslan!" said Lucy, "am I not to know?"
"To know what would have happened, child?" said...
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Wouldn’t you like to know what is going to happen? For most of us, we don’t like unpredictable circumstances. Especially when we are in a fearful or difficult situation. But all of life is filled with events that are difficult to understand or figure out. CS Lewis in his delightful book, Prince Caspian, helps us to understand God’s dealing with His children:
"Please, Aslan!" said Lucy, "am I not to know?"
"To know what would have happened, child?" said Aslan. "No, nobody is ever told that."
"Oh dear," said Lucy.
"But anyone can find out what will happen," said Aslan. "If you go back to the others now, and wake them up; and tell them you have seen me again; and that you must all get up at once and follow me—what will happen? There is only one way of finding out…"
"But they won’t believe me!" said Lucy.
"It doesn't matter," said Aslan.
"Oh dear, oh dear," said Lucy. "And I was so pleased at finding you again. And I thought you’d come roaring in and frighten all the enemies away—like last time. And now everything is going to be horrid."
"It is hard for you, little one," said Aslan. "But things never happen the same way twice. It has been hard for us all in Narnia before now."
"Lucy buried her head in his mane to hide from his face. But there must have been magic in his mane. She could feel lion-strength going into her. Quite suddenly she sat up.
"I’m sorry, Aslan," she said. "I’m ready now."
Following God is really quite simple, but at the same time, very hard. Isaiah 43:2 says,
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.
There is only one way of knowing what is going to happen. And that is by following Him, despite not understanding how or where He is leading us. And when we do that, we will know a contentment and peace of mind that can only come from God. Or has our hymn says:
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with thy pow’rful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
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Hymn Story:
Encouraged by the Welsh Calvinist Methodists to update their hymnal, Williams, the "Sweet Singer of Wales" produced about 800 hymns, "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" being the first in 1745.
This very personal hymn seeks the same care that God gave the Israelites in the wilderness: "Bread of heaven", the manna in the wilderness, "Open now the crystal fountain", water from the rock, "Let the fire and cloudy pillar", the pillar God used to guide them and protect them in the wilder...
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Encouraged by the Welsh Calvinist Methodists to update their hymnal, Williams, the "Sweet Singer of Wales" produced about 800 hymns, "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" being the first in 1745.
This very personal hymn seeks the same care that God gave the Israelites in the wilderness: "Bread of heaven", the manna in the wilderness, "Open now the crystal fountain", water from the rock, "Let the fire and cloudy pillar", the pillar God used to guide them and protect them in the wilderness.
"Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" has been translated into seventy-five languages. It is so loved in Wales that it is considered an unofficial national anthem
It was first published by Williams in 1745, in Hallelujah, with five six-line stanzas. In 1771, Peter Williams translated stanzas 1, 3 and 5 into English and published them in his Hymns on Various Subjects, 1771. A year later, William Williams, or possibly his son, John Williams, translated another English version, using Peter Williams’ first stanza, then translating stanzas 3 and 4, and adding a new stanza as verse 4. He published it a leaflet with these words: "A favourite hymn sung by Lady Huntingdon’s Young Collegians. Printed by the desire of many Christian friends. Lord, give it Thy blessing!" Most hymnals use the first three stanzas of this translation.
Many are the stories of this beautiful anthem giving people strength in time of adversity. Three women missionaries in China, with bandits outside their door, sang this as though nothing was wrong, receiving comfort and courage from their "Strong Deliverer". Imprisoned with only dry, hard bread and tea, they sang it as Paul and Silas, their spirits undaunted, fed by the "Bread of heaven." In the trenches of Flanders during World War I, it was sung so melodiously by the Welch soldiers that the German soldiers also took it up. Miners sang it on their way to the mines. It could be spontaneously sung at Welsh sporting events, and was sung at Princess Diana’s funeral.