He Leadeth Me is a hymn by Joseph H. Gilmore, a young Baptist preacher, written in Philadelphia in March 1862, during the Civil War, after he preached on Psalm 23: he leadeth me beside the still waters. William Bradbury set it to music and added the refrain in 1864. The hymn says that whatever we do and wherever we are, through gloom or blessing, calm or storm, it is still God's hand that leads us, all the way through death, which Gilmore pictures as crossing the river Jordan.
On a spring evening in 1862 Joseph Gilmore was preaching at the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia. The nation was at war, and the news was dark. His text was Psalm 23, and he found himself lingering over the words he leadeth me. Afterward, at a deacon's house, he wrote a few lines on the thought and handed them to his wife. He forgot about them. She sent them to a Christian newspaper without telling him, and three years later he opened a hymn book in Rochester and found his own words set to music by William Bradbury. Below are the four verses and refrain as printed in 1894, then 12 KJV passages on the God who leads His people through every kind of place.
He Leadeth Me: the words
Verse 1
He leadeth me! oh, blessed thought,
O words with heavenly 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 follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
Verse 2
Sometimes 'mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,
By waters still, o'er troubled sea,
Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.
Refrain:
He leadeth me! He leadeth me!
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
Verse 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:
He leadeth me! He leadeth me!
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
Verse 4
And when my task on earth is done,
When, by Thy grace, the victory's won,
E'en death's cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.
Refrain:
He leadeth me! He leadeth me!
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
Words: Joseph H. Gilmore (1834-1918), written in Philadelphia on March 26, 1862; music and refrain: William B. Bradbury (1864). Text copied from Gospel Hymns Nos. 1 to 6 Complete (New York and Chicago, 1894), hymn 637, checked against Hymns of Consolation and Bradbury's Golden Shower (Internet Archive scans). The refrain is sung after every verse. Public domain.
He leadeth me: oh, blessed thought
1. Psalms 23:2-3
"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
Gilmore's whole hymn grew from two phrases in this psalm: he leadeth me beside the still waters and he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. A shepherd in Israel did not drive his sheep from behind. He walked in front, and they followed. David, once a shepherd himself, knew what that meant. The still waters are places of rest; the paths of righteousness are right roads, the ones that lead where they should. God leads to both. And He does it for His name's sake: His own good name is at stake in getting His sheep home. See our page on Psalm 23.
2. Isaiah 48:17
"Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go."
Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. God spoke these words to Israel in exile, after years of going their own way. He still called Himself their Redeemer and their guide. Gilmore's first verse says, Whate'er I do, where'er I be. God's leading is not only for the big moments. It covers ordinary days as well. The God who teaches us to profit is not leading us to harm. His way is the way we should go, even when we cannot yet see where it ends.
3. Psalms 32:8
"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. David wrote Psalm 32 after confessing his sin and being forgiven. God's first promise to a forgiven sinner is guidance. To guide with the eye is the picture of a close relationship: a look is enough. The next verse warns against being like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding and must be held in with bit and bridle. God wants to lead people who know Him well enough to follow a glance. Gilmore's prayer, His faithful follower I would be, asks for that kind of closeness.
4. John 10:3-4
"To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice."
Jesus describes Himself as the good shepherd: he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. Notice that He goes before them. There is no place He leads His sheep that He has not gone first, including suffering and death. And He calls each one by name. The refrain says By His own hand He leadeth me. The leading is personal, not general. The Shepherd knows each sheep and goes ahead of each one.
Mid scenes of deepest gloom: led through the dark places
5. Psalms 23:4
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
The second verse admits that God sometimes leads through scenes of deepest gloom. Psalm 23 says so too: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. The valley is on the Shepherd's route. He does not lead around every dark place, but He does not leave us in it, and He does not let us walk it alone. Gilmore wrote in 1862, when many families were burying sons. His hymn does not deny the gloom. It says that even there, it is still God's hand that leads.
6. Isaiah 43:2
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned. Gilmore sings, By waters still, o'er troubled sea. God's promise is not that His people will never meet deep water or fire, but that they will pass through, and that He will be with them in it. The word is when, not if. Hard seasons are part of the journey for everyone. The difference for God's people is the company they keep in them. See our Bible verses about storms.
7. Psalms 139:9-10
"If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. David imagines fleeing as far as the dawn can fly, to the farthest edge of the sea. Even there God's hand would lead him. This is where Gilmore's image of God's hand comes from. There is no place too far, too dark or too strange for God's hand to reach. The people who feel most lost are not beyond His leading. Wherever they are, He is already there. See our page on Psalm 139.
8. Isaiah 42:16
"And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. We often want to see the whole road before we take a step. God promises instead to lead us by ways we do not know. He does not promise a map. He promises His presence, and that He will make the dark light and the crooked straight as we go. The verse ends, These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. Being led by God is often a walk of trust, one step at a time.
Since God through Jordan leadeth me: content to the end
9. Joshua 3:17
"And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan."
Gilmore's last line is Since God through Jordan leadeth me. When Israel came to the Jordan, it was in flood. God told the priests to carry the ark into the water, and the river stopped. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground. For centuries Christians have used crossing Jordan as a picture of death, the last river before the promised land. Gilmore says he will not flee from it, because the God who led Israel across will lead him across too.
10. Philippians 4:11
"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."
The third verse says, Content, whatever lot I see, since 'tis my God that leadeth me. Paul wrote from prison: I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. He says he learned it. Contentment did not come naturally to him; he grew into it through hunger and plenty, prison and freedom. The secret, he says two verses later, is Christ who strengthens him. Gilmore's line Nor ever murmur nor repine is not about pretending to be happy. It is the quiet trust that the One leading us knows what He is doing. See our page on Philippians 4:13.
11. Psalms 73:23-24
"Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory."
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Asaph wrote these words after nearly losing his faith. He had envied the wicked, and he admits he was foolish. Yet the word nevertheless turns everything: even then, God was holding his hand. Gilmore prays, Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine. Asaph discovered that God's grip on him was stronger than his on God. And the guidance does not end at death. Afterward, God receives His people to glory.
12. Psalms 48:14
"For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death."
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Psalm 48 celebrates Jerusalem and the God who defends it, and then ends with this promise. Our guide not only in life but even unto death. Gilmore's last verse imagines his task on earth being done, the victory won by grace, and death's cold wave ahead. He will not flee from it, because the guide who has led him all his life will lead him through that too. Christians do not face death as a road they walk alone. The same hand leads them through.
A short prayer
Lord, You are my Shepherd. Lead me beside still waters and in paths of righteousness for Your name's sake. Whatever I do and wherever I am, help me to remember that it is Your hand that leads me. When You lead me through scenes of deepest gloom, keep me from fear, because You are with me. Teach me to be content with the lot You give, without murmuring. Hold my right hand, guide me with Your counsel, and when my task on earth is done, lead me through Jordan and receive me to glory. Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
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Frequently asked questions
Who wrote He Leadeth Me?
Joseph Henry Gilmore (1834-1918) wrote the words on March 26, 1862, after preaching on Psalm 23 at First Baptist Church in Philadelphia. His wife sent them to the Watchman and Reflector newspaper. William B. Bradbury wrote the tune and added the refrain, and published it in 1864. Gilmore later taught English at the University of Rochester.
What Bible verse is He Leadeth Me based on?
Psalm 23, especially verse 2, he leadeth me beside the still waters, and verse 3, he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness. The last verse's picture of crossing Jordan comes from Joshua 3, where God led Israel across the river into the promised land.
What does through Jordan mean in He Leadeth Me?
In older hymns, crossing the Jordan River is a picture of death, the last crossing before the promised land of heaven. Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground in Joshua 3. Gilmore's line Since God through Jordan leadeth me means that God will lead the believer safely through death.
Is He Leadeth Me in the public domain?
Yes. Gilmore's words (1862) and Bradbury's tune and refrain (1864) are in the public domain in the United States. Newer arrangements may carry their own copyright, but the hymn as printed above may be copied and sung freely.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Psalm 23 Meaning · Shall We Gather at the River · Abide with Me · What a Friend We Have in Jesus · Proverbs 3:5-6 · Guidance · Trusting God · Walking with God
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