This is a less familiar song, and the melody is a little... different, but the words are some of my favorite. I'm working on (for my own personal pleasure) a more singable melody so that I can enjoy the lyrics and the music, and through that, worship God more fully. I think so often we forget that that is the point of worship. We get caught up in what makes us feel worshipful, what we are doing for God, and forget that our focus should be on God and what He has done and is doing and will do. We change, and if our worship is based on our feelings and thoughts, it will be as effective as a gnat standing up to a charging elephant. But if our worship is God-centered, we are able to simultaneously give thanks to our great God, proclaim the truth to others, and remind ourselves of that same truth.
PS. There are some words in here you probably don't know. Be responsible: look them up.
The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.
In death's dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spread'st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.
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Love the poetic language. I wish this were in American hymnals more (it's familiar in Britain).
Ruel and Diane Burkholder used to sing this at WMC as a duet to a different tune than the traditional, and it was gorgeous (though not a guitar piece at ALL). I don't think anyone at WMC -- including me -- noticed how very reformed these lyrics are! ("Yet in his love he sought me...") Praise God that it is this way, or we would wander perversely and foolishly into a dark eternity.
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