On Christmas Eve, 1875, Ira Sankey, gospel singer and composer, was asked to sing a song while traveling with friends up the Delaware River by steamboat. He thought about singing a Christmas Carol, but felt God leading him to sing “Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us.” After singing the hymn, a passenger asked to speak with Sankey. The man asked, “Did you serve in the union army?” Sankey replied that he had. “Can you remember being on guard duty during a bright, moonlight night in 1862?” Sankey again replied that he was. “I too was on duty that night, serving in the Confederate Army. I saw you standing at your post and I raised my musket to take aim at you. But at that very instant you began to sing. It was the same hymn you sang here tonight. Those words stirred my heart. They caused me to think of my God fearing mother who sang that same song to me as a child. She died when I was but a lad, and I turned from her Shepherd. That night I could not shoot you. My arms dropped limp at my side. Tonight your singing has stirred me with terrible conviction. Can you help me find peace for my sin sick soul?” Sankey put his arms around the man who had once been his enemy, and led him to the Savior. Very little is known about the author of that great hymn. Dorothy A. Thrupp (1779-1847) lived a simple, humble life, choosing to use her talents to bring glory to God and encourage others without any recognition whatsoever.
Never in the history of the world has there been a greater need for the guidance of The Great Shepherd. Darkness has set in over all mankind, and evil is growing stronger by the day. We need a light, we need a guide, we need The Great Shepherd. Are you allowing Him to guide you? Or do you just take Him with you? Who do you need to go to today and encourage with the words of this great hymn, along with the related scripture verses?
“Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
We are Thine, do Thou befriend us,
Be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us,
Seek us when we go astray:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Hear, O hear us when we pray;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Thou hast promised to receive us,
Poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us,
Grace to cleanse, and pow’r to free:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Early let us turn to Thee;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Early let us turn to Thee.
Early let us seek Thy favor,
Early let us do Thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior,
With Thy love our bosoms fill:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still.”
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 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. 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. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Psalm 23)
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)