About the Song
The original text of this song was written by a preacher in 1745 (William Williams) with the original title of “A prayer for strength to go through the wilderness of this world.”1 In this song, Williams uses the metaphor of pilgrimage to point to the journey of the Israelites in the desert before reaching the Promised Land. Just like the Israelites, we are sojourners in a world that is broken and battered by the effects of sin and the fall, and we experience many pains, fears, and hurts in this life that sometimes feel like they won’t ever go away.
But we aren’t alone. We cling to the promises and provision and powerful Hand of God.
Just as God opened a fountain to provide water to the thirsty Israelites, Jesus has brought us the living water of eternal life so that we can drink and “never be thirsty again” (Jn 4:14). Just as God lead the Israelites with the awe-inspiring fire and cloudy pillar, He guides us with His Word—”a lamp to our feet and a light to our path” (Ps 119:105)—and through the work of the Holy Spirit, a Helper who is always with us (Rom 8:9, Gal 5:16). And just as the Israelites trod the verge of Jordan (looking into the Promised Land), we look forward to the fully restored New Heavens and New Earth where justice and peace will reign, and where sin and sorrow and death will be no more (Rev 21:4, 1 Co 15:54).
We can face our fears, our pains, even death in this life because this world is not our home. This life here is just chapter one in a whole storybook of eternal life. It’s just a mist, “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (Ja 4:14). The sufferings of this life are just “not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us” (Ro 8:18), so we can face this life without fear, knowing what is sure to come in the next.
1https://hymnary.org/text/guide_me_o_thou_great_jehovah
Listen to the Song
Find out more at igracemusic.com
Lyrics
1. Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven,
Feed me now and evermore;
Bread of heaven,
Feed me now and evermore.
2. Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing waters flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.
Strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.
3. When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell’s destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee;
Songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee.
Ending
Land me safe on Canaan’s side
Bid my anxious fears, bid my anxious fears
Land me safe on Canaan’s side
Bid my anxious fears, bid my anxious fears, goodbye
TEXT: William Williams, Jeremy Casella
MUSIC: Jeremy Casella
©2002 2037 Music (ASCAP).admin. by The Loving Company. All rights reserved.