Hymn Desk
Hymn Texts /

The King of Love My Shepherd Is

The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never

The King of Love My Shepherd Is is a hymn text by Henry Williams Baker (1868) in 8.7.8.7 meter. Found in CW21 552, CW93 375, ELH 370, elw 502. Sung to ST. COLUMBA.

A lyrical Christian paraphrase of Psalm 23, identifying the Good Shepherd of the psalm with Christ. The six stanzas follow the psalm closely while adding explicitly Christian imagery: the cross, the Eucharistic feast, and the eternal home. The tune ST. COLUMBA is a hauntingly beautiful Irish melody.

History & Background

Written by Henry Williams Baker (1821-1877), a founding editor of Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861). Baker wrote this as a Christian paraphrase of Psalm 23, based on the Irish melody ST. COLUMBA. He reportedly sang it on his deathbed.

Hymnal Appearances

  • Christian Worship: Hymnal — 552
  • Christian Worship — 375
  • Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 370
  • Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 502
  • Gather 4th Edition — 786
  • Lutheran Book of Worship — 456
  • Lutheran Worship — 412

Bulletin Note

The King of Love My Shepherd Is — Henry Williams Baker, 1868

Preaching Connection

Psalm 23 — Christ as the Good Shepherd who restores, guides, and leads to eternal life.

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Psalm 23 Christological transformation: establishment of Christ's sovereign care (1-2) → confession of human waywardness and divine retrieval (3) → victory over death through Christ's passion (4) → sacramental communion and eschatological promise (5-6)

In the Church Year

Hymn of the Day (Lutheran Service Book) for: Easter 4; Easter 3

Suggested in the one-year series

  • Easter 3 (6×)
  • Trinity 3 (4×)
  • Trinity 7 (2×)

Suggested in the three-year series

  • Easter 4 (8×)
  • Proper 19 (3×)
  • Proper 11 (2×)
  • Proper 13 (1×)

From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.

AI-assisted draft These study notes were drafted with AI from the hymn text and have not yet been reviewed line by line. Treat them as a starting point and check them against the sources.

Overview

Baker's paraphrase of Psalm 23 reads the psalm explicitly through Christ: the Shepherd is 'the King of Love'; the waters are 'living water'; the soul is 'ransomed'; the lost sheep is carried home on his shoulder (Luke 15); the cross guides through death's valley; the table and anointing suggest the Lord's Supper and the Spirit. It is one of the best examples of Christological psalm-paraphrase in English.

Central theme: Christ the Good Shepherd and King of Love, who seeks, feeds, guides, and keeps his ransomed sheep

Structure

Follows Ps 23 verse by verse with Christian interpretation; st. 3 inserts Luke 15:4-7.

Law & Gospel Shape

Law in 'perverse and foolish oft I strayed'; Gospel in the seeking, carrying Shepherd.

Confessional Connections

Christ the Good Shepherd; the Lord's Supper as the table prepared (Ps 23:5 traditionally read sacramentally); unction as the Spirit's anointing (Baptism).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Good Shepherd Sunday (Easter 3 or 4); funerals; Lord's Supper; Baptism.

Historical Notes

Baker (1821-1877) was editor of 'Hymns Ancient and Modern.' Tradition says st. 3 was on his lips as he died.

About the Tune

ICH DANK' DIR SCHON in TLH; ST. COLUMBA (Irish traditional) in LSB/ELW.

Scripture References

Ps 23 John 10:11-14 John 4:10-14 Luke 15:4-7 Isa 53:6 1 Cor 10:16-21 1 John 2:20, 27

Stanza by Stanza

1 The King of Love my Shepherd is…

The King of Love is my Shepherd, whose goodness never fails; I lack nothing if I am his and he is mine forever.

Ps 23:1. Baker names the Shepherd 'the King of Love' — joining royal and pastoral images (Ezek 34:23-24; John 10:11). Kings in the ancient world were called shepherds of their people; Christ is the King whose rule is love (1 John 4:8). 'I nothing lack if I am His / And He is mine forever' — the mutual belonging of Song 2:16, made the condition of contentment.

Scripture
Ps 23:1, Ezek 34:23-24, John 10:11, 14, Song 2:16, 1 John 4:8
Imagery & language
King; shepherd; mutual belonging.
Law / Gospel
Gospel — the loving Shepherd-King.
Connection to previous
Ps 23:1.
Christ as Shepherd kingship contentment
2 Where streams of living water flow…

He leads my ransomed soul where living water flows and feeds it with heavenly food in green pastures.

Ps 23:2. The 'still waters' become 'living water' (John 4:10-14; 7:37-39) — the Spirit and the Word. The soul is 'ransomed' (Mark 10:45) — the sheep belongs to the Shepherd by purchase. 'Food celestial' — the bread from heaven (John 6:32-35), received in Word and Sacrament.

Scripture
Ps 23:2, John 4:10-14, John 7:37-39, Mark 10:45, John 6:32-35
Imagery & language
Living water; verdant pastures; celestial food.
Law / Gospel
Gospel — nourishment of the redeemed.
Connection to previous
Ps 23:2.
means of grace redemption Christ the bread of life
3 Perverse and foolish oft I strayed…

Often I strayed, stubborn and foolish, but in love he sought me, laid me gently on his shoulder, and brought me home rejoicing.

Not in Ps 23 — Baker inserts the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7) to interpret 'He restores my soul' (Ps 23:3). 'Perverse and foolish' — an honest confession (Isa 53:6, 'All we like sheep have gone astray'). The initiative is entirely the Shepherd's: he seeks, lays, brings. 'Rejoicing' — the joy is his (Luke 15:5-7). This is the Gospel of grace alone in pastoral form.

Scripture
Ps 23:3, Luke 15:4-7, Isa 53:6, 1 Pet 2:25, Ezek 34:16
Imagery & language
Straying sheep; shoulder; homecoming.
Law / Gospel
Law (straying) and Gospel (sought and carried).
Connection to previous
Ps 23:3 with Luke 15.
grace alone repentance Christ seeks the lost
4 In death's dark vale I fear no ill…

In death's dark valley I fear no evil, with you, dear Lord, beside me; your rod and staff still comfort me, and your cross goes before to guide me.

Ps 23:4. The shift to 'Thee' — the psalm itself shifts from 'he' to 'you' at this verse. Baker adds 'Thy cross before to guide me': the Shepherd's staff becomes the cross, the processional cross that leads Christians through death. Christ has gone through death first (Heb 2:14-15; 12:2).

Scripture
Ps 23:4, Heb 2:14-15, Heb 12:2, John 11:25-26
Imagery & language
Dark vale; rod and staff; cross going before.
Law / Gospel
Gospel — Christ's presence in death.
Connection to previous
Ps 23:4.
death presence of Christ theology of the cross
5 Thou spreadst a table in my sight…

You prepare a table before me; your anointing gives grace, and my cup overflows with delight.

Ps 23:5. The church has long read the prepared table as the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 10:16-21; Luke 22:19-20) and the anointing as the Spirit's gift (1 John 2:20, 27; Acts 10:38). 'Thy unction grace bestoweth' — the anointing is not merely a sign but gives grace. The overflowing cup — abundance of joy (John 10:10).

Scripture
Ps 23:5, 1 Cor 10:16-21, Luke 22:19-20, 1 John 2:20, 27, John 10:10
Imagery & language
Table; anointing; overflowing cup.
Law / Gospel
Gospel — Sacrament and Spirit.
Connection to previous
Ps 23:5.
Lord's Supper Holy Spirit joy
6 And so through all the length of days…

So through all my days your goodness never fails; Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise in your house forever.

Ps 23:6. 'Goodness faileth never' echoes st. 1 (inclusio). 'Within Thy house forever' — eternal life in God's presence (John 14:2-3; Rev 7:15-17, where the Lamb is shepherd). The hymn ends in praise.

Scripture
Ps 23:6, John 14:2-3, Rev 7:15-17
Imagery & language
Length of days; house of the Lord.
Law / Gospel
Gospel — eternal dwelling.
Connection to previous
Ps 23:6.
eternal life praise faithfulness of God

Themes

Psalm 23 Good Shepherd Comfort Eucharist

Look Further