The Lord's My Shepherd Leading Me
The Lord's my Shepherd leading me
This hymn expresses the Lutheran confidence in Christ as the Good Shepherd who provides for believers' spiritual and material needs. The imagery reinforces pastoral care as central to the Christian life and God's sustaining grace.
History & Background
This hymn is a metrical paraphrase of Psalm 23, appearing in various 19th-century American hymnals. The exact authorship and first publication date remain obscure in standard hymnological sources.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Worship — 417
Bulletin Note
A hymn of pastoral assurance from the early nineteenth century, sung to the Scottish tune CRIMOND. Its imagery of the Good Shepherd reflects the Luther's doctrine of God's providential care as central to Christian comfort and confidence.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Gospel's answer to our deepest fear—spiritual abandonment—by proclaiming that Christ, our Shepherd, never leaves us comfortless but actively leads and sustains us through all circumstances.
Themes
Divine guidance and providence Pastoral care of Christ Trust in God's protection Comfort in adversity