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Wales, is where the story of the hymn “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,” Methodist hymn 615 (GBH 119) took place.

Wales is, traditionally, the land of song; and the Welsh people may probably be the most enthusiastic singers in the world. Everybody loves to sing in Wales and they sing just about everywhere: men on their way to the coalmines those days, at rugby matches and other great outdoor events; you hear the melodious strains of their singing! Choirs abound in every town and village in Wales, and their music is popular with audiences everywhere. In the world of professional singing too, Wales has given more than its quota of national and international artistes.

In the last couple of centuries a number of great spiritual revivals have swept the land of Wales, and during these, music and singing played a major part; with spontaneous outbursts of congregational singing interrupting the sermon several times during those revival services, and this was often used by the Holy Spirit to move hearts to repentance and faith in Christ Jesus.

However, not only has Wales given us singers and singing in abundance, it has also produced its fair share of hymn writers too. One such was William Williams, called the “Watts of Wales : a lay-preacher, who lived in the eighteenth century. He was born in 1717, at Cefn-y-coed, near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire. He studied medicine originally, but abandoned it for theology. He was ordained Deacon in the Church of England, but was refused Priest’s Orders. This didn’t deter him. Still determined to serve God, he switched to open-air preaching and subsequently attached himself to the Calvinistic Methodists in his native Wales. His two principal poetical works are “Hosannah to the Son of David,” and “Gloria in Excelsis.”

Williams was a tireless servant of the Lord, and during the forty years of his ministry he travelled almost 100,000 miles, on foot and on horseback, preaching and singing wherever he went.

William Williams wrote over 800 hymns, of which the best known is “Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah.”

This hymn, originally written in Welsh and later translated by Peter Williams into English recalls some of the most trying incidents which took place during the forty year journey of the Israelites — from the bondage of Egypt, to the freedom of the promised land, Canaan.

Please find the popular first stanza of “Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah” also rendered as “Guide me, O my great Redeemer” below.

Guide me, O my great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but you are mighty;
hold me with your powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore,
feed me now and evermore.

Open now the crystal fountain,
where the healing waters flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
ever be my strength and shield,
ever be my strength and shield.

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, songs of praises
I will ever sing to you,
I will ever sing to you.

“Guide me O thou Great Jehovah” resonates with Exodus 33:12-16

READ Exodus 33:12-17

Moses said to the Lord,

“See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’  Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.”

And the LORD said,

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

And Moses said to him,

“If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

And the Lord said to Moses,

“This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

(Exodus 33:12-17 ESV)

The LORD had told Moses to depart Sinai towards possessing the Promised Land; but said He would not go with them, lest he consumed them on the way because they were “stiff-necked” people! (Exodus 33:1-3). The Israelites mourned when they heard these words (vv. 4)!

But Moses intervened, and the conversation in the text we just read ensued. At a point Moses said,

“If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.” (vv.15)

 Finally, God rescinded His decision. Moses recognized how vital God’s presence and guidance was in their journey; and would not go with Him!

As an example for us, we too, are pilgrims, on the journey from the cradle to the grave and ultimately, to eternity. Many times our lives seem like a wilderness – a ‘barren land’ – as the hymn writer puts it. It is then that we need to call on the Lord to sustain us by His powerful hand.

The entire hymn is an account of God’s gracious, plenteous provision for His people, at every stage of life. Surely this is one of the sources of Christian joy, to know Cod is with us each moment, guiding, protecting, providing. As a result we can join with our brothers in Christ, not only in Wales, but all around the world to lift up that marvelous tune, and sing,

“Guide me, O thou great Jehovah.”

MEMORY VERSE

“If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.”

 (Exodus 33:15)

QUESTIONS

Do you feel like alone and lonely on life’s journey?
Why not tell God that you would not take the next step without Him??

PRAYER TIP

All-knowing Father, and almighty God, 
please guide us on life’s 
tempestuous journey.

CREDITS

• JAMES McCLELLAND, “The Stories Behind Great Hymns,” 2002

• HYMNARY.ORG, “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,” (www.hymnary.org)

URGENT CALL

By nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God. We ultimately face the wrath of God!

But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to reverse this trend, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.

The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved. 

Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.

It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.

If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!

Do you want to make that decision today?

Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” 
for guidance if you want 
to make that decision.

We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.

God richly bless you.

SPECIAL GRATITUDE

Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website. 

We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.

We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.

God richly bless you.

The Testimony Devotional website addresses are:

https://testimonydevotional.org/

https://testimonydevotional.com/

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