The King of Love
It’s Saturday morning, and as of late I have merely been posting a song. This is a song from the 1800’s, and though it has been redone, it still retains the beauty of the original verse. It is all based off of what is arguably the best known psalm in all of Scripture - Psalm 23. This is the psalm with the “hounds of heaven” - the goodness and mercy of the Lord that will pursue me all the days of my life. This is a psalm of tremendous comfort and hope, because it focuses on the Great Shepherd. Because it is so familiar, I encourage you to read it as well this morning in a different translation. I’ve included one below by Alec Motyer (an Irish scholar who died a few years ago. He said of himself: "I’m not really a scholar. I’m just a man who loves the Word of God.”).
(The Shepherd)
1. Yahweh is my shepherd:
I will not lack.
2. In pastures of fresh grass he makes me lie.
Beside secure waters he guides me.
3. He restores my soul.
He leads me along tracks of righteousness,
for the sake of his name.
(The Companion)
4. Even when I am walking in the valley of deadly shadows
I do not fear evil,
because you are ever with me:
your rod and your staff reassure me.
(The Host)
5. You lay a table before me,
in front of my adversaries.
You have refreshed my head with oil;
my cup is more than full!
6. But indeed good and committed love
will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will return to Yahweh’s house for ever.
And now to get to the song - “The King of Love” by I Am They.
The King of Love my Shepherd is
Whose goodness faileth never
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever
And He is mine forever
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth
And where the verdant pastures grow
With food celestial feedeth
Never failing, Ruler of my heart
Everlasting, Lover of my soul
On the mountain high or in the valley low
The King of Love my Shepherd is
The King of Love my Shepherd is
Lost and foolish off I strayed
But yet in love He sought me
And on His shoulder gently laid
And home rejoicing brought me
In death's dark veil I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me
Thy rod and staff my comfort still
Thy cross before to guide me
Never failing, Ruler of my heart
Everlasting, Lover of my soul
On the mountain high or in the valley low
The King of Love my Shepherd is
The King of Love my Shepherd is
Oh, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Oh, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Never failing, Ruler of my heart
Everlasting, Lover of my soul
On the mountain high or in the valley low
The King of Love my Shepherd is
Never failing, Ruler of my heart
Everlasting, Lover of my soul
On the mountain high or in the valley low
The King of Love my Shepherd is
The King of Love my Shepherd is
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never
Good Shepherd, may I sing Your praise
Within Your house forever
Within Your house forever