JESUS CHRIST >> LOVE OF CHRIST FOR US
SDAH 197
The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His,
And He is mine forever.
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For Worship Leaders
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Hymn Spotlight: The King of Love My Shepherd Is
A poetic paraphrase of Psalm 23, this hymn by Henry W. Baker adds New Testament insights to the familiar Shepherd theme. It reflects trust in the Savior who lovingly seeks and keeps His sheep. John B. Dykes’ tune DOMINUS REGIT ME supports the text with calm dignity and musical grace. As we sing, may we rest in the assurance that “thy cross before to guide me.”
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Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
Sir Henry Williams Baker (1821–1877; see SDAH 20) wrote the paraphrase of the Shepherd Psalm in 1868, and it appeared in Hymns Ancient and Modern of that year, in six stanzas. The four stanzas in SDAH draw from Psalm 23 as follows: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul” and “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” It is more than a paraphrase, for Baker has also drawn upon the New Testament in the third stanza (see Luke 15:5, 6). Baker composed a tune for his hymn, but it was not successful, so he asked his friend John Bacchus Dykes (1823–1876; see Biographies) to compose one.
The result was DOMINUS REGIT ME (The Lord Rules Me), so named from the first three words of the Latin Vulgate Version of Psalm 23. Notice that the descending melody in line 1 is very similar to that in line 3, and that the ascending melody in line 2 is quite similar to that in line 4. The harmony for each, however, is quite different, the mark of a master musician.
Baker also wrote SDAH 20, “O Praise Ye the Lord,” and SDAH 116, “Of the Father’s Love Begotten.”
Stanza:
1 – Psalm 23:1
2 – Psalm 23:2
3 – Luke 15:5
4 – Psalm 23:6
Text
1
The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His,
And He is mine forever.
2
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And, where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.
3
Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.
4
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd! I would sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Ps 23:1 (b) Ps 23:2 (c) Luke 15:5 (d) Ps 23:6
Author
Henry W. Baker (1821-1877)
Year Published
1868
Hymn Tune
DOMINUS REGIT ME
Metrical Number
8.7.8.7.
Composer
John B. Dykes (1823-1876)
Tune Source
1868
Alternate Tune / Rhythm / Harmony
ST. COLUMBA SDAH 639
