CHRISTIAN CHURCH >> Mission of the church
SDAH 361
Hark! ’tis the Shepherd’s voice I hear,
Out in the desert dark and drear,
Calling the sheep who’ve gone astray,
Far from the Shepherd’s fold away.
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For Worship Leaders
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Hymn Spotlight: Hark! ‘Tis the Shepherd’s Voice I Hear
This heart-stirring hymn paints the picture of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calling out to the lost—and calling His found ones to join in the search. Though little is known of author Alexcenah Thomas, the message is clear: Christ came to seek and save, and now sends us to do the same. William Ogden’s rousing melody BRING THEM IN matches the urgency of that mission. Will you answer the Shepherd’s call and bring the wandering home?
📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.
Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
We have no information about Alexcenah Thomas. The hymn tells of Jesus the good shepherd seeking the lost sheep, and the obligation of the sheep that are found to follow His example and seek others who are lost.
The tune, sometimes known as BRING THEM IN, was composed by William Augustine Ogden (1841- 1897 see Biographies), and published in Missionary Songs for missionary societies, 1880, in New York.
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Text
1
Hark! ’tis the Shepherd’s voice I hear,
Out in the desert dark and drear,
Calling the sheep who’ve gone astray,
Far from the Shepherd’s fold away.
Refrain
Bring them in, Bring them in,
Bring them in from the fields of sin;
Bring them in, Bring them in,
Bring the wanderers to Jesus.
2
Who’ll go and help the Shepherd kind,
Help Him the wandering ones to find?
Who’ll bring them back into the fold,
Where they’ll be sheltered from the cold?
3
Out in the desert hear their cry,
Out on the mountain wild and high,
Hark! ’tis the Master speaks to thee,
“Go, find My sheep where ‘er they be.”
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Luke 15:4 (b) John 10:11 (c) John 10:16
Author
Alexcenah Thomas
Year Published
19th century
Metrical Number
L.M. Ref.
Composer
W.A. Ogden (1841-1897)
