BEN F. VICK, JR.
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty, Hold me with thy pow’rful hand;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more:
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain, Whence the healing waters flow;
Let the fiery cloudy pillar, Lead me all my journey thro’;
Strong Deliverer, Be thou still my strength and shield:
Strong Deliverer, Be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan, Bid my anxious fears subside.
Bear me through the swelling current, Land me safe on Canaan’s side;
Songs of praises I will ever give to Thee;
Songs of praises I will ever give to Thee.
This song was one of brother W. L Totty’s favorites, and he especially requested it to be sung at the conclusion of worship services. He had been criticized for this request. I suppose it would get old to hear it every service; however, do we get tired of the same sentiments, the exact words expressed in prayers? We do not. The lyrics of the song should be an encouragement to us. At the Memphis School of Preaching, the daily chapel services would end with the song, “I Know The Lord Will Make A Way For Me.” It never grows old. To express the same words in a song or prayer is not necessarily vain repetition. Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane prayed the same words three times. The question is, does it come from our hearts?
Jeremiah wrote, “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” (Jer. 10:23.) The prayer-song, “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah, " is a plea for direction. It implies that man knows his need for divine guidance. Man does not know what is best. The world does not know what is best for man, even with all the advances in sciences. Philosophers are not the answer. Paul inquired, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:” (1 Cor. 1:18-22.)
In olden times God gave direction in a variety of ways. The writer of Hebrews began, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” (Heb. 1:1-2.) He spoke directly to man (Gen. 2:16-17; 22:1; Ex. 20). He spoke through dreams and visions (Gen. 28:10-15; 37:5-10; Dan. 2). Jehovah guided Israel in the wilderness wandering in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Ex. 13:21-22; Num.9:15-23). Jehovah revealed his will through the Urim and Thummim. God spoke to Balaam through his donkey (Num. 22). Theophanies (visible manifestations of God) appeared to man to relate God’s will (Gen. 22:17ff; Josh. 5:13-17). God sent heavenly messengers, angels, to reveal his will to man (Judges 6). A sobering message to Belshazzar appeared on a wall as the Chaldeans were partying (Dan. 5). God sent prophets often.
The writer of Hebrews continues, “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son….” Though God has not changed in revealing his will, he has changed in the manner of having revealed his will. It is through his Son, Jesus Christ. The New Testament is that will which comes through our Lord Jesus Christ. The New Testament is complete. Paul wrote of the Scriptures, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17.)
We have the word of God today. It is our guide. The Psalmist sang, “NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105.) It is all sufficient for our needs spiritually. Peter wrote, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” (2 Peter 1:3). The Father gave the Son the word; the Son gave it to the Holy Spirit, who delivered it to the apostles and prophets. It was given by inspiration and preserved through providence down to the present time.
How do we learn his will since we have God’s revealed will and it is all sufficient for us? God cannot lead if we will not follow. God cannot deny himself (2 Tim.2:13). He will not force us. We must give diligence to show ourselves approved unto God by rightly handling the word of God correctly (2 Tim. 2:15).
A dip into history tells us the following about the Moravians:
… Moravianism was not a thoroughly Biblical organization. The Bible was not its supreme authority, but authority lay also in personal experience, and of course, varied according to the sentiments of the individual. Nor was the Bible a book to which they gave diligent study; they regarded it somewhat as a compilation of texts and mottoes, and they had the curious practice of opening it at random and accepting the first verse their eyes lighted upon as the immediate guidance of heaven. They employed it also in the casting of lots and we are told that the Count “carried his lot apparatus in his pocket; he consulted it on all sorts of topics and regarded it as the infallible voice of God.” – Dallimore, Arnold, George Whitefield Vol. I, East Peoria, IL, Versa Press Inc., p. 172, 2019.
The Quakers or Friends teach the idea of an “inner light” which is God‘s residing in every person to direct him. The Pentecostals teach continuous revelation, which they believe miracles are still occurring today. The Catholics lean on their man-made traditions as being on par with or superior to the Bible. On and on, we can go with those who have/are not satisfied with God’s word.
When will the Lord lead us? He will lead us through our sojourn in this life. He will lead us in good and evil times. He will guide us down the uneven pathways of life. So, let us sing: “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” and let us obediently follow him. Where He leads, let us follow.