Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family,
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:1-3).

This beloved psalm has been an inspiration for believers through centuries. This psalm gave comfort to Christians because they know that the Lord is not just a distant God, but a Great Shepherd. Psalm 100:3 makes this very clear, “Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

The consolation of Psalm 23 gave an idea for a hymn. The name of the hymn is “God Leads Us Along” and its author was George Young.

Young was a carpenter by trade, and he and his wife did some evangelism ministry, sharing the gospel everywhere they went. They said that the Lord led them to preach to those who were in darkness.

“In shady, green pastures,
So rich and so sweet,
God leads His dear children along.
Where the water's cool flow
Bathes the weary one's feet,
God leads His dear children along.
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Sometimes on the mount
Where the sun shines so bright,
God leads His dear children along.
Sometimes in the valley,
In darkest of night,
God leads His dear children along.”

The Youngs had a small house that George built with great effort, and which was dedicated to God and to the service of the Lord's work.

During a ministry trip far away from home, somebody, who was very offended by Young’s preaching, set their home on fire, and the Youngs lost everything there.

As George gazed at the ruins, he started to count his real possessions, his family, his relationship with Christ, his ministry, his eternal home, and then, he wrote his lovely hymn “God Leads Us Along.”

“Though sorrows befall us
And Satan oppose,
God leads His dear children along.
Through grace we can conquer,
Defeat all our foes;
God leads His dear children along.”

During this thanksgiving season, let us remember that our Lord, the Great Shepherd, will lead us along. Give thanks to Him, because He is good all the time.

“Some through the waters,
Some through the flood,
Some through the fire,
But all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow,
but God gives a song
In the night season
And all the day long.”

Happy Thanksgiving!
In His service,
Israel