The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Lyrics by Henry W. Baker and Music by John B. Dykes
The King of Love My Shepherd Is (feat. Skye Peterson) There are multiple versions of this hymn available, but I like this one in particular because of its simplicity. I’ve been out of town lately and was unable to get anything written, so thanks for your patience! I plan to write a few back to back in the days ahead, so stay tuned!
This wonderful hymn is one of my favorites (I’ve shared my wife’s and my mother-in-law’s lately, so now it’s my turn!). It’s mostly the 23rd Psalm put to music, so if it’s difficult for you to follow the lyrics very closely, you may find it helpful to have the psalm nearby.
One reason the beauty and deep meaning of many hymns is so hard to grasp is simply syntax–word order. The lines are meant to match a rhythm (called meter, as in poetry–another reason many people don’t often care much for hymns) and so get turned around from the way we would normally speak.
I’m arranging this reflection a little differently–I’ll give you the verse from the hymn, then paraphrase it, then provide the relevant verse(s) from Psalm 23, and lastly offer a short reflection.
I’m a little hesitant to do it this way because it’s a sort of analysis or “dissection”–and in order to dissect an animal you have to kill it. The last thing I want to do is kill these hymns–my one desire is to give them life, not rob them of it! All the more reason to be sure to listen to the hymn first, and then listen to it again when you come to the end. So, let’s get on with it!
Verse 1:
The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never.
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine forever.
Paraphrase:
My shepherd is the king of love, and His goodness never fails. If I belong to Him, I lack nothing, and He will be mine forever.
Psalm 23:
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
Reflection:
The very nature of our Good Shepherd is love and goodness. In fact, He is not only Shepherd but King! He is the King of love, and His goodness never fails. He can always, always be trusted. If we belong to Him, we will lack (“want”) nothing at all, for He is our everything.
Verse 2:
Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth;
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.
Paraphrase:
He gently leads my ransomed soul to streams flowing with living water, and there He feeds me rich, heavenly food in fields of lush, fertile grass.
Psalm 23:
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
Reflection:
My soul has been “ransomed,” that is, I while once I was a slave to sin and death, I have been ransomed–my debt has been completely and entirely paid. Because of this, while I am free from death’s captivity, I am still no longer my own, but have been purchased by the One who paid my debt on the cross–Jesus! To know Him is to know true flourishing, to drink deeply of living water that is found only in His Spirit. In Him our souls are restored, and there in His presence we find stillness, food for our souls, and waters of rest.
Verse 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.
Paraphrase:
I often strayed through stubborn and petty foolishness, but all the same He sought me out, and having found me, He gently laid me over His shoulder, He carried me home rejoicing.
Psalm 23:
This verse has no direct connection to the Psalm, but it does have roots in the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15 and Matthew 18. We see the great love of the Good Shepherd who willingly leaves the 99 sheep who are safe at home to seek the one (that is, you) who is lost.
Reflection:
We are, every single one of us, lost and foolish, often wandering from the good. Sheep may be cute, but they are the very picture of ignorance and stubbornness, preferring dirty water that’s right in front of them to clean water, perhaps just over the ridge, that they cannot see. Preferring to go their own way, oblivious to both wonders and dangers right in front of them. In spite of our cluelessness, Jesus seeks us out in love and gentleness and compassion, and carries us home–no lectures, no chiding, no finger-wagging. If this weren’t all, it would still be far more than we deserve.
Verse 4:
In death’s dark vale I fear no ill,
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.
Paraphrase:
Even if I find myself in the dark valley of death, no harm can reach me as long as You, dear Lord, stay by my side. Your rod and staff will always be a comfort to me, and I will keep Your cross always in my sight in order that it may guide me.
Psalm 23:
[This last part of 23:3 is not addressed in the lyrics: He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.]
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Reflection:
Nothing can happen to us, not even death, that can separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:31-39). People are often confused by the “rod and staff” mentioned in the psalm, but they are in fact beautiful pictures of God’s character and His love for us. The rod is a sort of weapon, not one to wield against stubborn cantankerous sheep but rather to ward off predators and enemies–the rod protects the sheep. The staff is a means of directing and guiding the sheep in the way they should go. In all things, and at all times, the cross of Christ is our protection, our guidance, and our salvation. We should go through each and every day carrying the cross of Christ before the eyes of our minds and hearts.
Verse 5:
And so through all the length of days,
thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house forever.
Paraphrase:
So for as long as I live I will remember that Your goodness never fails. Within Your house, Good Shepherd, I will sing Your praise forever.
Psalm 23:
[As in the last verse, this part of Psalm 23 isn’t addressed directly: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.]
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
Reflection:
Even though the last verse of Psalm 23 isn’t mentioned directly in the lyrics, the sheer abundance of grace and mercy most certainly is! Even if the lyrics speak of the marvelous goodness of the Shepherd, the grace, the mercy of God most definitely anoint us, wash over us, and the cup of our blessings can’t help but overflow! In the seeking, protection, and guiding of His foolish and stubborn sheep, His mercy is evident to all who know themselves to be every bit as foolish and stubborn! It is also one thing to be comforted by the presence of our Good Shepherd and quite another to live, to dwell, to abide in His presence forever, knowing there is no enemy who can ever come between us!
Now, please listen again and breathe life back into the hymn by not allowing it to remain pinned to the table of our poor reflections!
Rebuilding the Ruins 