The Story Behind the Hymns.
THE STORY BEHIND "THE KING OF LOVE MY SHEPHERD IS"
This is one of the most beloved hymns inspired by Psalm 23. Its lyrics were written by Sir Henry Williams Baker (1821–1877), an English Anglican priest and hymn writer who devoted much of his life to serving rural parishes and caring for the poor.
The hymn first appeared in the influential collection Hymns Ancient and Modern in 1868, a hymnal that helped shape Christian worship across the English-speaking world.
Baker's text is a poetic paraphrase of Psalm 23, portraying Christ as the loving Shepherd who guides, protects, forgives, and faithfully cares for His people. Rather than being a direct translation of the psalm, Baker expanded its imagery to emphasize God's grace, the redemption found through Christ, and the promise of eternal life. The hymn's gentle language has made it a source of comfort in both joyful worship and times of grief.
One of the hymn's most memorable lines, "Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love He sought me," reflects the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15, reminding believers that the Good Shepherd lovingly seeks those who wander from Him.
The hymn is most commonly sung to the Irish melody St. Columba, arranged by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford in the early twentieth century. The pairing of Baker's deeply devotional text with this serene and expressive tune has made it a favorite in churches, cathedrals, weddings, funerals, and choral concerts around the world.
According to tradition, Sir Henry Baker requested that this hymn be sung at his bedside as he was dying in 1877. As the final verse was sung, he is said to have quietly remarked, "The perfections of the Shepherd are the joy of the whole earth," making the hymn a fitting testimony to the faith that had shaped his life.
More than 150 years after it was written, The King of Love My Shepherd Is continues to assure Christians that the Shepherd who led David is the same Shepherd who lovingly guides His people today, offering peace, hope, and the promise of dwelling in His house forever.
THE STORY BEHIND "THE KING OF LOVE MY SHEPHERD IS"
This is one of the most beloved hymns inspired by Psalm 23. Its lyrics were written by Sir Henry Williams Baker (1821–1877), an English Anglican priest and hymn writer who devoted much of his life to serving rural parishes and caring for the poor.
The hymn first appeared in the influential collection Hymns Ancient and Modern in 1868, a hymnal that helped shape Christian worship across the English-speaking world.
Baker's text is a poetic paraphrase of Psalm 23, portraying Christ as the loving Shepherd who guides, protects, forgives, and faithfully cares for His people. Rather than being a direct translation of the psalm, Baker expanded its imagery to emphasize God's grace, the redemption found through Christ, and the promise of eternal life. The hymn's gentle language has made it a source of comfort in both joyful worship and times of grief.
One of the hymn's most memorable lines, "Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love He sought me," reflects the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15, reminding believers that the Good Shepherd lovingly seeks those who wander from Him.
The hymn is most commonly sung to the Irish melody St. Columba, arranged by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford in the early twentieth century. The pairing of Baker's deeply devotional text with this serene and expressive tune has made it a favorite in churches, cathedrals, weddings, funerals, and choral concerts around the world.
According to tradition, Sir Henry Baker requested that this hymn be sung at his bedside as he was dying in 1877. As the final verse was sung, he is said to have quietly remarked, "The perfections of the Shepherd are the joy of the whole earth," making the hymn a fitting testimony to the faith that had shaped his life.
More than 150 years after it was written, The King of Love My Shepherd Is continues to assure Christians that the Shepherd who led David is the same Shepherd who lovingly guides His people today, offering peace, hope, and the promise of dwelling in His house forever.
The Story Behind the Hymns.
THE STORY BEHIND "THE KING OF LOVE MY SHEPHERD IS"
This is one of the most beloved hymns inspired by Psalm 23. Its lyrics were written by Sir Henry Williams Baker (1821–1877), an English Anglican priest and hymn writer who devoted much of his life to serving rural parishes and caring for the poor.
The hymn first appeared in the influential collection Hymns Ancient and Modern in 1868, a hymnal that helped shape Christian worship across the English-speaking world.
Baker's text is a poetic paraphrase of Psalm 23, portraying Christ as the loving Shepherd who guides, protects, forgives, and faithfully cares for His people. Rather than being a direct translation of the psalm, Baker expanded its imagery to emphasize God's grace, the redemption found through Christ, and the promise of eternal life. The hymn's gentle language has made it a source of comfort in both joyful worship and times of grief.
One of the hymn's most memorable lines, "Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love He sought me," reflects the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15, reminding believers that the Good Shepherd lovingly seeks those who wander from Him.
The hymn is most commonly sung to the Irish melody St. Columba, arranged by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford in the early twentieth century. The pairing of Baker's deeply devotional text with this serene and expressive tune has made it a favorite in churches, cathedrals, weddings, funerals, and choral concerts around the world.
According to tradition, Sir Henry Baker requested that this hymn be sung at his bedside as he was dying in 1877. As the final verse was sung, he is said to have quietly remarked, "The perfections of the Shepherd are the joy of the whole earth," making the hymn a fitting testimony to the faith that had shaped his life.
More than 150 years after it was written, The King of Love My Shepherd Is continues to assure Christians that the Shepherd who led David is the same Shepherd who lovingly guides His people today, offering peace, hope, and the promise of dwelling in His house forever.
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