Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us (ELW 789)
Devotion
1 Savior, like a shepherd lead us;
much we need your tender care.
In your pleasant pastures feed us,
for our use your fold prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
you have bought us; we are yours.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
you have bought us; we are yours.
2 We are yours; in love befriend us,
be the guardian of our way;
keep your flock, from sin defend us,
seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
hear us children when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
hear us children when we pray.
3 You have promised to receive us,
poor and sinful though we be;
you have mercy to relieve us,
grace to cleanse, and pow'r to free.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
early let us turn to you.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
early let us turn to you.
4 Early let us seek your favor,
early let us do your will;
blessed Lord and only Savior,
with your love our spirits fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
you have loved us, love us still.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
you have loved us, love us still.
Text: attr. Dorothy A. Thrupp, 1779-1847
This lovely hymn is attributed to Englishwoman Dorothy Ann Thrupp. It first appears in her Hymns for the Young (1830). She likely intended it as a teaching tool for children. William Bradbury composed the music a number of years later and broadened the lyrics of the hymn to include all ages.
The hymn, reminiscent of the 23rd Psalm, paints a picture of nourishment in pleasant pastures, available to all. It offers the promise that we are Jesus' because he bought us, with his blood. The promise is for all: for children, for adults, for you, for me, for Zacchaeus. In this week's gospel Jesus tells Zacchaeus, "The Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). All of us, who were lost, have been found; we belong to Jesus.
The third verse offers another beautiful promise: "... poor and sinful though we be; you have mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse and pow'r to free." We are indeed free in Jesus' tender care.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, giver of tender care, befriend us with your love, guard our way, keep us from sin, and hear us when we pray. Amen.