He Leadeth Me

Guidance is the single claim of "He Leadeth Me," and The Martins sing the hymn as a steady confession rather than a plea. "Whate'er I do, where'er I be, still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me" sets the terms: no location or task falls outside that hand. The refrain repeats it with the singer's own answer, "His faithful foll'wer I would be."

The middle stanzas test the claim against changing ground. The path runs through "scenes of deepest gloom" and also "where Eden's bowers bloom," along "waters still" and "o'er troubled sea." Pleasant and hard places get the same line of reply, which echoes the still waters and dark valley of Psalm 23:2 and 23:4. The singer asks to put a hand into God's, to be content with whatever lot comes, and not to "murmur nor repine."

The last verse takes the question to the end of life. When the task is done and the "vict'ry's won," even "death's cold wave" holds no fear, because "God through Jordan leadeth me." The image recalls Israel crossing the river on dry ground in Joshua 3:17, with the same Lord going ahead.