I am among those who believe that the majority of Christian music written by authors still living is garbage. I am not opposed to new music; I just see precious little of it that qualifies as either good art or good theology. Conversely, when I look at older music of the church, from medieval times through the 19th century, I see that most of it is of good quality artistically and theologically. Therefore, old = good, and new = bad, correct? If you said “No,” put a gold star on your chart.

Updated (scroll down)

Some time ago I began a series (if one post can be called a series) called Traditional Tripe. I intended to call attention to some old songs, mostly of the “Gospel Song” variety, that are among “old favorites” but are lacking in theological depth and accuracy. I was reminded of that “series” by yesterday’s post, and again today when I heard my daughter playing the following song on the piano:

He Leadeth Me

He leadeth me, O blessèd thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, over troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

Refrain:
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

There is nothing wrong with the content of this song. However, something very important is missing. Can you see what it is?

The song is correct to say that God leads us “by his hand.” By his hand he directs our circumstances and guides us. But when we face the circumstances and situations that he puts in our way, how do we know what he wants us to do? Are we waiting for impressions and dreams and visions, or has he given us something more concrete to show us the way?

God's Word, people! God's Word is missing! In a song about God’s leading, there is not one word about his Word! Without his Word, we are left to our own best guess in any situation. Without knowledge of Scripture, we end up doing whatever seems right to us.

What makes this omission even more grievous is that the author, Jo­seph H. Gil­more, wrote it while meditating on Psalm Twenty-three. Matthew Henry, commenting on verse three, writes,

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, in the way of my duty; in that he instructs me by his word and directs me by conscience and providence.

And further, on verse four,

His word and Spirit shall comfort them - his rod and staff, alluding to the shepherd's crook, or the rod under which the sheep passed when they were counted (Leviticus 27:32), or the staff with which the shepherds drove away the dogs that would scatter or worry the sheep. It is a comfort to the saints, when they come to die, that God takes cognizance of them (he knows those that are his), that he will rebuke the enemy, that he will guide them with his rod and sustain them with his staff. The gospel is called the rod of Christ's strength (Psalm 110:2), and there is enough in that to comfort the saints when they come to die, and underneath them are the everlasting arms.

To write of God’s leading without pointing to his Word is to write of taking a trip to a strange place with no map. It is useless!

Everything we need to follow God’s leading is in his Word. Where do we learn that we are lost? In his Word! Where do we learn how we can be saved? In his Word! Where do we learn his will for our behavior? In his Word! Where do we learn how we are to react to the struggles we face? In his Word!

What is missing from this song? Any reference at all to God's Word!