ScriptureWay
  • Home
  • Site Overview
  • Author
  • Resources
    • Daily Bible Devotionals
    • Bible Study Tools
    • Bible Studies
    • Bible Verses about Music
    • Whitneytunes Music Videos
    • Whitneytunes Worship Music
    • Bible Verses About the Cross
    • Bible Verses About Eternal Life
    • Bible Verses - "I AM"s of Christ
    • Bible Verses About Sound Speech
    • Bible Verses for Times of Crisis
    • BIble Verses About Trusting in God
    • Bible Verses about Paradise
  • About The Way
  • Contact

Bible Teachings

"Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord" - Hymn Story and Scriptures

9/23/2018

0 Comments

 
by Whitney V. Myers  
Download a printable PDF of this post
Download printable sheet music PDF
Gettysburg National Military Park - October Morning - Psalm 27:11 - Photo by Whitney V. Myers
Gettysburg National Military Park - October Morning - Psalm 27:11 - Photo by Whitney V. Myers
"Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies." (Psalm 27:11)

Today's lesson explores the Bible verses behind the excellent hymn, "Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord."

Benjamin Mansell RamseyBenjamin Mansell Ramsey (Ref. 2)
Hymn Author and Composer
Benjamin Mansell Ramsey wrote the text for "Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord" based on Psalm 27:11 and several additional Scripture verses.  Mr. Ramsey also composed the tune, "Camacha," which we use today when singing this hymn.  

Benjamin Mansell Ramsey (1849 - 1923) was an English organist and amateur composer (Ref. 1).  He also was a well-known music teacher near Bournemouth, England.  Mr. Ramsey composed songs, piano pieces, and carols.  He also wrote works on music theory (Ref. 2). 

Wikipedia reports that Mr. Ramsey also conducted an amateur orchestra in the 1880s, and was involved in establishing the Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra in 1893 (Ref. 1).  He is best known for his hymn tune, "Camacha," and the text he wrote for "Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord" in 1919. 

For those of you who are interested in geography, Bournemouth is located on the south coast of England (see map, Ref. 3).


Scripture Allusions
I suggest that you refer to the attached hymn sheet music for the following discussion of the Scripture verses and the hymn text (Ref. 4).

     "Teach me Thy way."  Mr. Ramsey skillfully wrote this hymn around the Biblical phrase, "Teach me Thy way."   He included the phrase, "Teach me Thy way," 13 times in verses one through four.  In the Old Testament, the Way of the Lord referred to keeping God's commandments (Deuteronomy 5:33, Ref. 5).  In Joseph Benson's Commentary, the phrase "Teach me Thy way, O Lord" means "What course I shall take to please thee, and to discharge my duty, and to save myself from ruin" (Ref. 6).  David, the Psalmist, asked God to teach him God's way in Psalm 27:11 and Psalm 86:11.  Psalm 25:4-5 is similar.  David’s request to God, "Teach me Thy way, O Lord," is an excellent example for us to follow (Ref. 5).

     "Thy guiding grace afford" (hymn, verse 1).  These words call to my mind Jesus' promise in John 16:13, "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth."  Jesus promised us as believers that the Holy Spirit will guide us.  The Greek word for guide in John 16:13 is hodégeó, which literally means "to show the way" (Ref. 7, Ref. 8).  Now we can see the close connection between the prayerful hymn words in verse 1, "Teach me Thy way, O Lord" and "Thy guiding grace afford."  As believers in Christ, we need the Holy Spirit's guidance to teach us God's way and truth in each of our life's circumstances.

     "Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight" (hymn, verse 1).  This hymn phrase likely refers to Paul's statement in 2 Corinthians 5:7, "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

     "Make Thou my pathway plain" (hymn, verse 3).  Psalm 27:11 begins with the words, "Teach me thy way, O Lord" and ends with the words, "and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies" (KJV translation).  The transliteration of the Hebrew word for plain is mishor (Ref. 9).  In Psalm 27:11, mishor means literally a level place (free from obstacles) and figuratively, a place of safety, comfort, prosperity (Ref. 9).  In the literal sense, a plain is a level area or plateau as compared to a mountainous area, for example, 1 Kings 20:22-25.  In the figurative sense, David's prayer to make his pathway plain (Psalm 27:11) was to request that God would make his way safe (Ref. 10).  

Mr. Ramsey wrote in verse 3 of the hymn, "Shine through the cloud and rain, through sorrow, toil, and pain; Make Thou my pathway plain, teach me Thy way!"  With these words, we pray that God will make our way safe and that God will comfort us through these difficult times.


     "Until the race is won" and "Until the crown is won" (hymn, verse 4).  Mr. Ramsey likely drew inspiration from 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 which alludes to both of these phrases.  "Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.  Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything.  However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we a crown that will never fade away." 

Let us resolve to run the race with endurance that God has given us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

     Listen.  I suggest that you listen to one or both of the following Youtube videos to hear examples of how the hymn can be sung.

Traditional hymn in 3/4 time - The Metropolitan Tabernacle, London congregation singing "Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord" - Click here.

This contemporary, 4/4 time solo arrangement of "Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord" in 4/4 time will uplift you.  Click here.

     Apply.  In what aspect of your life today do you need God to remove obstacles and to make your pathway plain or safe?  Pray and ask God to teach you his way and to give you his guidance.

References
1.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._Mansell_Ramsey
2.  http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/r/a/m/ramsey_bm.htm
3.  https://www.worldatlas.com/eu/gb/eng/where-is-bournemouth.html
4.  https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Teach_Me_Thy_Way_O_Lord/
5.  http://www.scriptureway.com/home/the-way-of-the-lord-old-testament
6.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/psalms/27.htm
7.  https://biblehub.com/greek/3594.htm
8.  http://www.scriptureway.com/home/the-spirit-of-truth
9.  https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4334.htm
10.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/psalms/27.htm

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Daily Bible Verse (click)

    Author

    Mr. Whitney V. Myers.  Christian.  For more information, please visit the Author Page.

    Posting Schedule

    I plan to provide new postings every three or four weeks.

    Planned Topics

    (subject to change)
    2March21 - "God of All Comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

    Recent Posts

    (most recent three months)
    12Feb21 - "Bible Verses about Paradise" (Luke 23:43)
    31Jan21 - "Paradise, Jesus, and the Penitent Thief" (Luke 23:42-43)
    22Dec20 - "Scriptures and Story for 'Joy to the World'" (Psalm 98:4-9)
    15Nov20 - "The Peace of Believing Prayer (Philippians 4:6-7)"

    Popular Posts

    25Aug19 - "Characteristics of a Child of God - Part 1" (Matthew 7:16)
    21Oct18 - "When Jesus Said 'Truly, Truly,' What Did He Mean?" (John 6:47)
    1Jul18 - "There is a Balm in Gilead"  
    7Oct18 - "What is Eternal Life?" (John 17:3)

    Posts to Consider

    7May20 - "Bible Verses about Trusting in God"

    Categories

    All
    About The Life
    About The Truth
    About The Way
    Adoption
    Advent
    Amen
    Angels
    Anxiety/Worry
    Atonement
    Believing In Jesus
    Believing In Jesus - Section 2
    Blood
    Burdens
    Children Of God
    Comforter/Helper
    Compassion
    Courage
    Crisis
    Cross
    Defense
    Encouragement
    Eternal Life
    Faith
    Fear
    "Fear Nots"
    Forgiveness
    Friend
    God's Care
    God's Guidance
    God's Invitations
    God's Promises
    Gospel
    Grace
    Healing
    Heart
    Help
    Holy Spirit
    Hunger
    Hymn Stories
    "I AM"s Of Christ
    Inheritance
    Knowledge
    Life After Death
    Light
    Listening/Hearing
    Love
    Obedience
    Paradise/Heaven
    Peace
    Persecution
    Pharisees & Scribes
    Power
    Prayer
    Pray To Receive Christ
    Redemption
    Refuge
    Rest
    Resurrection
    Salvation
    Savior
    Second Coming
    Sheep
    Shepherd
    Silence
    Sin & Sinners
    Son Of God
    Soul And Spirit
    Sound Speech
    Spiritual Growth
    Storms
    Strength
    Sympathy
    Testimonies
    The Early Church
    The Way
    The World
    Thirst
    Trouble
    Truly Truly
    Trusting In God
    Truth
    Virgin Birth
    Way To Heaven
    Who Is Jesus?
    Wisdom
    Witness

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018

Picture
The ScriptureWay site provides Bible Teachings that point to Jesus.   The Bible teaches that believing in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. 

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." -- Jesus speaking in John 14:6

    Follow by email

Please enter your email address to receive an email notification of new posts. After you enter your email address, please then click on this "please enter" box. Within a few seconds you should see a message confirming that your information has been submitted.

Contact or Follow

Alternative to providing an email address -- to see the planned posting schedule, you can check the side column on the Home Page.

Picture

Copyright 2018-2021 Whitney V. Myers

Listed in Feedspot's Top 90 Bible Study Blogs
  • Home
  • Site Overview
  • Author
  • Resources
    • Daily Bible Devotionals
    • Bible Study Tools
    • Bible Studies
    • Bible Verses about Music
    • Whitneytunes Music Videos
    • Whitneytunes Worship Music
    • Bible Verses About the Cross
    • Bible Verses About Eternal Life
    • Bible Verses - "I AM"s of Christ
    • Bible Verses About Sound Speech
    • Bible Verses for Times of Crisis
    • BIble Verses About Trusting in God
    • Bible Verses about Paradise
  • About The Way
  • Contact