ScriptureWay
  • Home
  • Site Overview
  • Author
  • Resources
    • 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
    • Bible Verses about Music
    • Test Page
    • Daily Bible Devotionals
    • Bible Study Tools
    • Whitneytunes Music Videos
    • Whitneytunes Worship Music
  • About The Way

Bible Teachings

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us - Scripture Allusions - Verse 2

6/14/2020

1 Comment

 
by Mr. Whitney V. Myers
Download a printable PDF of this post.
Download a PDF lyrics sheet of this hymn.
Photo source: FreeBibleImages.org
The Good Shepherd Seeks and Saves Lost Sheep - Copyright David Padfield - Used under license
The Good Shepherd Seeks and Saves Lost Sheep - Copyright David Padfield - Used under license
"How think ye?  If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave ninety and nine, and go into the mountains, and seek that which is gone astray?" (Matthew 18:12 1599 Geneva Bible)

This article describes the scripture allusions for verse 2 of the children's hymn, "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us."  In verse 2 the hymn teaches us that Jesus befriends us, guards our way, keeps watch over us, defends us from sin, and seeks us when we go astray.

In the first article in this series, Ref. 1, we learned about the background for the hymn text author, Dorothy A. Thrupp, and the hymn tune composer, William B. Bradbury.  We also discussed the Biblical truths in verse 1 - that Jesus is our great Shepherd who leads us, cares for us, feeds us, and protects us.  Jesus has redeemed us ("bought us"), and we belong to him (Ref. 1).

     Consider.  At what time or times in your life did Jesus seek you when you had gone astray?  In what ways does Jesus guard you and defend you from sin? 

Verse 2 for "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us"

"We are Thine, Thou dost befriend us, be the Guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray."
-- Dorothy A. Thrupp (1779-1847, Ref. 2)

To see the lyric sheet for all four verses of "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us" on one page, click here.  The lyrics are provided by Timeless Truths (Ref. 3). 

The Bible verses cited below are linked to the BibleGateway.com website and are quoted from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless noted otherwise (Ref. 4). 

Scripture Allusions - Verse 2

"We are Thine, Thou dost befriend us, be the Guardian of our way"

This first line in verse 2 declares that we belong to Jesus, that he befriends us, and then asks Jesus to guard our way.

     We are Thine.  We now belong to Jesus because he has redeemed us.  The Apostle Paul wrote to Titus about "our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds" (Titus 2:13-14 NASB).  This phrase, "We are Thine," continues the theme of redemption that the author stated at the end of verse 1 (Ref. 1, Ref. 3).

     Thou dost befriend us.   Not only has Jesus given his life in the past to show us that he is our friend (John 15:13), he also loves us and treats us with close personal affection now in the present (Ref. 5).  Jesus told his disciples, and he tells us who believe in him and follow him now, "I have called you friends" (John 15:15).  Because Jesus is our Friend and we are his friend we love him and we keep his commandments (John 14:15, John 15:14).

     Be the Guardian of our way.   In this phrase, we ask Jesus to be our spiritual "guard rails" and keep us on the right path.  Jesus said, "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come" (John 16:13, Ref. 6).

"Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray." 

The three phrases in this line continue the image of the good Shepherd and what he does to protect his flock, his sheep.  All three phrases are in prayer-like language.  

     Keep Thy flock.  In the phrase, "keep Thy flock," we ask Jesus, our Shepherd, to guard and protect us with personal interest and vigilance (Ref. 7).  We learn the meaning of "keep" from a famous verse about the birth of the Savior.  "And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night" (Luke 2:8).  The Greek word in Luke 2:8 for keeping means guarding, protecting, and exercising unbroken vigilance (Ref. 7).

     From sin defend us.  Jesus defends us from sin through the word of God and the Holy Spirit whom he has sent to indwell those who believe in Christ.  Jesus said, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you" (John 14:16).  David described the importance of memorizing and remembering scripture so he could apply it to guard himself from sin (Psalm 119:9-11).  Jesus remembered and quoted scripture to defend himself from the devil when the devil tempted him (Matthew 4:1-11).  The Apostle Paul instructed believers about the importance of the word of God coupled with truth and faith to "extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one" (Ephesians 6:13-17).     

     Seek us when we go astray.  When we go astray (off course), Jesus will come looking for us.  Jesus said, "How think ye?  If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave ninety and nine, and go into the mountains, and seek that which is gone astray?" (Matthew 18:12 1599 Geneva Bible).  The Greek word for astray (used twice in this verse) means "get off-course; to deviate from the correct path (circuit, course), roaming into error, wandering; (passive) be misled" (Ref. 8).  Note the interesting parallel in Genesis when the Lord God came walking in the garden seeking Adam and Eve after they had sinned (Genesis 3:8-9).

"Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray."  (Phrase repeated)

The hymn text reminds us to pray in child-like trust to our Savior who protects us, defends us, and seeks us when we go astray.  The request to God, "Hear my prayer," is common in the Psalms.   David prayed, "O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth" (Psalm 54:2).  "Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy!" (Psalm 143:1). 

John the disciple of Jesus wrote to believers in Christ, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.  And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us" (1 John 5:13-14, italics added).

Listen and Sing Along 

Click on this YouTube link  - Solo piano meditation on the hymn "Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us" with sing-along lyrics.  Recorded by Rick Betts - March, 2011.

Prayer

Thank you, Jesus, for seeking us and finding us when we have gone astray.  Thank you, Good Shepherd, for leading us and guarding us in the way that leads to eternal life (John 10:27-28). 

References
1.  http://www.scriptureway.com/home/savior-like-a-shepherd-lead-us-scripture-allusions-verse-1
2.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Ann_Thrupp
3.  https://library.timelesstruths.org/music
/Savior_Like_a_Shepherd_Lead_Us/
4.  https://www.biblegateway.com/
5.  https://biblehub.com/greek/5384.htm
6.  http://www.scriptureway.com/home/the-spirit-of-truth
7.  https://biblehub.com/greek/5442.htm
8.  https://biblehub.com/greek/4105.htm

1 Comment

    Daily Bible Verse

    (Click the link above)

    Author

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

    Posting Schedule

    I plan to provide new postings about once a month.

    Planned Topics

    (subject to change)
    1Feb23 - "Walking in Integrity" (Proverbs 20:7)

    Recent Posts

    (most recent three months)
    9Jan23 - "The Light Shines in the Darkness" (John 1:5)
    21Dec22 - "Do Not Love the World" (1 John 2:15)
    (published revised 2nd edition)
    8Nov22 - "He Restores My Soul" (Psalm 23:3)
    11Oct22 - "Adoption as Sons" (Ephesians 1:4-5, Galatians 3:26, Romans 8:15)

    Popular Posts

    (top 10)
    7Oct18 -
    "What is Eternal Life?" (John 17:3)
    25Aug19 - "Characteristics of a Child of God - Part 1" (Matthew 7:16)
    3June18 - "What Does 'The Way' Mean in the New Testament?" (Matthew 7:13-14)
    9Feb20 - "Come Now, Let Us Reason Together (Isaiah 1:18)"
    1Jul18 - "There is a Balm in Gilead" (Jeremiah 8:22)
    21Oct18 - "When Jesus Said 'Truly, Truly,' What Did He Mean?" (John 6:47)
    11Aug22 - "What is Living Water in the Bible?" (John 4:10)
    20May18 - "The Way of the Lord (Old Testament)"
    6Nov21 - "The Meaning of God's Favor" (Psalm 30:5) (Deuteronomy 5:33)
    22Apr18 - "The Remedy for a Troubled Heart (John 14:1)"

    Categories

    All
    About The Life
    About The Truth
    About The Way
    Adoption
    Advent
    Affliction
    Amen
    Angels
    Anxiety/Worry
    Athletes
    Atonement
    Attributes Of God
    Believe In Jesus - Section 1
    Believe In Jesus - Section 2
    Believe In Jesus - Section 3
    Believe In Jesus - Section 4
    Blessing
    Blood
    Bread
    Burdens
    Children Of God
    Church
    "Comes" Of God's Word
    Comfort
    Comforter/Helper
    Compassion
    Confession
    Cornerstone
    Courage
    Crisis Management
    Cross
    Defense
    Early Church
    Encouragement
    Endurance
    Eternal Life - Section 1
    Eternal Life - Section 2
    Faith - Section 1
    Faith - Section 2
    Favor
    Fear
    "Fear Nots"
    Focus On God
    Follow Jesus
    Forgiveness
    Foundation
    Friend
    Fruit
    Future Life
    Goals
    God's Care
    God's Guidance
    God's Invitations
    God's Promises
    God's Will
    Gospel
    Grace
    Hate
    Healing
    Hearing
    Heart
    Heaven
    Help
    Holy Spirit - Section 1
    Holy Spirit - Section 2
    Hope
    Hunger
    Hymn Stories - Section 1
    Hymn Stories - Section 2
    "I AM"s Of Christ - Section 1
    "I AM"s Of Christ - Section 2
    Inheritance
    Joy
    Knowing Jesus
    Knowledge
    Labor
    Life
    Life After Death
    Light And Darkness
    Listening
    Living Water
    Love
    Maturity
    Mercy
    Narrow Gate
    New Life
    Paradise/Heaven
    Peace
    Persecution
    Pharisees & Scribes
    Physician
    Power
    Prayer
    Pray To Receive Christ
    Pride
    Protection
    Ransom
    Redemption
    Refuge
    Repentance
    Rest
    Resurrection
    Righteousness
    Right Hand
    Salvation - Section 1
    Salvation - Section 2
    Savior
    Scarlet
    Second Coming
    Security
    Sheep
    Shepherd
    Silence
    Sin & Sinners
    Son Of God
    Soul And Spirit
    Sound Speech
    Spiritual Growth
    Storms
    Strength
    Struggles
    Sympathy
    Testimonies
    The Way
    The World
    Thirst
    Tree Of Life
    Trouble
    Truly Truly
    Trusting In God
    Truth
    Virgin Birth
    Water
    Way To Heaven
    Who Is Jesus? - Section 1
    Who Is Jesus? - Section 2
    Why Jesus Came
    Wisdom
    Witness

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    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

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
​

Picture

    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.

Copyright 2018-2023 Whitney V. Myers

Listed in Feedspot's Top 100 Bible Study Blogs and Websites
  • Home
  • Site Overview
  • Author
  • Resources
    • 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
    • Bible Verses about Music
    • Test Page
    • Daily Bible Devotionals
    • Bible Study Tools
    • Whitneytunes Music Videos
    • Whitneytunes Worship Music
  • About The Way