Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
“I have been roving and ranging over the rough mountains and wild precipices of Wales in search of poor illiterate
souls chained in the dens of darkness and infidelity.”
“Cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart.”
William Williams [1745]
The Great Awakening 1700s (George Whitefield; Jonathan Edwards; John & Charles Wesley)
Wales  Howell Harris & his convert William Williams.
William Williams
Billy Williams: born in 1717 (Cefn-coed), son of a wealthy farmer; his dad died
when he was just a kid; he aspired to be a doctor; in 1738 he heard Howell Harris
preach in Talgarth churchyard (standing atop a gravestone) – he was converted
and changed his pursuit from physician to preacher. He married a gal named
Mary Francis in 1748 (she was an excellent singer). They produced 2 sons and 6
daugthers.
*Invested 3 years preaching to unreceptive churches in, and around, Cefn-coed, and he was
disliked by the bishop who refused to ordain him. In his mid-20’s he began a 43 year pilgrimage of
itinerant ministry (traveling on horseback [sometimes on foot] between 40 & 50 miles per/wk
…that’s over 100,000 miles!). It was at a gathering of Welsh Methodist leaders that Williams first
attempted to write a hymn. The leaders decided that they needed hymns in Welsh like the
Wesley’s were giving to their branch of Methodism and proposed that each of the leaders should
attempt to write a hymn then and there. Williams wrote his first hymn and his genius was
immediately recognized and they told him he needed to write more hymns! Billy became known as
the “Sweet Singer of Wales”; he composed over 800 hymns. He wrote a lot of hymns about:
assurance of salvation; spiritual joys; longing for heaven; pilgrimage; etc. His hymns were
invaluable especially for the illiterate, and this was particularly the case in relation to the fact that
William wrote a lot hymns set to pub tunes, and then he and his wife would go to the pub and sing
them right there in the tavern!
Billy’s Guidelines for Writing Hymns:
1. Seek grace for yourself, clinging to a saving knowledge of God in His Son.
Without such a qualification you should not presume to be able to write a
hymn.
2. Read every work of suitable poetry available, and enlarge your
understanding of poetry – perceiving where its excellence exists.
3. To read over and over again the works of the Prophets, the Psalms, Song
of Songs, Lamentations, the Book of Job, and Revelation which are not
only full of poetical flights, figurative speech, rich variety, easy language,
and lively comparisons, but also a spirit that enkindles fire, zeal, and life in
the reader.
4. Never attempt to compose a hymn until you feel your soul near to heaven,
under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and then the Spirit will be ready to
bless your work.
In his 40+ years of traveling ministry he saw a lot of folks receive the Gospel, but
he also experienced intense persecution (e.g. beaten by mobs – once nearly
dying). He also traversed many inner-turmoils in the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist
movement (especially a pretty tense situation between two of his mentors – Howell
Harris & Daniel Rowland). He published more than 90 books, essays, and
pamphlets addresses issues and concerns within the Welsh Methodist societies.
Constantly traveling took it’s toll on Williams – he constantly suffered from nervous
exhaustion – and he candidly confessed that he oftentimes inordinately exerted
himself.
He was described as being: simple, honest, and direct, and he was often called
upon to bring perspective and peace to hostilities in the community (his way of
handling this was to draw people’s attention to the fact that they were pilgrims
passing through a weary land, and thereby he brought most people to view their
current “grievance” as petty.
Died at age 74 (Jan. 11, 1791)
Billy’s Hymn Books: Hallelujah (1744), Alleluia (1758), Hosanna to the Son of
David (1759), The Songs of Those Who Are on the Sea of Glass (1762).
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
Fun Facts:
 President James Garfield’s wife sang this hymn to him as he was
dying of an assassin’s bullet (1881).
 Sung at Princess Diana funeral.
Brief Historical Note About the Hymn:
This hymn used to be in the top 4 hymns for over a century!!!
Why?
The Reality and Explicit Nature of Death and Pilgrimage!
*Let’s talk about the theology of this hymn!  Deuteronomy 8.
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty; Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of Heaven, Feed me now and evermore.
Bread of Heaven, Feed me now and evermore.
Isaiah 42:16; 58:11; Revelation 7:17
Psalm 72:13; Romans 5:6; 8:26; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 4:15
Open now the crystal fountain, Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar, Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.
Strong Deliverer, Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.
Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20; Deuteronomy 8:15; Nehemiah 9:15; Psalm 78:16, 20; 105:41; etc.
Exodus 13:21; Numbers 14:14; Nehemiah 9:12
Lord, I trust Thy mighty power, Wondrous are Thy works of old;
Thou deliver’st Thine from thralldom, Who for naught themselves had sold:
Thou didst conquer, Sin, and Satan and the grave.
Thou didst conquer, Sin, and Satan and the grave.
Paslm 78
Ezekiel 16:30ff
When I tread the verge of Jordan, Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of deaths, and hell’s destruction, Land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee.
Songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee.
Deuteronomy 2:29; Isaiah 9:1; Numbers 35:10
Musing on my habitation, Musing on my heav’nly home;
Fills my soul with holy longings, Come my Jesus quickly come.
Free from vanity; Lord, I long to be with Thee!
Free from vanity; Lord, I long to be with Thee!
2 Corinthians 5:2; Colossian 3:1-2; Hebrews 3:1; 11:16
Nehemiah 9:15; John 6:33, 51
Psalm 28:7
Hosea 13:14; 1 Corinthians 15:55
Psalm 145:1
Psalm 89:47; Ecclesiastes 2:1; Isaiah 49:4; Jeremiah 10:3;