Lead On, O King Eternal

BIBLE REFERENCE:

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is
laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at
that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance,
obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11:8-10

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 1 Peter 5:4

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 1 Corinthians 9:25

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:11-12  

Ernest Warburton Shurtleff - Lyrics
1862-1917

Born: April 4, 1862, Boston, Massachusetts.
Died: August 24, 1917, Paris, France.

Henry Thomas Smart - Composer
1813-1879

Born: October 26, 1813, London, England.
Died: July 6, 1879, London, England.
Buried: Hampstead Cemetery, London.

HYMN HISTORY:

The hymn Lead On, O King Eternal was written by a young graduating seminarian, Ernest W. Shurtleff, in 1887. Shurtleff was born in Boston, Massachusetts on April 4, 1862. His classmates at Andover Theological Seminary, recognizing the poetic ability of their colleague, asked him to write a hymn which they might all sing together for their commencement service. Shurtleff responded with this excellent text. At the time of his graduation he had already published two volumes of verse and throughout his later ministry wrote a number of additional hymns. This is his one hymn text, however, which has endured the passing of time.

Following his graduation from seminary, Shurtleff served with distinction in Congregational Churches in California, Massachusetts and Minnesota. During this time he was awarded the Doctor of Divinity Degree from Ripon College, Wisconsin. In 1905 he and his family went to Europe, where he organized the American Church in Frankfort, Germany. Later, in Paris, Shurtleff carried on a ministry with students and did relief work among the poor and needy. It was said that his entire life was truly the epitome of the hymn text he had written many years earlier for his own graduation service.

Although the metaphores and imagery used in this text were intended for their original purpose, the graduation, we can apply these truths to our personal lives and ministries today:

Verse 1

Verse 2

Verse 3

“days of preparation” - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

“fields of conquest” - Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. John 4:35

“Thy tents...” - By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11:8-10

Here is a summary of the whole purpose of the Christian ministry - warfare against sin, but always accomplished “with deeds of love and mercy.”  - Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:11-12  

This is the motivation for Christian service - the sense of God’s abiding presence throughout this life and the promised reward that awaits the faithful servant when hi s earthly task is complete. - Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8

The well-suited music for this text was borrowed by Shurtleff from a tune written fifty-two years earlier by an English organist and composer, Henry Smart. Smart originally composed this tune for the text “From Greenland’s Icy Mountains” to be used at a musical festival at Blackburn, England on October 4, 1835, observing the three-hundredth anniversary of the Reformation in England, “Lancashire,” the name of this tune, is the county location of Blackburn, where Smart was organist at the time of this composition. Henry Smart became well-known throughout England as a nineteenth-century composer, conductor and compiler of sacred music, even though he spent the last fifteen years of his life in total blindness. Despite this affliction he continued his work as organist at St. Pancras Church, London, until his death in 1879. Another of his favorite tunes is used for the familiar hymn "Angels From the Realms of Glory."

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me : John 10:27

We should follow our Lord as unhesitatingly as sheep follow their shepherd, for He has a right to lead us wherever He pleases. We are not our own, we are bought with a price-let us recognize the rights of the redeeming blood. The soldier follows his captain, the servant obeys his master, much more must we follow our Redeemer, to whom we are a purchased possession. We are not true to our profession of being Christians, if we question the bidding of our Leader and Commander. Submission is our duty, to object is our folly. Often might our Lord say to us as to Peter, "What is that to thee? Follow thou Me." Wherever Jesus may lead us, He goes before us. If we know not where we go, we know with whom we go. With such a companion, who will dread the perils of the road? The journey may be long, but His everlasting arms will carry us to the end. The presence of Jesus is the assurance of eternal salvation, because He lives, we shall live also. We should follow Christ in simplicity and faith, because the paths in which He leads us all end in glory and immortality. It is true they may not be smooth paths-they may be covered with sharp flinty trials, but they lead to the "city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant." Let us put full trust in our Leader, since we know that, come prosperity or adversity, sickness or health, popularity or contempt, His purpose shall be worked out, and that purpose shall be pure, unmingled good to every heir of mercy. We shall find it sweet to go up the bleak side of the hill with Christ; and when rain and snow blow into our faces, His dear love will make us far more blest than those who sit at home and warm their hands at the world's fire. To the top of Amana, to the dens of lions, or to the hills of leopards, we will follow our Beloved. Precious Jesus, draw us, and we will run after Thee. Charles H. Surgeon.

But how are we to walk a nd how do we follow Christ? The Bible gives us the answer. Jesus Christ left us an example that we should follow in his steps.

We are to walk:

• Honestly. - 1 Thessalonians 4:12
  
• Worthy of God. - 1 Thessalonians 2:12
  
• Worthy of the Lord. - Colossians 1:10
  
• I n the Spirit. - Galatians 5:25
  
• After the Spirit. - Romans 8:1
  
• In newness of life. - Romans 6:4
  
• Worthy of vocation. - Ephesians 4:1
  
• As children of light. - Ephesians 5:8