Unless stated otherwise, my source for hymn texts and tunes is The Lutheran Service Book.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

LSB #707 "Oh, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Psalm 119:5, 33, 133, 176; Ezra 34:11-12; Matthew 18:12-14

Psalm 119:5:  "Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!"

Psalm 119:33:  "Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end."

Psalm 119:133:  "Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me."

Psalm 119:176:  "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments."

There are only ten chapters in Ezra.  I think the citation should be Ezekiel 34:11-12:  "11 'For thus says the Lord GOD:  Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.  12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.'"

Matthew 18:12-14:  "12 'What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?  13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.  14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.'"

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The text is public domain:
1 Oh, that the Lord would guide my ways
To keep His statutes still!
Oh, that my God would grant me grace
To know and do His will!

2 Order my footsteps by Thy Word
And make my heart sincere;
Let sin have no dominion, Lord,
But keep my conscience clear.

3 Assist my soul, too apt to stray,
A stricter watch to keep;
And should I e'er forget Thy way,
Restore Thy wand'ring sheep.

4 Make me to walk in Thy commands -
'Tis a delightful road -
Nor let my head or heart or hands
Offend against my God.
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Verses 5 and 33 from Psalm 119 seem to be combined in the hymn's first verse, although the specific phrasing bears more resemblance to verse 5, and Psalm 119:133 is paraphrased in the hymn's second and fourth verses (more closely in the second than the fourth).

The other three cited texts (Psalm 119:176, Ezekiel 34:11-12, and Matthew 18:12-14) appear in the third verse, particularly in the line "Restore Thy wand'ring sheep."