He Leadeth Me by E. K. SLADE

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 25, 1916

“He Leadeth Me”

By E. K. SLADE

E. K. SLADE

THE words of the poet describe an experience that it is the privilege of every child of God to enjoy:—

“He leadeth me! O blessed thought! O words with heavenly comfort fraught! Whate’er I do, where’er I be, Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.”

The Lord was in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night to lead his chosen people from their enemies and their bondage into their own land of freedom and plenty. All that he was to them in their troubles and triumphs he has promised to be to every one in his battle with temptation and sin and in his journey to the Land of Promise. “The Lord shall guide thee continually,” is a promise most precious in these days of distress, deception, and darkness. “I will guide thee with mine eye;” “he will teach us of his ways;” “the way of the righteous is made plain;” “I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldst go;” and “I am the way,” are blessed assurances to the wayfaring man, which should give courage and hope and peaceful confidence in such a time as this.

The Lord cannot lead a man who will not be led. If a man chooses to be led by the flesh, his end is certain death, and the only way of escape from such a doom is for him to choose to be obedient to the leading of God’s Spirit. Our impressions or desires are not safe guides. For us to fancy that God is leading when we go in ways contrary to the laws of nature or the teaching of his Word is an error. Our salvation depends upon our being led away from our natural desires and tendencies. “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.” Jer. 31:3. He leads by love, but many times it may be by the love that “rebukes” and “chastens.” He who weighs “the path of the just” will allow experiences to come to his children of a nature to help them to turn away from serving self to choose the “good way, and walk therein.”

Adversity and affliction are permitted to come to us oftentimes when we have turned our face to sin and our back to God. “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isa. 30:20, 21. Many times by his providences, he rescues his wayward children who are prone to turn away from him. It may be, when the way seems hardest and our grief or disappointment or affliction seems the most defeating, that our heavenly Father is most tenderly watching over us to make of such experiences a means of causing us to choose his way and enter into blessings and victories to which we could be led in no other way.

This is illustrated by the experience of a young, loving, unconverted father and mother, who lost their only child, the idol of their hearts. Sorrow and gloom filled their once happy home. Though surrounded by good friends and many comforts, they were wholly disconsolate. So they finally decided to travel, hoping thus to find relief from their continual sorrow for their darling child. But relief did not come, and in vain did they try to forget. Finally they went to the hills of Scotland, and one day while wandering in the fields, they saw a shepherd trying to lead his flock across a stream to a better pasture; but in vain did he try. Finally he picked up one of the little lambs, and carried it across the water and placed it by itself in the new pasture. Soon the little one set up a most appealing call for its mother. This was more than the mother sheep could endure, and she marched straight across the stream to her little one. Then the rest of the flock followed her example.

After witnessing with deep interest this touching scene, the husband said to his wife, “Is it possible that we have come all the way to Europe to see this shepherd lead his flock, in order to learn the lesson which the great Shepherd has for us? He took our little lamb away from us in order that he may lead us into his fold. Had we not better start at once to follow as he leads?”

“Where’er the path may lead, God gives to thee no helpless, broken reed; But his own hand sufficient for thy need. So where he leads thee, thou canst safely go; And in the blest hereafter thou shalt know Why in his wisdom he hath led thee so.”

Mount Vernon, Ohio.