Lyrics
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow’rful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliv’rer, strong Deliv’rer,
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield;
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.
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, Thou didst conquer
Sin and Satan and the grave,
Sin and Satan and the grave.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death and hell’s Destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
The hymn presents Christian life as a pilgrimage that requires divine guidance at every stage. Its images of bread, water, fire, and cloud recall Israel’s wilderness experience, where provision and direction came from God. The confession “I am weak” is met by trust in Jesus as the mighty deliverer, strength, and shield.
The later verses expand the prayer from daily need to final perseverance. The Jordan and Canaan imagery places death at th edge of the song itself, yet the tone remains confident rather than fearful. Christ’s victory over sin, Satan, and the grave gives the pilgrim a reason to sing praise even when the path feels barren. Fountainview Academy’s text keeps the hymn’s archaic diction, which reinforces its sense of enduring trust, reverent, and hopeful dependence.
Related Scripture
- Exodus 13:21-22 The pillars of cloud and fire guide Israel, echoed in the second verse.
- Psalm 23:4 The psalm connects God’s presence with comfort in the dark valley.