Where He Leads I’ll Follow

Words: William Augustine Ogden (b. Oct. 10, 1841; d. Oct. 14, 1897)
Music: William Augustine Ogden

Note: Mr. Ogden (1841-1897) was something of a musical prodigy. By the age of ten he was a trained musician, capable of reading music. Before long he was able, simply by hearing a song, to write out the musical notation for it. By the time he was eighteen, Ogden was involved in the music of his home church. Perhaps his early experience is one reason that, through his adult life, he enjoyed working with children and teaching them music.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, Ogden enlisted, and served in a number of historic battles of the war. He also organized a male choir with the 30th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The singers became well-known in the area. After the war he resumed his study of music under some of the most prominent musicians of the day.

In 1870, Mr. Ogden published his first songbook, called Silver Songs. The book became very popular, and sold five hundred thousand copies in England alone. Over the years, William Ogden taught music, not only in the United States, but Canada as well, and wrote and published many gospel songs. A contemporary described Professor Ogden as: “A very genial and companionable man, [who] had the highest regard for the rights of others….He was very enthusiastic in his work, yet very gentlemanly and considerate.”

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

There are both leaders and followers in the world. But it’s a little more complex than a simple either-or. In truth, there are some situations where we are leaders (parents in the home, for example), and others where the same people may be followers (employees under an employer).

In the home, we hope to set a good example for our children to follow. And we also hope and pray that, as they grow older, they will choose good role models to emulate. It’s sad to see a teenager take an immoral celebrity as his guiding star. Of course, the greatest example we have, and the One that God’s Word calls upon us to follow above all else, is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (Jn. 13:15). And the Apostle Peter states that Christ has left us an example, “that you should follow in His steps” (I Pet. 2:21). No need to be in the dark if we will accompany the One who declared, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12).

Any other individual should only be considered a worthy exemplar to the extent that he (or she) follows Christ. As the Apostle Paul told the Corinthian believers, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (I Cor. 11:1). This implies the opposite too: “Don’t follow me if I am living in disobedience to the Lord.” The Person of Christ is our spiritual light in a dark world. Through faith in Him, and obedience to Him, we can know for certain where we are going, and obtain the help and direction we need to get there.

Nineteen times the Gospel writers record the words of the Lord Jesus, “Follow Me” (e.g. Matt. 4:19). After the resurrection, Peter asked for some details about another disciple’s future (Jn. 21:21). But Christ quickly rebuked Him, “What is that to you? You follow Me” (vs. 22). It’s to be the pattern for each of us.

William Ogden published a hymn about that in 1885 calling it Where He Leads I’ll Follow. Appropriate to this New Year’s Eve, it expresses a determined commitment to follow Jesus.

(1) Sweet are the promises, kind is the word,
Dearer far than any message man ever heard;
Pure was the mind of Christ, sinless I see;
He the great example is, and pattern for me.

Where He leads I’ll follow,
Follow all the way.
Where He leads I’ll follow,
Follow Jesus ev’ry day.

(2) Sweet is the tender love Jesus hath shown,
Sweeter far than any love that mortals have known;
Kind to the erring one, faithful is He;
He the great example is, and pattern for me.

Questions:

1. What is involved, in a practical sense, in following the Lord Jesus?
2. What is gained when we do? What is lost when we don’t?

Links:

Where He Leads I’ll Follow (The Cyber Hymnal)