Lead me, Lord God, through the desert of this world.
You are mighty and faithful; guide me, who am weak.
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven, satisfy my soul, satisfy my soul.
Open the fountain of Living Water, the healing of my soul,
and walk before me with Your pillar of cloud.
Saviour, Saviour, You are the Shield of my life, You are the Shield of my life.
The popular Welsh Christian hymn ‘Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah’ has been translated into many versions in Indonesia. In the Baptist Church Hymn Book, this song is titled “Lead Me, God the Father” (NP 150). In the book *Psalms and Spiritual Songs*, the title is ‘Lead Me, Lord Hua’ (NR 131). Meanwhile, the translation quoted above is taken from *Kidung Jemaat* 412 (or *Kidung Keesaan* 542), published by the Church Music Foundation (Yamuger), under the title “Guide Me, Lord God”.
In Wales, this song—originally titled “Cwm Rhondda” or “Arglwydd, Arwain Trwy’r Anialwch”—holds a significant status and is more than just a church hymn. Alongside Wales’ official national anthem (Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau), this song is regarded as a second national anthem that represents the cultural identity, spirituality and national pride of the Welsh people in the eyes of the world.
This song is a traditional staple sung en masse by tens of thousands of supporters in stadiums during matches involving the Welsh national football and rugby teams. Its majestic melody and harmonies serve to ignite a spirit of patriotism and strengthen a sense of unity.
The song originated during the Welsh Revival and served as a source of spiritual solace for the working class, particularly the coal miners in the Welsh valleys during the 19th and 20th centuries, amidst harsh working conditions and the rigours of daily life. As the lyrics speak of journeys, God’s protection and hope, this song has become a staple at wedding ceremonies, state funerals and official commemorative services in Wales. Who composed this song that unites the Welsh people? What is the story behind its creation?
Wales: Land of Heroes
The country of Wales is a peninsula jutting out into the sea to the south-west of the island of Great Britain. The region is characterised by its high, rugged mountains, narrow valleys, swift-flowing rivers, dramatic coastline, and lush, verdant landscapes.
In ancient times, the tribes living there were renowned as a strong and warlike people. Throughout the ages, they sang of the valiant deeds of their heroes and kings. Music festivals and singing competitions are traditions of the Welsh people that are still upheld today.
When the Good News about the Lord Jesus was first spread in Wales, many traditional singers welcomed it with great joy. “Wow, this is the story of the greatest hero of all!” was their response to the Gospel message. Even as far back as the sixth century AD, a Welsh poet and singer once wrote: “A musician may only be called a master if he honours God, and no singer is perfect unless he praises God the Father.”
Many Welsh hymns from the 14th century are still known and sung to this day. When the wave of the Reformation swept through Wales in the 16th century, a church leader translated the Book of Psalms into Welsh. Another minister adapted his sermons into short, easy-to-understand verses. He taught his illiterate congregation to sing these verses. Amidst a spiritual revival, Christian hymns or church songs became both popular songs and a symbol of national identity for the people of Wales. This was also the case with the hymn “Lead Me, O Lord God”.
A Young Man Who Was Always Curious
William Williams was born in 1717, into the home of a fairly prosperous Welsh farmer. He received an education considered good for its time, and aspired to become a doctor. From a young age, he was known as someone who loved to learn and was always curious. He began to hear about “strange Gospel preachers”, who were not permitted to preach in church. They proclaimed a personal faith, with a zeal that, strangely enough, far exceeded that of the official clergy.
In his twenties, William wanted to see for himself. One Sunday, he heard the village church bells calling the congregation, so he attended the service. The atmosphere of the service felt cold and lacked any real zest for life.
As he left the village church, in the graveyard near the church, a young man was preaching to passers-by. He spoke of repentance and warned his listeners about the fires of hell. However, the young preacher also spoke of God’s saving grace. His sermon was impassioned and full of zeal.
William was deeply moved. Right then and there, he decided he wanted to become a servant of God. At first, William served in a state-sanctioned church. But later, his ordination as a minister was refused. Why? Because he himself was now regarded as ‘a strange evangelist’.
The Itinerant Preacher
Just like the young man he had once heard in that churchyard, William Williams now became an itinerant preacher. He was never ordained, and never served as a pastor. Yet he reached many souls throughout Wales with the Good News of the Saviour.
His way of life was truly arduous. Often his body was drenched by rain, scorched by the sun, and he even trekked through freezing snow. He was also frequently attacked by mobs led by the nobility, who regarded William as a troublemaker. On one occasion, he was threatened with a rifle and a truncheon, then beaten half to death.
But William Williams refused to back down. For 45 years he traversed hills and valleys on foot or on horseback. He travelled more than 150,000 kilometres across Wales – a truly astonishing distance!
As long as there were people willing to listen, William Williams was always ready to preach wherever he was. Sometimes only a few people listened. However, there were also occasions when a thousand, ten thousand and even 80,000 people gathered at once to listen to his sermons. On that day, William Williams wrote in his diary: “The Lord strengthened my voice, so that almost everyone could hear.”
Carrying on the Tradition
The leaders of the spiritual revival movement in Wales recognised the importance of singing in their national tradition. So they organised lively singing festivals. And William Williams began to gain a reputation as the finest poet amongst them. Amidst years filled with travelling and evangelism, he still found time to compose around 800 hymns.
Like all Welsh people, this itinerant preacher loved the beauty of nature. He often taught the truths of God’s Word through comparisons with towering mountains or rushing rivers. He also liked to compare the experiences of Christians in his own time with those of God’s people in biblical times.
In 1745, William Williams published a book of hymns entitled ‘Hallelujah’. It contained a hymn entitled: ‘Strength to Cross the Wilderness’. In the original language, the first lines read as follows:
Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch
Fi, bererin gwael ei wedd.
Having read these words, Bible Friends will surely not be surprised to learn that very few Welsh hymns have ever been translated into other languages! Apart from the peculiarities of the language itself, there are also comparisons with the beauty of nature that are difficult to translate.
It is the melodies rather than the lyrics that have been brought from Wales and have become famous beyond its borders. For example, the collection *Two Old Friends* contains no fewer than five songs labelled: ‘Hymne uit Wales’ or ‘Welsche Hymne.’
The Same Name
Fortunately, amongst Welsh Christians there were those who sought to spread their hymns to other nations. One who rendered great service in this endeavour was the Reverend Peter Williams (1722–1796). The name ‘Williams’ is, in fact, a common surname amongst the Welsh people, so there is not necessarily a close family connection between William Williams and Peter Williams.
Just like William Williams, Peter Williams was also born in Wales, received a good education, and was influenced by an evangelist to become a servant of God. Unlike William Williams, Peter Williams became a minister in 1744, ordained by the established church. He served both as a pastor and as a supervisor of Christian schools.
However, due to his zeal for preaching the Gospel, Reverend Peter Williams was also forced to leave the Church of Wales. His greatest contribution to the Lord’s work was in the field of literature. He published various hymnals and Bible commentaries, all in the Welsh language.
However, he was also skilled at speaking and writing in English. In 1771, he published a collection of hymns. In that book, he translated into English three verses from the poem by William Williams, ‘Lead Me, O Lord God’.
Joint Composition
The following year, in 1772, the original author of the hymn, William Williams, was asked to help prepare a hymn sheet. He approved Peter Williams’s earlier translation of his poem. However, he felt that the first verse needed reworking. The three verses were subsequently reprinted.
William Williams died in 1791, whilst Reverend Peter Williams died in 1796. Yet the hymn they composed together had already spread throughout the world. Although it contains many allusions to the Old Testament era, its words still speak to people today. This world truly feels like a ‘wilderness’. The ‘River Jordan’ symbolises death. The ‘pillar of fire’ and the ‘pillar of cloud’ symbolise the ways in which God cares for His people.
In Wales, the song has always held a special place. The name William Williams is still held in high esteem there. The hymns he composed are regarded as the strongest shapers of the nation’s Christian character. And his most beloved composition (‘Lead Me, O Lord God’), has become a sort of unofficial national anthem.
When the Welsh gather for large meetings or sporting events, this song is often heard, much like ‘Indonesia Raya’ here. In 1954, when the great evangelist Billy Graham held an evangelistic campaign in London, a group of around 1,100 Welsh Christians was also present. In the middle of the event, they sang that famous hymn.
Ruth, Billy Graham’s wife, recounted the event as follows: “The loudspeakers were turned off, and the entire group sang ‘Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah’.” ‘Wow, it was enchanting, majestic and deeply moving! The Welsh people sang as though their hearts were about to burst. And we felt as though our own hearts were about to burst with emotion.’
A Song from Two Nations
There were two composers of melodies for the lyrics written by William Williams. The first melody originated in America, not Wales. Its composer was Thomas Hastings (1784–1872), a fairly well-known Christian musician.
In 1830, Thomas Hastings hastily composed a new musical score. A few years later, he revised the song he had composed and paired it with the famous lyrics by William Williams and Peter Williams from Wales. The arrangement was first published in 1858.
However, the song heard by Mrs Billy Graham at the great revival in London in 1954 was not Thomas Hastings’ arrangement. The melody stemmed from the Welsh folk singing tradition itself. This version later became more famous.
John Hughes (1873–1932) was not a highly educated man, neither in music nor in any other field. He began working in a coal mine at the age of twelve. Thanks to his diligence, he rose through the ranks until he eventually attained a fairly senior position in the administrative department of the Great Western Colliery in Pontypridd. However, his greatest joy did not come from his professional achievements, but from serving the Lord. At church, he was active as a musician (church organist), choir leader and deacon at Salem Baptists Chapel, Llantwit Fardre, Wales. John also taught the Sunday School children at his church so that they could sing well.
Every year, the Welsh Baptists upheld their national tradition by holding a festival of sacred music. In 1907, John Hughes composed and published a new melody for the lyrics of “Lead Me, O Lord God”. By the time of his death a quarter of a century later, this song of his had been performed at no fewer than five thousand spiritual music festivals.
To this day, the hymn “Lead Me, O Lord, My God” remains a blessing not only for Christians in Wales, but also for Christians throughout the world, including us in Indonesia, some 11,000 kilometres away from Wales. That distance is still far shorter than the distance William Williams travelled throughout his life whilst preaching the Gospel, whether on foot or on horseback – a distance said to be equivalent to circling the earth four times (150,000 km)!
