“Lead Kindly Light” is a beautiful song written by John Henry Newman, on his voyage to England in 1833. Sick and weary that he was, Newman earnestly desired to reach England as quickly as possible, but the voyage was often obstructed and delayed by fierce sea storms. On asking the crew when the ship would touch shores, the reply he got was that “If the wind is favourable, we can proceed on our journey. Tonight, we see a star shining bright. In this deep darkness, one star will be our guiding star.” Then sitting in the ship, Newman wrote, “Lead kindly light …”.
The words of the song illustrate the verses in Exodus 13: 21 – 22. “The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.”
By the Lord’s grace, the ship which carried Newman was able to continue on the journey and Newman reached England safely.
Lead, kindly Light, amid th’ encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on;
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
The mine workers who were caught in a mine accident in England, sang these lines in the depth of the darkness in the mine … “Lead kindly light …”. And they reached their homes safely.
When they were brought into the Raven Brook prison, Corrie Ten Boom and her sister Betsy, saw the conditions in the prison and were shocked. Betsy sang to the Lord, “Lead kindly light ….”
In 1912, Marion wright, the singer who climbed into the life saving boat in order to escape from the sinking Titanic, sang as he saw the rescue ship in a distance … “Lead kindly light ….”
In 1915, when faced by drastic setbacks in the warfront, the song which the British army sang was none other than, “Lead kindly light …”
Deep darkness …. roaring waves … fierce storms … loneliness … dejection … depression … a million questions that storm the mind? Just one star is sufficient … “the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." (Jesus Christ) Revelation 22:16.
Faithful is the Lord God who called you, He will lead us by our hand.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I fear no evil, for You are with me;Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23: 4
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12
Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on;
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene: one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!
So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on.
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!
Meantime, along the narrow rugged path,
Thyself hast trod,
Lead, Saviour, lead me home in childlike faith,
Home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.