TEACH ME THY WAY, O LORD

In Psalm 27, verse 11, King David prayed asking, “Lord, teach me your way.”  These words inspired Benjamin Mansell Ramsey to write the words in our Hymn today, and the music for it, known as ‘Camacha’. 

Benjamin was born, August 10, 1849 in Surrey, England.  He was an organist and an amateur composer.  Ramsey was a prolific composer of part-songs, piano pieces and carols.  He was a teacher at Bournemouth Grammar School, the secretary of the Bournemouth Musical Association, conductor of the amateur orchestra in the 1880’s and helped to establish the Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra in 1893.  His daughter, Lillian F. Ramsey, following in her father’s footsteps, became a well-known writer.  However, further information about Benjamin is scarce.

TEACH ME THY WAY, O LORD, is said to have been composed in 1919, a few years after Ramsey’s retirement in 1916.  After 1920, this hymn began to have wide popular usage among student groups.  It gradually spread to sincere believers in other places…who genuinely desired to have a greater knowledge of their Lord.  One of the reasons for its growing popularity in north America was its inclusion in two widely used interdenominational hymn books.

In scripture, we are assured that God’s ways are higher than our ways.  So often we seek to know God’s path, but we believe the timing is up to our own determination.  If we would patiently wait for God’s timing, we would find it to be perfect.  To ask God to teach us His way, means that we are accepting the course He wants us to take…the path that will best discharge our duty…and the direction that will save us from ruin.  Maybe Benjamin Ramsey was in a place like King David where he needed to submit to God’s way and continue to mature in his faith and character. 

Lord, “Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight; lead me with heavenly light, teach me thy way!”

TEACH ME THY WAY, O LORD, is a prayer of commitment.  As you sing it, make it your prayer too.