The Latin name given to this past Sunday is “Misericordias Domini”, mercies of the Lord, taken from the first line of the Introit: “The earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord”; however, Sunday is commonly referred to as “Good Shepherd” Sunday based on the Gospel reading (John 10). It makes sense, then, that we would sing “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”.
This hymn is a paraphrase of Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” The “King of love” is Jesus, also called our shepherd. His goodness never stops, and he provides us with everything we need. The final line of stanza 1, “I am His and He is mine forever”, reminds us of part of Sunday’s Gospel: I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me” (John 10:14). We are still celebrating Eastertide, and this hymn reminds us that Jesus has risen and so grants us eternal life with him in heaven.
If you look at other stanzas, you’ll notice words and phrases that remind us of the Sacraments, Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Stanza 2 mentions “streams of living water”, a comparison to Holy Baptism where we are washed clean with water and the Word of God. At the end of stanza 2, we see the phrase “With food celestial feedeth”. “Celestial” is a word that means something belongs in heaven. In other words, Jesus, our Good Shepherd, feeds us heavenly food. Which food is it talking about? Jesus’ body in the Lord’s Supper! Stanza 5 details a “table” with food and a “chalice”. These are both reminders of Jesus’ body and blood given in, with, and under the bread in wine in the Lord’s Supper.
“The King of Love My Shepherd Is” reminds us that Jesus is our Good Shepherd who cares for us, his sheep, who often wander and go astray. His “rod and staff” (stanza 4), the cross, give us comfort as they remind us of Jesus’ death which procured our salvation. And in this Easter season, we rejoice that Jesus has risen from the dead and grants us the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper to give us grace and healing. These truly are the “mercies of the Lord”.
Review questions:
1. What are the two names given to this past Sunday (April 26)? What are these names taken from?
2. What is “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” based on?
3. What do some of the words and phrases like “water” and “food celestial” represent?
4. What does the hymn writer compare the “rod and staff” to?
5. What are the two Sacraments in Lutheranism?