I WALK WITH THE KING

          The Appalachian Trail is about 2,200 miles long, stretching from Georgia to Maine.  Most of it is mountains, some gentle slopes but much very rugged terrain.  It includes many beautiful vistas but also is very dangerous not only with steep mountains and cliffs, but also wild animals.  Those who hike the entire trail take an average of 165 rigorous days of hiking to complete it.  I have a friend who recently completed that fete, but he did it in three parts over a few years.  And he did it alone.  I personally would not even try it, but if I did I would want to have a friend accompany me.  A friend could not only keep me company, but could help guide me and protect me from the many challenges and dangers of the trail.  In many ways hiking the Appalachian Trail is similar to our trail of life. There are many very good days along the way, but there are also many steep paths and challenges that we will encounter.  Sometimes life can be very difficult.  But at the end of our trail there is a beautiful eternal home for the believer.  However, the real beauty of our journey is that believers have a companion who is right beside us, all the way.  We have the presence of the King!  We have His guidance.  We have His provision.  We have His protection.  We have His comfort. And we have His companionship!  What more could we want or need?  This old hymn, written in 1913 by James Rowe, is seldom heard or sung today.  A friend recently reminded me of it when she shared how, while growing up, her family used to often sing it.  I also remember the "old-timers" singing it in weekly prayer meetings.  I could find little about the origin of the hymn except that Rowe was born in England in 1865.  He came to America in 1890 where he worked for ten years for the New York Central and Hudson R. R. Co., then served for twelve years as superintendent of the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society. He began writing songs and hymns about 1896 and was a prolific writer of gospel verse with more than 9,000 published hymns, poems, recitations, and other works.  And this hymn of his encourages us as we are reminded that we walk with the King along the rugged trail of life here on earth. And He promised to never leave us or forsake us.   "I walk with the King, hallelujah!  I walk with the King, praise His Name!  No longer I roam, my soul faces home, I walk and I talk with the King."    

1.   In sorrow I wandered, my spirit oppressed,

But now I am happy, securely I rest;

From morning till evening glad carols I sing,

And this is the reason,I walk with the King. 

I walk with the King, hallelujah!

I walk with the King, praise His Name!

No longer I roam, my soul faces home,

I walk and I talk with the King. 

2.    For years in the fetters of sin I was bound,

The world could not help me, no comfort I found;

But now like the birds and the sunbeams of spring,

I'm free and rejoicing, I walk with the King. 

I walk with the King, hallelujah!

I walk with the King, praise His Name!

No longer I roam, my soul faces home,

I walk and I talk with the King. 

3.    O soul near despair in the lowlands of strife,

Look up and let Jesus come into your life;

The joy of salvation to you He would bring

Come into the sunlight and walk with the King. 

I walk with the King, hallelujah!

I walk with the King, praise His Name!

No longer I roam, my soul faces home,

I walk and I talk with the King. 

Listen to it here:    LISTEN1

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