The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.

Henry W. Baker 1821 – 1877

Crown

(Noun and Verb)

A. Nouns.

1. stephanos (G4735), primarily, “that which surrounds, as a wall or crowd” (from stepho, “to encircle”), denotes (a) “the victor’s crown,” the symbol of triumph in the games or some such contest; hence, by metonymy, a reward or prize; (b) “a token of public honor” for distinguished service, military prowess, etc., or of nuptial joy, or festal gladness, especially at the parousia of kings. It was woven as a garland of oak, ivy, parsley, myrtle, or olive, or in imitation of these in gold. In some passages the reference to the games is clear, 1Co_9:25; 2Ti_4:8 (“crown of righteousness”); it may be so in 1Pe_5:4, where the fadeless character of “the crown of glory” is set in contrast to the garlands of earth. In other passages it stands as an emblem of life, joy, reward and glory, Phi_4:1; 1Th_2:19; Jam_1:12 (“crown of life “); Rev_2:10 (ditto); Rev_3:11; Rev_4:4, Rev_4:10 : of triumph, Rev_6:2; Rev_9:7; Rev_12:1; Rev_14:14.

It is used of “the crown of thorns” which the soldiers plaited and put on Christ’s head, Mat_27:29; Mar_15:17; Joh_19:2, Joh_19:5. At first sight this might be taken as an alternative for diadema, “a kingly crown” (see below), but considering the blasphemous character of that masquerade, and the materials used, obviously diadema would be quite unfitting and the only alternative was stephanos (see Trench Syn. Sec.xxxii).

2. diadema (G1238) is never used as stephanos is; it is always the symbol of kingly or imperial dignity, and is translated “diadem” instead of “crown” in the RV, of the claims of the Dragon, Rev_12:3; Rev_13:1; Rev_19:12. See DIADEM.

B. Verb.

stephanoo (G4737), “to crown,” conforms in meaning to stephanos; it is used of the reward of victory in the games, in 2Ti_2:5; of the glory and honor bestowed by God upon man in regard to his position in creation, Heb_2:7; of the glory and honor bestowed upon the Lord Jesus in His exaltation, Heb_2:9.

WE. Vine. Expository Dictionary of Bible Words.

With the Six Nations rugby tournament under way at the moment and understanding as a Welshman the joy of supporting your side and the elation involved when victorious but also the disappointment and sadness when they lose.  I was reminded about Scripture that says that the worlds crown is transient and fades after a very short time. But our hope of glory ( Christ in us ) as Christians is eternal, what a comfort.

And more than that, it’s a glorious truth.  Hallelujah.

All hail the power of Jesus’ Name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.

Edward Perronet  1729-1792

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
or the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.

John H. Sammis

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

The First Letter of John 1:5-10 ESV