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Joseph Scriven

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Words: Joseph Medlicott Scriven (b. Sept. 10, 1819; d. Aug. 10, 1886)
Music: Converse, by Charles Crozat Converse (b. Oct. 7, 1834; d. Oct. 18, 1918)

This marvelous hymn was written by an obscure man, for his ailing mother, in a town in Southern Ontario, Canada. It has gone ‘round the world, and become one of the best-loved of our sacred songs.

It begins with an exclamation that is found in the Gospels in quite another form. There, it’s a mocking criticism from the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day. The Lord said to them, “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’” (Lk. 7:34). But to those who came to Him in faith (and still do), drawn into the circle of His compassion and care, “What a Friend!”

The focus of Mr. Scriven’s song is on the present ministry of Christ, as our great High Priest in heaven, and the access each believer has to Him, through prayer. As the Bible puts it:

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb. 4:14-16

Yet, in spite of this glorious promise, so often our lives are plagued by prayerlessness. When we’re in trouble, prayer is sometimes our last resort, instead of our first refuge. James says, tersely, “You do not have because you do not ask” (Jas. 4:2). Personally, I find another weakness in my praying. I sometimes ask the Lord for help in a particular situation, and He gives it. But I’m prone to forget to say, “Thank You, Lord!” and praise Him for His provision.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

“Therefore, pray!” (Matt. 6:9).

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Heb. 13:5-6).

In (2), Joseph addresses our need for prayer during “trials and temptations.” We have the assurance that “Jesus knows our every weakness,” and can strengthen and support us in such times. (3) calls us to seek the throne of God when we are “weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care.” There may even be times when “friends despise, forsake [us].” That will never be the case with our greatest Friend of all. “In His arms He’ll take and shield [us]; [we] will find a solace there.”

(4) is often omitted from our hymn books, but it looks forward to the coming day, in heaven, when “there will be no need for prayer.” The author is likely thinking of seeking help in times of oppression and danger. In that sense, Joseph Scriven is right. There’ll be no pain, sorrow, or death there (Rev. 21:4). But, if we think of prayer in the broader sense of addressing God, which would include our praise and worship, then there will still be a place for prayer in heaven. And who knows whether, in our eternal service for Him (Rev. 22:3), we’ll need His counsel and guidance, even there.

Blessèd Saviour, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Questions:

  1. It is mentioned above that prayer is sometimes our last resort. Why is this the case?
  2. What are some of the blessings of having such an understanding and reliable friend as the Lord Jesus?

Links:

Today in 1791 – James Edmeston Born

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James Edmeston was an English architect and surveyor by profession. He also served as the church warden at St. Barnabas, Homerton, and he strongly supported the London Orphan Asylum, visiting it frequently. It is said he wrote 2,000 hymns, one each Sunday for many years. Few remain in use. But one that is found in many hymnals is the beautiful evening hymn, Saviour, Breathe and Evening Blessing, written when he was 19 years old. You can see allusions to both Ps. 91:5 and 139:12 in these lines.

Saviour, breathe an evening blessing
Ere repose our spirits seal;
Sin and want we come confessing:
Thou canst save, and Thou canst heal.

Though destruction walk around us,
Though the arrow past us fly,
Angel guards from Thee surround us;
We are safe if Thou art nigh.

Though the night be dark and dreary,
Darkness cannot hide from Thee;
Thou art He who, never weary,
Watchest where Thy people be.

(2) Today in 1819 – Joseph Scriven Born

Joseph Scriven

Joseph Medlicott Scriven was born in Ireland. He emigrated to Canada in 1846 after his fiancee was drowned the night before they were to be married. He settled in Port Hope, Ontario, and lived there for the remainder of his life.

As a poem to comfort his mother who was sick back in Ireland, Scriven wrote What a Friend We Have in Jesus, in 1855. It was originally published anonymously, and Scriven did not receive credit for it for about 30 years. When asked if he wrote it, Mr. Scriven replied, “The Lord and I did it between us.”

Joseph Scriven belonged to the Plymouth Brethren, and was known in his community for his many deeds of charity. The single hymn for which he is now recognized has become one of the most popular in the English language, a great and continued blessing to tens of thousands.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there.

Suffering Hymn Writers

It is astonishing to discover how many authors of our hymns had some disability, or wrote out of some dark experience in their lives. For example:

  • Fanny Crosby (To God Be the Glory, All the Way My Saviour Leads Me) was blind. So was John Milton (Let Us With a Gladsome Mind), and George Matheson (O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go), and William Walford (Sweet Hour of Prayer), as was Lelia Morris, later in life (What If It Were Today? Nearer, Still Nearer).
  • Annie Johnson Flint (He Giveth More Grace, God Hath Not Promised) was confined to her room with crippling arthritis most of her life. So was Lydia Baxter (Take the Name of Jesus with You).
  • Charlotte Elliot was a bedridden invalid when she wrote the great invitation hymn, “Just As I Am.” Catherine Hankey (I Love to Tell the Story, Tell Me the Old, Old Story) wrote her hymns while confined to bed to recover from a serious illness. Eliza Hewitt (More About Jesus, When We All Get to Heaven) developed a severe spinal condition and was confined to bed for a long period.
  • Frances Ridley Havergal (Take My Life and Let It Be, Who Is on the Lord’s Side?) was in poor health all her life, and she died at the age of 43. Thomas Chisholm (Great Is Thy Faithfulness) served as a pastor for a short time, but frail health forced him to resign.
  • Major Daniel Whittle (Showers of Blessing, Have You Any Room for Jesus?) was a Civil War amputee.
  • William Cowper [pronounced Cooper] (God Moves in a Mysterious Way, There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood) suffered from bouts of suicidal depression. Joseph Scriven (What a Friend We Have in Jesus) seems to have suffered from depression as well.
  • Both George Young (God Leads Us Along) and Horatio Spafford (It Is Well) wrote songs as a declaration of faith after a time of great family tragedy.
  • Luther Bridgers wrote “He Keeps Me Singing” after the death of his wife and children in a fire. Thomas Dorsey wrote “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” after his wife died giving birth to a son (who also died).

These are just a few examples of many. Even when there was not a prolonged disability, many created songs in periods of deep distress, or out of crisis circumstances. Because of such things, the poetry of their hymns grew out of the intense reality of their experience with God. No dry, dusty religiosity here. We sense in their message the ring of reality and the richness of their faith.

Perhaps we wonder how or why such beauty and blessing grows from times of suffering. There are could be many reasons. One is that those limited in some way–perhaps even bedridden–by a disability or adversity found time to explore new avenues of creativity and service for Christ. (One pastor never knew he could write hymns until he lost his voice and could no longer preach!)

Also, with their focus narrowed, their attention concentrated, they sometimes discovered deeper insights into the ways of God. They learned what it means to truly depend on God. Then, as the Lord blessed them, and blessed others through them in unique ways, they proved with the Apostle Paul what the Lord means when He says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (II Cor. 12:9).

Gold Out Of The Furnace: Suffering Saints Behind Our Hymns

It is astonishing to discover how many authors of our hymns were handicapped in some way. Here is a sampling, listing a few of the hymns they have given us.

God Moves in a Mysterious Way

Annie Johnson Flint (He Giveth More Grace, God Hath Not Promised) was confined to her room with crippling arthritis most of her life. So was Lydia Baxter (Take the Name of Jesus with You). Fanny Crosby (To God Be the Glory, All the Way My Saviour Leads Me) was blind. So was John Milton (Let Us With a Gladsome Mind), and George Matheson (O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go), and William Walford (Sweet Hour of Prayer), and, later in life, Lelia Morris (What If It Were Today? Nearer, Still Nearer).

Charlotte Elliot was a bedridden invalid when she wrote the great invitation hymn, “Just As I Am.” Catherine Hankey (I Love to Tell the Story, Tell Me the Old, Old Story) wrote her hymns while confined to bed to recover from a serious illness. Frances Ridley Havergal (Take My Life and Let It Be, Who Is on the Lord’s Side?) was in poor health all her life, and she died at the age of 43. Eliza Hewitt (More About Jesus, When We All Get to Heaven) developed a severe spinal condition and was confined to bed.

Thomas Chisholm (Great Is Thy Faithfulness) served as a pastor for a short time, but frail health forced him to resign. Major Daniel Whittle (Showers of Blessing, Have You Any Room for Jesus?) was a Civil War amputee. William Cowper [pronounced Cooper] (God Moves in a Mysterious Way, There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood) suffered from bouts of suicidal depression. Joseph Scriven (What a Friend We Have in Jesus) seems to have suffered from depression as well.

These are just a few examples. And even when there was not a prolonged disability, many created songs in periods of deep distress, or out of crisis circumstances. Whatever the case, we sense in their message the ring of reality and the richness of their faith.

Perhaps we wonder how or why such beauty and blessing grows from times of suffering. There are many reasons. One is that those limited in some way–perhaps even bedridden–by handicaps or adversity found time to explore new avenues of creativity and service for Christ. (One pastor never knew he could write hymns until he lost his voice and could no longer preach!)

Also, with their focus narrowed, their attention concentrated, they sometimes discovered deeper insights into the ways of God. They learned what it means to truly depend on God. Then, as the Lord blessed them, and blessed others through them in unique ways, they proved with the Apostle Paul what the Lord means when He says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (II Cor. 12:9).