Joseph M. Scriven – What A Friend We Have In Jesus

Joseph M. Scriven was an Irish poet most famous for his song What A Friend We Have In Jesus.  He also taught at Woodstock and Brantford in Ontario, worked as a laborer, and tutored the family of Lieutenant Pengelley, a retired naval officer.  He published a collection of hymns, entitled Hymns and Other Verses, in 1869.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

Scriven makes his opening point, that Jesus is our friend and encourages us to pray for everything. He lists several ways that Christ is friendly towards us:

• He takes away our sin, despite knowing our rebellious tendencies.
• He allows us to place our anxiety on Him.
• He reminds us that trials should not prevent us from praying.
• He is our security.
• He will take us to His Heavenly Kingdom, where prayers of rescue will cease.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

The entire song is Scriptural.

Lyrics are public domain.

[Verse 1]

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!

Christ shows His love towards us by bearing our guilt and shame on the cross (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).

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!

Prayer is a right that God grants to His adopted children (John 1:12-13, John 14:18, Romans 8:14-17, Romans 8:23, Romans 9:1-8, Galatians 3:26, Galatians 4:5-7, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:11-22, Hebrews 9:15, and 1 John 3:1-3).

[Verse 2]

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

There are two Scriptural reasons why we should be encouraged amid trials and temptations:

1. If we follow Jesus, we should expect to face tribulations (Luke 21:17, John 15:18-19, 2 Timothy 3:12, 1 John 3:13).  After all, Jesus warned us to count the cost of following Him, including our lives (Luke 14:25-33).
2. Trials are one way God disciplines His children.  It brings about perseverance, proven character, the fruits of righteousness, and hope (Romans 5:3-5, Hebrews 12:4-11, and James 1:2-4).

Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,

We are wicked, filthy sinners who don’t deserve salvation and are spiritually dead (Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Proverbs 21:16, Luke 15:11-24, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:1-2, Colossians 2:13, and 1 Timothy 5:6).  Yet, Jesus knows these things and died for us anyway (Romans 5:6-8).

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Repeats line 4.

[Verse 3]

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;

Combines Jesus’ words to lay our burdens on Him (Matthew 11:28-30) with Christ as our defense (Genesis 15:1, Deuteronomy 33:29, 2 Samuel 22:3, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 5:11, Psalm 12:5, Psalm 18:1-3, Psalm 20:1, Psalm 27:1-5, Psalm 28:7, Proverbs 30:5, Psalm 33:20, Psalm 34:19, Psalm 46:1-3, Psalm 57:1, Psalms 59:1, Psalm 71:1-6, Psalm 84:11, Psalm 89:18, Psalm 91:1-16, Psalm 115:9, Psalm 121:1-8, Psalm 140:4, Proverbs 14:26, Proverbs 18:10, Isaiah 41:10, 1 Corinthians 10:13, and 2 Thessalonians 3:3).  Also, line 4 repeats Verse 2, line 4.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

This is an example of heavy-ladenness.  See commentary on lines 1-4.

Take it to the Lord in prayer;

Repeats Verse 2, line 4.

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Rewords line 3.

[Verse 4]

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear

See commentary on Verse 3, lines 1-4.

May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.

Rewords Verse 2, line 4.

Soon in glory bright unclouded
There will be no need for prayer

That is, there will be no need for prayers that involve affliction because there will be no more pain (Revelation 21:4).

Rapture, praise and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

That is, Christ’s second coming (Matthew 24:43, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Corinthians 11:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, 2 Peter 3:10, and Revelation 16:15) and our eternal praise (Nehemiah 9:5, Psalm 30:12, Psalm 52:9, Psalm 86:12, Psalm 89:1, Psalm 115:18, Psalm 145:1-2, Psalm 145:21, and Revelation 5:9-13).

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will likely conclude that Scriven calls them to pray about everything. Though unexplained, prayer is an integral portion of our personal relationship with Jesus, which God will reveal to them if they take Scriven’s advice.

The word “sin” is defined by examining different pieces of the puzzle.  When put together, it means “suffering caused by realized temptation”.  It’s pretty close, but there’s no mention of lawbreaking.  However, if unbelievers do as Scriven suggests, He will reveal this to them as well.

Score: 9/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God that Scriven urges us to pray, that we can unload our worries and stress on Jesus and receive internal peace.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Joseph M. Scriven’s What A Friend We Have In Jesus is theologically deep.  It compels us to pray about everything, taking Jesus up on His offer to bear our burdens, take away our sin, and grant us internal peace.  This glorifies God.  Unbelievers should easily interpret similarly, except for the Biblical definition of “sin”, which God will reveal if they put Scriven’s words into practice.

I highly recommend it for corporate worship.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track: What A Friend We Have In Jesus (listen Alen Jackson’s version of this song)

Artist: Joseph M. Scriven

Album: N/A

Genre: Hymn

Release Year: 1865

Duration: N/A

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