W. W. Walford – Sweet Hour Of Prayer

William W. Walford was a blind English preacher, most famous for his hymn Sweet Hour Of Prayer.  His work first appeared in the New York Observer on September 13, 1845, republished in 1911.  The credited editor, Rev. Thomas Salmon, said of the hymn,

“…At intervals, he attempted poetry.  On one occasion, paying him a visit, He repeated two or three pieces which he had composed, and having no friend at home to commit them to paper, he had laid them up in the storehouse within. “How will this do?” asked he, as he repeated the following lines, with a complacent smile touched with some light lines of fear lest he subject himself to criticism. I rapidly copied the lines with my pencil, as he uttered them, and sent them for insertion in The Observer, if you should think them worthy of preservation.”

What followed are the words that I will review.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

As the title suggests, this song’s focus is on prayer.  Walford finds prayer time valuable as he unleashes his problems and requests to God, finding comfort and relief after he finishes.  Walford proclaims that God calls us to seek and trust Him. He looks forward to the day Jesus comes back and meets Christ in the air, kissing this world goodbye and enjoying eternity with God.

Score: 10/10

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

All the lyrics align with the Bible.

This song is public domain.

[Verse 1]

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

This is an experiential declaration, that Walford values time with God in prayer.

That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.

When Walford prayer, he simultaneously unloads his worries (Matthew 11:28-30), casts his anxieties (1 Peter 5:7), and petitions to God (Philippians 4:6).

In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Prayer helps Walford reorient his focus away from his problems and towards God (Hebrews 12:2).

[Verse 2]

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

Repeats Verse 1, line 1.

The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Walford expresses, along with his brethren, their collective desire for the second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:43, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Corinthians 11:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, 2 Peter 3:10, and Revelation 16:15).  He would rather be a doorkeeper in God’s courts than to spend another moment with wicked people (Psalm 84:10).

[Verse 3]

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

Repeats Verse 1, line 1.

Thy wings shall my petition bear

Repeats the concept of petition commented in Verse 1, lines 2-4.

To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.

God is truth (John 14:6) and His words are truth (John 17:17) who is faithful to us because He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13).

And since He bids me seek His face,

Seek Him while He is found (Isaiah 55:6).

Believe His Word and trust His grace,

Those who do will inherit eternal life (John 3:16).

I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Repeats the concept of casting worries onto God commented in Verse 1, lines 2-4.

[Verse 4]

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

Repeats Verse 1, line 1.

May I thy consolation share,

When we give God our burdens, He consoles us (Psalm 23:4, Psalm 71:21, Psalm 119:50-52, Psalm 119:76, Psalm 119:82, Isaiah 51:3, Isaiah 57:18, Isaiah 61:2, Isaiah 66:13, Zechariah 1:17, Matthew 5:4, Matthew 11:28-30, and 2 Corinthians 1:3-7).

Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,

References the mountain Moses climbed in Deuteronomy 34:1.

I view my home and take my flight.
This robe of flesh I’ll drop, and rise
To seize the everlasting prize,
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”

Walford left the world to meet God mid-air (1 Thessalonians 4:17), where he will attain his glorified, spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15:42-49), and will finish the race and receive the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).  The last line is poetic license that is not found in the Bible, understood as saying goodbye to this world as Walford enters God’s Kingdom.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Despite its original Ye Olde English language and slight Christianese, those outside the camp of Christ should easily comprehend Walford’s overall message.  He is talking about prayer life and the reasons why he values it while he waits for Jesus to come back again.  I can’t think of anything that will be misconstrued or require a deeper study to understand.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God in that it demonstrates why Christians pray.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

W. W. Walford’s Sweet Hour Of Prayer is the quintessential hymn.  Its beautiful poetic form expresses the benefits of prayer, that we can thrust our worries, fears, and requests onto God, receiving joy, comfort, and blessing.  He beckons us to follow God, trusting in His word, and looks forward to the day that Jesus finally comes back to take us home, bringing Him glory.  Walford’s timeless words contain the perfect balance between sophistication and comprehension by outsiders to Christianity.

If your church needs a new Hymn to sing, consider worshipping with this classic, perhaps in a modern form.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Sweet Hour Of Prayer (listen to the song)

Artist: W. W. Walford

Album: N/A

Genre: Hymn

Release Year: 1845

Duration: N/A

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Updates:

03/26/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.