Those Marvelous Hymns!

Recently, I picked up a book that was published in 1923 entitled, One Hundred and One Hymn Stories by Carl F. Price. Throughout its pages it provides the background of how and why many of the great hymns over the past 500 years were written. One that stood out is the popular "What a Friend We have in Jesus," that was written by Jospeh Scriven (1819-1886, and pictured at right) who lived in Port Hope, Ontario.

When Jospeh was a young man he was engaged to be married to a lady "whom he had known and loved for a long time." All the plans for the wedding had been made and the date set, but tragically, shortly before the wedding day arrived, the young lady was accidently drowned. This set young Joseph into the deepest of sorrow, as one might expect. As the author of the book tells it, "From this sad experience came a deep sense of his dependance upon Christ," and as a result, Scriven penned the words that have helped so many throughout the world: "What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer."

As one might guess, so many of the great hymns of the past (and perhaps in the present) have been written by those individuals who really knew their God. From Martin Luther to Charles Wesley, from William Cowper to Fanny J. Crosby, these were people who held on to God in the face of circumstances and hardships that were beyond their control. And yet, through these experiences, they learned that God was and is absolutely faithful.

As Scriven so wisely wrote: "Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer." How thankful we should be that these great men and women set their knowledge of God to words and song, so that today, we might be encouraged to press on no matter what the challenge!