calherewecome

This week’s hymn for our senior Bible study meeting this week will be “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” written by Joseph M Scriven as a poem in 1855. He wrote it as part of a letter to his mother who was ill at home in Ireland. It was later put to music by Charles Crozat Converse in 1866.

“What a Friend” continues to be an extremely popular hymn. Indeed, I have played it at our Bible study meeting at least  half a dozen times over the past few years. It has been translated into many different languages, including French, Spanish, Japanese, and many more.

So the money quote for “What a Friend” can be found at John 15:13-15.

John 15:13-15 ESV

[13] Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. [14] You are my friends if you do what I command you. [15] No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Here are the lyrics,

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
And what a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer

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

There have been many recordings done by recording artists across a wide range of musical styles. Here are a few samples:

Rhythm and Blues/Gospel – Aretha Franklin

Gospel/Choir – Mississippi Mass Choir

Country – Alan Jackson

Country – Alabama

Welsh Morriston Choir

This entry was posted on September 4, 2017 at 10:07 pm and is filed under Music. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments.

Tags: Gospel, Hymns, Music