What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Every now and then a blog topic grabs hold of you before you have time to think about it. This week's topic chose me. I didn't choose it. I had another topic in mind, but it will just have to wait - maybe next week.

It is not an everyday thing, but quite common, that I'll take lunch on the couch with a TV tray and turn on the TV. When that happens I'm looking for one of three things to watch on YouTube: a stand up comedian on Drybar Comedy, Adventures of A + K, or The Petersens or some other musical entertainment.

This past week I was in a Drybar mood, but YouTube first presented me with some musical offerings. I flipped through two or three of them and landed on Merle Haggard, Country Gospel Music. I hesitated and then thought, "I don't want to listen to this now. I'm looking for comedy." But I waited long enough that I got teased with the first chord of the first song and that's all it took. Forty minutes of Merle Haggard gospel songs later, I had to leave and get some chores done.

That night, and the next morning, I discovered something. You can take the man out of the Merle Haggard music, but you can't take the Merle Haggard music out of the man. Haggard sings a slow, (sorry Nathan) peaceful, calming, thoughtful version of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," that absolutely wouldn't leave me. It was in my head incessantly and I didn't mind at all. I have to write about this song.

It is a song that springs from hard and tragic times, much like "I Heard the Bells" by Longfellow. The difference is that Longfellow was widely known and well-to-do. Joseph M. Scriven (1819 - 1886) was neither of those. Born in Ireland, Scriven's dream was of a military career, but while enrolled in a military academy, he was forced by poor health to give up that ambition. Not long after that disappointment his fiance drowned on the eve of their wedding.

Following that heartbreak, he moved from Ireland to Canada where he supported himself by teaching. It was in Canada that he wrote "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and sent it to his mother back in Ireland to comfort her in time of sorrow. When it was published a friend asked Scriven if he actually wrote it. Scriven replied, "The Lord and I did it between us."

He eventually became engaged again, but tragically his second fiance, as did the first, died shortly before the wedding date, this time due to illness. Hard economic times brought the loss of his teaching job. He was forced to live with friends. He was determined to live according to the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount and spent his time doing volunteer work with those in poor health or impoverished. His "friends" looked upon this activity with disfavor, and evicted him. With no income and no residence, not a long time passed before he was found drowned in a nearby lake. That is the life that produced these thoughts.

What a friend we have in Jesus,

all our sins and griefs to bear!

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!

Are we weak and heavy laden,

cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge,

take it to the Lord in prayer!

Do your friends despise, forsake you?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He'll take and shield you;

you will find a solace there.

I would guess the number of people whose lives are so tragic might stagger us. Scrivens and Longfellow are just two to get us started. As did Longfellow, Joseph Scrivens has given us a beautiful song to help us keep ourselves centered on Jesus.

We truly do have an indescribable privilege to be able to "carry everything to God. How sad for those who bear pain needlessly because they won't take advantage of a loving God. I know my trials and temptations don't begin to match what Joseph Scriven had to deal with. But among all people on earth, I "should never be discouraged" because someone who "knows [my] every weakness" (and that's enough to keep a mind busy) is willing to share my sorrows anyway.

And yes, I'm weak. I am. I'm weighed down with a load of care, but I have a real and worthy refuge. I have a Savior, and yes, He's precious. He is precious to God the Father, and yet He gave His life for me. I wonder at the seeming prescience of Joseph Scrivens to have asked, "Do your friends despise , forsake you?" This song was written at least a few years before he was asked to leave their abode when he had nowhere else to go. What a question to have asked! But we have one friend who will never despise or forsake us. We have a friend that no matter how low we get, this friend, our Savior, will take us in His arms and shield us.

King David is another individual who had a tragic life, at least in part. The king he tried to bring solace to, Saul, sought to kill him. His best friend, Jonathan, met a tragic death. He had a wife who hated him. He carried the guilt of adultery with the wife of one of his most loyal warriors. He schemed to have that loyal warrior killed. His son led a rebellion against him. There were many areas of tragedy in David's life. David wrote "songs" about it as well.

Psalms 43:5, "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God."

Psalm 34:2, "The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.”

Psalm37:34, "Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off."

Psalm 142:1-2, "I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out before Him my complaint; before Him I tell my trouble."

David reassures us that the Lord will take care of us. Joseph Scrivens had it right. Jesus already bore our sins to the cross. After that, our griefs are nothing for Him to bear. He has given us the privilege of talking to God just like David did.

If we are not at peace it’s because we have forfeited it with weak faith. If we are bearing a heavy load of pain, it’s needless because Jesus is waiting to take it from us. There is no reason to keep up a facade with Jesus. He knows our weaknesses and our sorrows and offers solace and the strength of His arms to shield us.

What comforting thoughts. What a privileged life we have. What a friend we have in Jesus,