SONG STUDY 8: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

STUDY (8) WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

J                  
Charles Converse (Melody)      Joseph Scriven (Lyrics)

Joseph Scriven grad­u­at­ed from Trin­i­ty Col­lege, Dublin. Aft­er his fi­an­cée drowned the night be­fore they were to mar­ry, he moved to Can­a­da in 1846. There he taught in Wood­stock and Brant­ford, On­tar­io, and was a tu­tor for the Pen­gel­ly fam­i­ly near Bewd­ley. It was there he met and be­came en­gaged to Eliza Roche, a rel­a­tive of the Pen­gel­lys. In what seems too amaz­ing to be co­in­ci­dence, Eliza died short­ly before their wed­ding. Following the death of his second fi­an­cée, Scriven joined the Plym­outh Breth­ren, help­ing the aged members of the community.                                         
Scriven wrote this hymn in 1855 to comfort his mother, who was across the sea from him in Ireland. It was orig­in­al­ly pub­lished anon­y­mous­ly, and Scriven did not re­ceive full credit for al­most 30 years. Ironically, Scriven himself drowned in a lake in Canada in 1886.
Its theme is surely “TAKE IT TO THE LORD IN PRAYER”.

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear!

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.

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 Saviour, still our refuge,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer;

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

Play This Video: What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Verse 1

(a) Understanding the words: privilege, forfeit.

(b) Read John 15:12-17. What is it that gives us the right to call Jesus our friend?

(c) See Psalm 103:1 5, Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17 and 1 Peter 2:24. Is there anything not covered by the “all” in line 2? What is it that causes us to carry some things on our own?

Verse 2

(a) What is the difference between a trial and a temptation? See 1 Peter 1:6-7, 4:12-13, James 1:13-15, Hebrews 2:18, 1 Corinthians 10:12-13.

(b) How is it that “Jesus knows our every weakness”? See Hebrews 4:14-16, Psalm 103:13-14. What difference should this make to us?

Verse 3

(a) Understanding the words: heavy-laden, cumbered, refuge, despise, forsake, solace.

(b) What kind of friends are they who would despise and forsake you? See Zechariah 13:4-6. How would you describe the relationship of Peter and Judas with Jesus?

(c) The Psalms have many references to finding refuge in the Lord. Read Psalm 91, for example. What comfort do you find in knowing that he cares for you so much?

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