Hymnal Page Scan: O Holy Savior, Friend Unseen Hymnary.org

Keyboard Recording:

This is a hymn we can use when we are working on developing an awareness of Jesus’s presence with us and we can use it as a prayer to Jesus when we are asking for the healing of a broken spirit. In the 1st verse, Charlotte Elliot starts her prayer by calling Jesus, “O Holy Savior, Friend unseen.” I thought that was very interesting and helpful that she calls Him her unseen Friend. It helps us remember that Jesus really is here with us, we just can’t see Him. He is invisible to our physical eyes, but we can scan our environment with an eye of faith and get a sense of Him standing next to us. Before you start singing through this hymn, take time to do this…take time to meditate on how Jesus is there with you until you get a sense of His presence.

This hymn is a prayer to Jesus. It’s written in older English. In order order get an idea of what she is talking about, we can think of it in the following words and add a prayer for the healing of a broken spirit: Holy Savior, Friend unseen, since You have told me to lean on Your arm, help me by faith to cling to You through all the changes of life. Help me remember You are with me, watching over me. We are far from our heavenly home, traveling through this world as strangers- tired, weary, and oppressed. You are our place of rest…we can cling to You. Without murmuring, we dismiss our former dreams of earthly bliss and find our joy in each hour spent with You on our journey home. We rejoice knowing You are taking us to heaven to live with You forever. Although our faith and hope are often tried, we don’t ask for anything or need anything besides because our souls are so safe, so calm, so satisfied in You. Help us rememebr to lean on You and we thank You that we can know You will always be there with us.”

Again, take time to envision Jesus standing next to you. Remember that He really is there…so you are not trying to use your imagination…instead, when you are meditating it’s like your using a scanner to get a sense of where He is actually standing. Feel Him standing next to you, and envision yourself leaning on His arm for strength and comfort. Then sing through the hymn and pray that He will help you always cling to Him like this by faith.

In the hymnals on hymnary.org, there are different verses in different hymnals if you have a chance to look through them. Sometimes, an original version of hymn has 8 or 10 verses to it and different hymnals will include 4 or 5 different verses of the hymn. I will post 2 versions here. The 1st version has the verses we’ve already talked about. The 2nd version has the same 1st verse. Then the 2nd verse talks about how if earthly comforts are removed, we will still cling to Jesus. The 3rd verse is very beautiful. It talks about how although we often seem to walk alone through dreary, thorny places, we still hear Jesus’s gentle voice saying, “Cling to me!” letting us know He is there with us. The 4th verse is the same. When you are singing through this version, you can envision those sad and dreary times on the pathway where it seems like you are walking alone, and then take time to scan your environment with an eye of faith and see that Jesus is still there with you and you can still lean on Him for comfort and strength. Here are the words to 2 versions of the hymn:

1st version:

1 O Holy Saviour! Friend unseen!
Since on Thine arm Thou bidst us lean,
Help us throughout life’s changing scene
By faith to cling to Thee.

2 Far from our home, fatigued, opprest,
In Thee we’ve found our place of rest;
As strangers still, yet not unblest,
While we can cling to Thee.

3 Without a murmur we dismiss
Our former dreams of earthly bliss,
Our joy, our consolation this,
Each hour to cling to Thee.

4 Though faith and hope may oft be tried,
We ask not, need not aught beside;
So safe, so calm, so satisfied,
The souls that cling to Thee.

O Holy Savior, Friend Unseen sermonindex.net

2nd version:

1 O Holy Savior! Friend unseen,
Since on thine arm thou bid’st me lean,
Help me, throughout life’s changing scene,
By faith to cling to thee!

2 What though the world deceitful prove,
And earthly friends and joys remove?
With patient, uncomplaining love
Still I would cling to thee.

3 Tho’ oft I seem to tread alone life’s dreary waste, with thorns overgrown, Thy voice of love, in gentlest tone, still whispers “Cling to me!”

4 Though faith and hope awhile be tried,
I ask not, need not aught beside:
How safe, how calm, how satisfied,
The souls that cling to thee.

O Holy Savior, Friend Unseen Hymnary.org