My Soul's Best Friend What Joy and Blessing
My soul's best friend what joy and blessing
My Soul's Best Friend What Joy and Blessing is a hymn text by Unknown (1800) in C.M. meter. Found in tlh 362. Sung to LAND OF REST.
The hymn expresses the Lutheran emphasis on Christ as the believer's intimate friend and source of joy, reflecting the personal relationship with Christ central to Lutheran piety. It emphasizes the experiential dimension of justification and union with Christ through faith.
History & Background
This hymn appears in The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) with attribution uncertain, suggesting 19th century English origin. It remained in Lutheran hymnals through TLH but was not carried forward into later collections.
Hymnal Appearances
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 362
Bulletin Note
An early 19th-century hymn in common meter, this text captures the evangelical warmth of Lutheran piety, emphasizing personal communion with Christ and the joy of grace—themes that echo throughout German and English Protestant hymnody.
Preaching Connection
This hymn amplifies Gospel proclamation by translating forensic justification into relational intimacy, inviting hearers to experience the cross and resurrection not merely as legal acquittal but as the foundation of personal friendship with Christ.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From individual reconciliation (Law → Gospel) through corporate ecclesiology to missional witness
Overview
Wolfgang Christoph Dessler's 'Wie wohl ist mir, o Freund der Seelen,' a Nuremberg devotional hymn. Christ, my soul's best friend, receives me from the depths of doubt; 'here on earth begins my heaven' (st. 1); the world may revile or flatter, but I anchor in his loyalty (st. 2); he leads through deserts of the cross, feeding from the cloud and giving water from the sand — 'The night must e'er precede the day' (st. 3); resting on his breast, no longer tormented by sin, I have a foretaste of heaven: 'my Friend is mine!' (st. 4).
Central theme: Christ the soul's Friend, faithful through the world's hostility and the desert of the cross, giving peace from sin and a foretaste of heaven
Structure
Four ten-line stanzas (9.8.9.8.8.8.8.9.9.8 approx.). Joy in the Friend (1) — the world's enmity (2) — the desert of the cross (3) — rest and foretaste (4).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: doubt, the world's hatred, the cross (1-3). Gospel: 'By sin no more am I tormented / Since Thou dost grant me peace and rest' (4).
Confessional Connections
Song 5:16 (TLH's text): 'This is my beloved and this is my friend.' The hymn's theology of the cross is explicit: 'Through deserts of the cross Thou leadest… For whom to honor Thou intendest / Oft into sorrow's vale Thou sendest' (st. 3) — suffering as God's fatherly discipline, not punishment (Ap XII.151-158; Heb 12:6). The wilderness images (manna, water from the rock) present God's daily provision. St. 4: 'By sin no more am I tormented / Since Thou dost grant me peace and rest' — peace of conscience through justification (Rom 5:1; Ap IV.91).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Trinity season; times of affliction; general devotion.
Historical Notes
Dessler (1660-1722), Nuremberg schoolmaster and hymnwriter; published 1692.
About the Tune
WIE WOHL IST MIR (Geistreiches Gesangbuch, Halle, 1704).
Scripture References
Song 5:16 John 15:15 Matt 11:28 John 15:18-19 1 John 2:15-17 Heb 6:19 Exod 16:4 Exod 17:6 Deut 8:2-3 Rom 8:28 Ps 30:5 John 13:23 Rom 5:1 Song 2:16
Stanza by Stanza
My soul's best Friend, what joy and blessing my spirit always finds in you! From gloomy depths of distressing doubt I flee into your arms for rest. Then the night of sorrow vanishes, when your love drives all anguish, pain and fear from my heart. Yes, my heaven begins here on earth; who would not be joyful when given a loving Savior always near!
'This is my beloved and this is my friend' (Song 5:16). 'I have called you friends' (John 15:15). 'Come to me… I will give you rest' (Matt 11:28). 'Perfect love casts out fear' (1 John 4:18).
- Scripture
- Song 5:16, John 15:15, Matt 11:28, 1 John 4:18
- Imagery & language
- Friend; doubt; arms; heaven begins on earth.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — rest in Christ.
- Connection to previous
- Best Friend.
For though the evil world insults me and proves my bitter enemy, or tries to tempt me with its smile, I do not trust it; I know its tricks. My soul rejoices in you alone and gladly sings your praise alone, for you are true when friendships disappear. The world may hate me but cannot bring me down; if mighty waves of trial would overwhelm me, I am anchored in your faithfulness.
'If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you' (John 15:18). 'Do not love the world' (1 John 2:15). 'A sure and steadfast anchor of the soul' (Heb 6:19).
- Scripture
- John 15:18-19, 1 John 2:15-17, Heb 6:19
- Imagery & language
- World reviles and beguiles; true Friend; anchor.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — the world's enmity; Gospel — Christ's loyalty.
- Connection to previous
- Anchored.
You lead through deserts of the cross; I follow, leaning on your hand. You feed your child from the cloud and give water from the sand. I trust your ways, however distressing; I know my path will end in blessing; it is enough that you will be my support. For those you mean to honor, you often send into sorrow's valley; night must always come before day.
Manna from heaven (Exod 16:4); water from the rock (Exod 17:6). 'He humbled you… and fed you with manna' (Deut 8:3). 'All things work together for good' (Rom 8:28). 'Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning' (Ps 30:5).
- Scripture
- Exod 16:4, Exod 17:6, Deut 8:2-3, Rom 8:28, Ps 30:5
- Imagery & language
- Deserts of the cross; manna; water; night before day.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — provision in suffering.
- Connection to previous
- Deserts of the cross.
My soul's best Friend, how contented I am, resting on your breast; I am no longer tormented by sin, since you give me peace and rest. May the grace you have given be for me a foretaste of heaven, when I will bask in divine joys! Away, vain world, with your fleeting pleasures; in Christ I have lasting treasures. What sweet comfort: my Friend is mine!
The beloved disciple 'reclining at table at Jesus' side' (John 13:23). 'Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God' (Rom 5:1). 'My beloved is mine, and I am his' (Song 2:16).
- Scripture
- John 13:23, Rom 5:1, Song 2:16, Matt 6:19-21
- Imagery & language
- Contented; breast; peace from sin; foretaste; Friend is mine.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — peace of conscience.
- Connection to previous
- My Friend is mine.
Themes
Christ as friend Union with Christ Joy in salvation Intimate faith Spiritual friendship