Jesus, Priceless Treasure

"Jesus, Priceless Treasure" (LSB 743) was written by Johann Franck (1618-1677), a German poet and lawyer.

Toward the end of the Thirty Years' War, his hometown of Guben suffered at the hands of invading troops. In the face of devastation, he knew that true joy could be found only in Jesus. His text expresses God's unfailing love to a broken humanity.

This hymn is solidly rooted in Lutheran devotional poetry of the early 17th century, with images such as Jesus as friend and as bridegroom, and with the Church as bride.

Stanza two begins "In Thine arms I rest me," adding to the intimate imagery. This is necessary because of the terrors that believers face on every side: "every heart be quaking," "lightnings flash and thunders crash," "sin and hell assail me." The original German specifically names Satan as their cause.

Stanza three uses the voice of the singer or believer to speak directly to the forces of death and hell, knowing that no real harm can befall one whom Christ as rescued: "Satan, I defy thee; death, I now decry thee; fear, I bid thee cease... while I sing of peace." In the end, “earth and all its depths adore Him, silent bow before Him,” bringing all of creation into the awe of the Holy One.

In stanza four, we sing of the Romantic individualism with the words “Jesus is my choice.” But in the context of this stanza, it is clear that this “choice” results from God’s action: “since He deigns to love me.”

Stanza five uses first-person language to reflect the believer’s membership in the kingdom of heaven.

Stanza six tells of this reality: even though believers are citizens of heaven and have God’s grace, earthly life is not easy, nor is sin conquered in this life. But even though “the storms may gather,” those who love the Father nonetheless “still have peace within.”

“Thou art still my purest pleasure, Jesus, priceless treasure!”

1     Jesus, priceless treasure,
Fount of purest pleasure,
    Truest friend to me,
Ah, how long in anguish
Shall my spirit languish,
    Yearning, Lord, for Thee?
        Thou art mine,
        O Lamb divine!
I will suffer naught to hide Thee;
Naught I ask beside Thee.

2     In Thine arms I rest me;
Foes who would molest me
    Cannot reach me here.
Though the earth be shaking,
Ev’ry heart be quaking,
    Jesus calms my fear.
        Lightnings flash
        And thunders crash;
Yet, though sin and hell assail me,
Jesus will not fail me.

3     Satan, I defy thee;
Death, I now decry thee;
    Fear, I bid thee cease.
World, thou shalt not harm me
Nor thy threats alarm me
    While I sing of peace.
        God’s great pow’r
        Guards ev’ry hour;
Earth and all its depths adore Him,
Silent bow before Him.

4     Hence, all earthly treasure!
Jesus is my pleasure,
    Jesus is my choice.
Hence, all empty glory!
Naught to me thy story
    Told with tempting voice.
        Pain or loss,
        Or shame or cross,
Shall not from my Savior move me
Since He deigns to love me.

5     Evil world, I leave thee;
Thou canst not deceive me,
    Thine appeal is vain.
Sin that once did blind me,
Get thee far behind me,
    Come not forth again.
        Past thy hour,
        O pride and pow’r;
Sinful life, thy bonds I sever,
Leave thee now forever.

6     Hence, all fear and sadness!
For the Lord of gladness,
    Jesus, enters in.
Those who love the Father,
Though the storms may gather,
    Still have peace within.
        Yea, whate’er
        I here must bear,
Thou art still my purest pleasure,
Jesus, priceless treasure!

Text: Public domain