The writer of this hymn is unknown for certain. There were two men with the name of William W. Walford in England. The first gentleman, from Coleshill, was an obscure and blind lay preacher who owned a small trinket shop. The second gentleman, from Homerton, was a Congregational minister who served as president of Homerton Academy and wrote several books including The Manner of Prayer. Coleshill and Homerton are two hours apart. They may be one and the same.
Thomas Salmon, a native of New York, spent time in Coleshill, Warwickshire, England. While visiting there he became acquainted with Walford, and recalled the following:
“During my residence at Coleshill, I became acquainted with W. W. Walford, the blind preacher, a man of obscure birth and connections and no education, but of strong mind and most retentive memory. In the pulpit he never failed to select a lesson well adapted to his subject, giving chapter and verse with unerring precision and scarcely ever misplacing a word in his repetition of the Psalms, every part of the New Testament, the prophecies, and some of the histories, so as to have the reputation of knowing the whole Bible by heart. He actually sat in the chimney corner, employing his mind in composing a sermon or two for Sabbath delivery, and his hands in cutting, shaping and polishing bones for shoehorns and other little useful implements. At intervals he attempted poetry. On one occasion, paying him a visit, he repeated two or three pieces which he had composed, and having no friend at home to commit them to paper, he had laid them up in the storehouse within. ‘How will this do?’ asked he, as he repeated the following lines, with a complacent smile touched with some light lines of fear lest he subject himself to criticism. I rapidly copied the lines with my pencil, as he uttered them.”
Three years later, Salmon returned to the United States. He showed it to the editor at the New York Observer. The lyrics of the poem were published.
The text appeared in the 1859 Baptist hymnal Church Melodies, edited by Thomas Hastings and Robert Turnbull. The famous American gospel song writer, William Bradbury (1816-1868)—who composed music for so many beloved gospel hymns such as “Just As I Am”, “The Solid Rock” and “He Leadeth Me” —also wrote the music for this favorite hymn in 1861.
Rev. Salmon died in 1854 and more than likely Walford never knew his poem was even published, much less would become a beloved hymn. Walford seemed to see with his heart. God used his simple words to become a great hymn that would minister to millions
Regardless of the identity of the author of this text, we must conclude that “Sweet Hour of Prayer” has been greatly used of God for many years to challenge believers with this basis truth—whenever we spend time in communion with God, it becomes a sweet and meaningful hour in our lives.
Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: This was the apostle's general advice to all; without this, neither wives, husbands, children, parents, servants, nor masters, could fulfil the duties which God, in their respective stations, required of them. All might, power, and life come from God; His creatures are continually dependent upon Him.
Enduringword.com: Paul supported the Colossian church through his prayers for them. Their life and ministry would continue to prosper through continued vigilance in prayer, including prayer on their part. The ancient Greek word translated continue is “Built on a root meaning ‘to be strong,’” it always connotes earnest adherence to a person or thing. In this passage it implies persistence and fervor.” (Vaughan)
Biblehub.com Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary: Consider him that waits for a crop of corn; and will not you wait for a crown of glory? If you should be called to wait longer than the husbandman, is not there something more worth waiting for? In every sense the coming of the Lord drew nigh, and all His people's losses, hardships, and sufferings, would be repaid. Men count time long, because they measure it by their own lives; but all time is as nothing to God; it is as a moment . . . Let us serve our God, and bear our trials, as those who believe that the end will crown all. Our eternal happiness is safe if we trust to Him: all else is mere vanity, which soon will be done with forever.
Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: Faith in the Lord Jesus
brings Him into the heart; and by His indwelling all His virtues are proved,
and an excellence discovered beyond even that which His disciples beheld, when
conversant with Him upon earth. In short, there is an equality between
believers in the present time, and those who lived in the time of the
incarnation; for Christ, to a believing soul, is the same today that He
was yesterday and will be forever . . . Ye have unutterable
happiness through believing; and ye have the fullest, clearest, strongest
evidence of eternal glory.
Enduringword.com: Paul was focused on one thing and would not let those things which are behind distract him from it. He pressed on for the prize. We often let those things which are behind distract us, whether they be good things or bad things. Looking at what is in the past often keeps us from what God has for us in the future . . . Paul knew that a race is won only in the present moment, not in the past or in the future. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus: The prize is the upward call of God . . . “It is a high calling because it comes from above, from God; the conception of it has emanated from His heart. It is a high calling because it is worthy of God. It is a high calling because it is so much above the ideals of men . . . And then this is a high calling because it summons us to where Christ sits at the right hand of God.” (Meyer)
Walford finds prayer time valuable as he unleashes his problems and requests to God, finding comfort and relief after he finishes. Walford proclaims that God calls us to seek and trust Him. He looks forward to the day Jesus comes back and meets Christ in the air, kissing this world goodbye and enjoying eternity with God.
W. W. Walford’s Sweet Hour of Prayer is the perfect example of prayer. It's beautiful poetic form expresses the benefits of prayer, that we can thrust our worries, fears, and requests onto God, receiving joy, comfort, and blessing. He beckons us to follow God, trusting in His Word, and looks forward to the day that Jesus finally comes back to take us home, bringing Him glory.
It is, indeed, a sweet hour of prayer.
