Olney Hymns · Chapter
Plenty in the Time of Dearth explained
The poem reflects on the soul's experience of spiritual plenty and subsequent famine, drawing a parallel to Pharaoh's dream of fat and lean kine.
What happens
The poem reflects on the soul's experience of spiritual plenty and subsequent famine, drawing a parallel to Pharaoh's dream of fat and lean kine. The speaker, having once enjoyed abundant grace, faces a season of spiritual barrenness, but finds relief by turning to Jesus, who, like Joseph in Egypt, has made provision for the time of dearth. The poem concludes with an invitation for sinners to come and receive from Christ's unbounded store.
Themes in this chapter
Grace and Unmerited Favor
The poem emphasizes the abundance of grace available in Christ, who provides for the needy despite their unworthiness.
Suffering and Affliction
The spiritual famine described represents a period of affliction and barrenness, which drives the soul to depend on God.
Characters to notice
- Jesus Christ
The one to whom the speaker turns in times of spiritual famine, described as having an unbounded store of grace.
- Joseph
Mentioned as the one to whom the Egyptians went during the famine, serving as a type of Christ.
- The Egyptians
They went to Joseph for food during the famine, illustrating the act of seeking help from a provider.
- The Narrator
The speaker who recounts personal experience of spiritual plenty and famine, and dependence on Christ.
Key passages
“My soul once had its plenteous years, And throve, with peace and comfort fill’d, Like the fat kine and ripen’d ears Which Pharaoh in his dream beheld.”
My soul once enjoyed a time of spiritual abundance, filled with peace and comfort, similar to the fat cows and ripe ears of corn in Pharaoh's dream.
The speaker compares past spiritual prosperity to the imagery of Pharaoh's dream.
“But famine came, and left no sign Of all the plenty I had seen; Like the dry ears and half-starved kine, I then look’d wither’d, faint, and lean.”
But a spiritual famine came and erased all evidence of the previous abundance; I became withered, faint, and lean, like the thin and scorched ears of corn and the starving cows.
The speaker describes the onset of spiritual barrenness using the contrasting imagery from Pharaoh's dream.
“To Joseph the Egyptians went; To Jesus I made known my case: He, when my little stock was spent, Open’d his magazine of grace.”
Just as the Egyptians went to Joseph for grain, I brought my need to Jesus; when my own resources were exhausted, He opened his storehouse of grace.
The speaker draws a parallel between the Egyptians seeking help from Joseph and the soul seeking help from Christ.
“For he the time of dearth foresaw, And made provision long before; That famish’d souls, like me, might draw Supplies from his unbounded store.”
For Christ foresaw the time of spiritual famine and made provision in advance, so that starving souls like me could draw from his limitless supply.
The speaker emphasizes Christ's foreknowledge and preparation for the needs of his people.
“Now on his bounty I depend, And live from fear of dearth secure: Maintain’d by such a mighty friend, I cannot want till he is poor.”
Now I rely on his generosity and live free from the fear of famine; being sustained by such a powerful friend, I cannot lack anything unless he becomes poor.
The speaker expresses complete dependence on Christ's provision and the security that comes from it.
“O sinners, hear his gracious call! His mercy’s door stands open wide; He has enough to feed you all, And none who come shall be denied.”
O sinners, listen to his gracious invitation! The door of his mercy is wide open; he has enough to satisfy everyone, and no one who comes will be turned away.
The poem ends with an evangelistic appeal, inviting sinners to come to Christ for spiritual nourishment.
