Olney Hymns · Chapter
Manna Hoarded explained
This poem uses the biblical account of manna in the wilderness to illustrate the necessity of daily dependence on God for spiritual nourishment.
What happens
This poem uses the biblical account of manna in the wilderness to illustrate the necessity of daily dependence on God for spiritual nourishment. It warns against hoarding past experiences or intellectual knowledge, which can breed pride and strife, and emphasizes the need for fresh grace and truth from God each day.
Themes in this chapter
Grace and Unmerited Favor
The manna is a symbol of God's daily, unmerited provision, emphasizing that spiritual sustenance must be received fresh from God's hand.
Prayer and Dependence on God
The poem concludes with a prayer for God to give the manna, highlighting the believer's ongoing dependence on God for spiritual life.
Characters to notice
- The Lord
Addressed as 'Dear Lord' in the final stanza, the one who provides the manna and sustains faith.
- The Narrator
The speaker who reflects on the lesson of the manna and prays for continued provision.
- The Jews
Referred to as 'favour'd Israel' who received the manna daily.
Key passages
“The manna, favour’d Israel’s meat, Was gather’d day by day; When all the host was served, the heat Melted the rest away.”
The manna that God provided for Israel was collected each day, and any surplus melted in the sun.
This sets the scene from Exodus 16, illustrating the daily provision and the futility of hoarding.
“In vain to hoard it up they tried Against to-morrow came; It then bred worms and putrified, And proved their sin and shame.”
Their attempts to store the manna for the next day were futile, as it became rotten and worm-infested, revealing their disobedience.
This highlights the consequence of not trusting God for daily provision.
“The truths by which the soul is fed Must thus be had afresh; For notions resting in the head Will only feed the flesh:”
Spiritual truths must be received anew each day; merely intellectual knowledge only feeds the ego, not the soul.
This applies the manna lesson to the need for fresh, heartfelt reception of God's truth.
“Nor can the best experience past The life of faith maintain; The brightest hope will faint at last Unless supplied again.”
Even the most profound past experiences cannot sustain faith; hope will fade unless it is continually renewed by God.
This emphasizes the necessity of ongoing spiritual renewal.
“Dear Lord, while we in prayer are found, Do thou the manna give; Oh let it fall on all around, That we may eat and live!”
Lord, as we pray, provide us with your spiritual nourishment, and let it be available to all so that we may live.
This is a prayer for daily spiritual sustenance, echoing the Lord's Prayer.