Olney Hymns · Chapter
Jehovah-Shalem—The Lord Send Peace explained
This hymn celebrates the peace that Christ has secured for believers through His atoning sacrifice.
What happens
This hymn celebrates the peace that Christ has secured for believers through His atoning sacrifice. It emphasizes that God Himself accomplished the plan of reconciliation, turning away wrath and providing peace for sinners. The believer, though facing spiritual conflict, is assured of Christ's enduring love and the peace He gives.
Themes in this chapter
Grace and Unmerited Favor
The hymn marvels that peace is given to rebels who deserved the curse, highlighting God's unmerited favor.
Spiritual Warfare
The believer is prepared for strife with earth and hell, yet assured of Christ's love and peace.
Characters to notice
- Jesus Christ
His blood satisfies the law's demand and reconciles God to man.
- God
The injured Sovereign who wrought peace through His Son.
- Sin
The cause of guilt and wrath from which believers are redeemed.
- Satan
The enemy who, with the world, assaults the believer.
- The Lord
The source of peace and the one who prepares the believer for spiritual warfare.
Key passages
“I Jesus, whose blood so freely stream’d To satisfy the law’s demand, By thee from guilt and wrath redeem’d, Before the Father’s face I stand.”
I, Jesus, whose blood was freely poured out to meet the law's requirements, have redeemed you from guilt and wrath, and now I stand before the Father on your behalf.
Christ's substitutionary work is presented as the basis for the believer's standing before God.
“No drop remains of all the curse For wretches who deserved the whole; No arrows dipp’d in wrath to pierce The guilty but returning soul.”
Not a single part of the curse remains for those who deserved it all; there are no wrathful arrows to strike the guilty soul that returns to God.
The complete removal of judgment for repentant sinners.
“Peace by such means, so dearly bought, What rebel could have hoped to see? Peace, by his injured Sovereign wrought, His Sovereign fasten’d to the tree!”
Who could have hoped for peace purchased at such a great cost? Peace was achieved by the offended King Himself, who was nailed to the cross.
The paradox of peace through the suffering of the Sovereign.
“Now, Lord, thy feeble worm prepare; For strife with earth and hell begins; Confirm and gird me for the war; They hate the soul that hates his sins.”
Now, Lord, prepare your weak servant; the battle against the world and hell is beginning. Strengthen and equip me for the fight; those who hate sin are hated by the world.
A prayer for strength in the spiritual conflict that follows conversion.
“Let them in horrid league agree! They may assault, they may distress, But cannot quench thy love to me, Nor rob me of the Lord my peace.”
Even if all enemies unite in a terrible alliance, they may attack and cause distress, but they cannot extinguish Your love for me nor take away my peace in the Lord.
The believer's security in Christ's love despite opposition.