Olney Hymns · Chapter
Mourning and Longing explained
The speaker laments the perceived absence of God's presence, expressing a deep spiritual thirst for renewed grace and love.
What happens
The speaker laments the perceived absence of God's presence, expressing a deep spiritual thirst for renewed grace and love. The chapter contrasts the joy of those who know God's glory with the speaker's current state of spiritual dullness and distraction. It acknowledges the difficulty of worship without a felt sense of the Lord's presence, yet concludes with a firm hope that God will answer the speaker's prayers despite feelings of unworthiness.
Themes in this chapter
Prayer and Dependence on God
The speaker expresses dependence on God for grace and answers to prayer, even in a season of spiritual dryness.
Suffering and Affliction
The chapter depicts the spiritual affliction of feeling abandoned by God and the struggle with worldly distractions.
Characters to notice
- The Lord
The Lord is the object of the speaker's longing, whose face is hidden and whose presence is sought.
- The Narrator
The speaker expresses personal spiritual struggle, longing for God's presence and grace.
- The Saints
Those who know God's glory and pant for his presence, serving as a contrast to the speaker's current state.
Key passages
“The Saviour hides his face! My spirit thirsts to prove Renew’d supplies of pard’ning grace, And never-fading love.”
The Savior has withdrawn his presence, and I long to experience again the forgiveness and enduring love he gives.
The speaker's primary lament is the perceived absence of Christ, leading to a deep thirst for grace.
“They swarm like summer flies, They cleave to every thing I do, And swim before my eyes.”
Trivial concerns bother me constantly, clinging to all my actions and distracting my vision.
The speaker describes the intrusive nature of worldly distractions that hinder spiritual focus.
“How dull the Sabbath-day, Without the Sabbath’s Lord! How toilsome then to sing and pray And wait upon the word?”
The day of worship feels lifeless without the Lord's presence, making singing, praying, and listening to Scripture burdensome.
The speaker's spiritual dryness affects even the most sacred practices, making them feel tedious.
“Yet let me (as I ought) Still hope to be supplied; No pleasure else is worth a thought, Nor shall I be denied.”
Nevertheless, I must continue to hope that God will provide for my needs, for no other pleasure matters, and he will not refuse me.
Despite the current struggle, the speaker resolves to maintain hope and trust in God's provision.
“Though I am but a worm, Unworthy of his care, The Lord will my desire perform, And grant me all my pray’r.”
Even though I am insignificant and undeserving of his attention, the Lord will fulfill my longing and answer all my prayers.
The speaker acknowledges unworthiness but expresses confidence in God's gracious response to prayer.