# The Milch Kine Drawing the Ark: Faith’s Surrender of All explained — Olney Hymns

> Chapter companion for Olney Hymns by John Newton.

## What happens

This poem by Newton uses the image of the milch kine (cows) drawing the ark of God to illustrate the surrender of all to God's will. The cows, though feeling natural instincts for their young, obey God's direction without turning aside. The poem contrasts this obedience with human stubbornness, urging believers to respond to God's grace and call with total surrender, trusting in His provision and guidance.

## Themes in this chapter

### Faith and Trust in Christ

The poem emphasizes faith's surrender to God's will, trusting in His guidance and provision even when the path is rough.

### Divine Providence and Guidance

The kine are guided by God's providence, and the poem affirms that with Jesus as guide, the path is safe and God will provide.

## Character check-ins

### The Lord

The Lord is depicted as the one whose will is to be obeyed and whose love deserves our all.

### Jesus Christ

Jesus is portrayed as the guide whose blood was shed to make believers His own, and as the matchless Friend.

### The Saints

The saints are called to stand prepared and run in duty's path, not counting trials hard so that God's will be done.

## Key lines

> The kine unguided went By the directest road, When the Philistines homeward sent The ark of Israel’s God.

The cows, without any human guidance, took the straightest path when the Philistines sent the Ark of God back home.

_Highlights the supernatural guidance of the cows, illustrating obedience to God's will._

> Shall brutes, devoid of thought, Their Maker’s will obey; And we, who by his grace are taught. More stubborn prove than they?

If animals without reason obey their Creator, how can we, who have been taught by His grace, be even more stubborn?

_Contrasts the obedience of irrational creatures with human stubbornness, urging believers to follow God's will._

> With Jesus for our guide, The path is safe, though rough, The promise says, “I will provide;” And faith replies, “Enough!”

With Jesus leading us, the journey may be difficult but it is secure; God promises to provide, and faith is satisfied with that.

_Summarizes the theme of trust in divine guidance and provision._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters/27-the-milch-kine-drawing-the-ark-faith-s-surrender-of-all
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters