Olney Hymns · Chapter
Why Should I Complain? explained
The poem reflects on the believer's experience of Christ's presence and absence, acknowledging that while sorrows depart when the Shepherd is near, fears and temptations return when He withdraws.
What happens
The poem reflects on the believer's experience of Christ's presence and absence, acknowledging that while sorrows depart when the Shepherd is near, fears and temptations return when He withdraws. Yet through these changes, the believer learns weakness and dependence on the Shepherd's mercy, who supports, revives, and answers prayer. The poem concludes with confidence in the Shepherd's faithfulness and the hope of eternal rest, where complaining will cease.
Themes in this chapter
Spiritual Warfare
The believer faces assaults from Satan, but the Shepherd's presence and power control the enemy, and the warfare will eventually cease.
Hope of Heaven and Eternal Life
The poem looks forward to being removed from the region of sorrow and pain to abide in the Shepherd's presence above, where complaining will cease.
Characters to notice
- Jesus Christ
Referred to as 'my Saviour' and 'my Shepherd'; His presence brings peace, His withdrawal causes fear, and His constant faithfulness is the basis for hope.
- Satan
Assaults the believer in vain when the Shepherd is near, but renews efforts to vex and ensnare when the Shepherd withdraws.
- The Narrator
The speaker who experiences the changes of spiritual consolation and desolation, learning weakness and dependence on the Shepherd.
Key passages
“When my Saviour, my Shepherd, is near, How quickly my sorrows depart?”
When I sense the nearness of Christ, my sorrows quickly vanish.
The presence of Christ brings immediate relief from distress.
“But, alas! what a change do I find, When my Shepherd withdraws from my sight!”
But when Christ seems absent, I experience a painful change.
The withdrawal of Christ's felt presence leads to renewed fears and darkness.
“By these changes I often pass through I am taught my own weakness to know; I am taught what my Shepherd can do, And how much to his mercy I owe:”
Through these alternating experiences, I learn my own frailty and the power and mercy of my Shepherd.
Spiritual ups and downs are used by God to teach humility and dependence.
“Wherefore then should I murmur and grieve, Since my Shepherd is always the same, And has promised he never will leave The soul that confides in his name?”
Why should I complain, since my Shepherd is unchanging and has promised never to abandon those who trust in Him?
The constancy of Christ's character and promises is the basis for contentment.
“While I dwell in an enemy’s land, Can I hope to be always in peace? ’Tis enough that my Shepherd’s at hand, And that shortly this warfare will cease:”
Living in a hostile world, I cannot expect constant peace, but it is sufficient that my Shepherd is near and the battle will soon end.
The believer's present life is a warfare, but the presence of Christ and the promise of cessation give comfort.