Olney Hymns · Chapter
Naaman explained
The poem recounts the story of Naaman, the Syrian leper, who initially refuses to obey Elisha's simple command to wash in the Jordan River due to pride.
What happens
The poem recounts the story of Naaman, the Syrian leper, who initially refuses to obey Elisha's simple command to wash in the Jordan River due to pride. After yielding, he is healed. The speaker then applies this to their own spiritual journey, coming to Jesus for cleansing from sin, initially expecting a more elaborate method, but ultimately finding healing through humble obedience to God's word.
Themes in this chapter
Grace and Unmerited Favor
The healing of Naaman and the cleansing from sin are presented as gifts received through humble obedience, not through elaborate works or personal merit.
Human Sinfulness and Depravity
The speaker acknowledges their own pride and sinfulness, comparing themselves to Naaman's leprosy, and recognizing the need for cleansing.
Characters to notice
- Naaman
The Syrian leper who initially rejects Elisha's simple command due to pride, but is healed after humbling himself.
- Elisha
The prophet who sends a message to Naaman, instructing him to wash in the Jordan River.
- Jesus Christ
The spiritual counterpart to Elisha, to whom the speaker comes for cleansing from sin.
- The Narrator
The speaker who identifies with Naaman's pride and finds healing through humble obedience to Jesus.
Key passages
“Before Elisha’s gate The Syrian leper stood; But could not brook to wait— He deem’d himself too good:”
The Syrian leper stood before Elisha's gate but was too proud to wait, thinking he deserved better treatment.
Highlights Naaman's initial pride and sense of self-importance.
“Thus, by his foolish pride, He almost miss’d a cure; Howe’er at length he tried, And found the method sure:”
Because of his foolish pride, he nearly missed being cured; however, when he finally tried the prescribed method, it proved effective.
Shows the danger of pride and the effectiveness of humble obedience.
“Leprous and proud as he, To Jesus thus I came, From sin to set me free, When first I heard his fame:”
Just like Naaman, I came to Jesus, leprous and proud, seeking to be set free from sin when I first heard about him.
The speaker draws a parallel between their own spiritual condition and Naaman's physical leprosy.
“When by his word he spake, “That fountain open’d see; ’Twas open’d for thy sake— “Go wash, and thou art free;” Oh! how did my proud heart gainsay— I fear’d to trust his simple way.”
When Jesus spoke through his word, pointing to the open fountain of cleansing, my proud heart objected and I was afraid to trust his simple method.
The speaker's initial reluctance to accept the simple gospel message, similar to Naaman's hesitation.
“At length I trial made, When I had much endured; The message I obey’d— I wash’d, and I was cured. Sinners, this healing fountain try, Which cleansed a wretch so vile as I.”
Finally, after much suffering, I tried it; I obeyed the message, washed, and was cured. Sinners, try this healing fountain that cleansed even someone as vile as me.
The speaker's testimony of healing and an invitation for others to experience the same cleansing.