Olney Hymns · Chapter
Another explained
This hymn celebrates the blessed state of those whom the Lord has adopted as His own, highlighting their access to the mercy-seat, the power of united prayer, and the sustaining grace that turns trials into gains.
What happens
This hymn celebrates the blessed state of those whom the Lord has adopted as His own, highlighting their access to the mercy-seat, the power of united prayer, and the sustaining grace that turns trials into gains. It contrasts the believer's spiritual riches with the world's poverty, and expresses a longing for heavenly joy even in this life.
Themes in this chapter
Grace and Unmerited Favor
The hymn celebrates the unmerited favor of God in adopting sinners as His own children and granting them access to His presence.
Prayer and Dependence on God
The power of united prayer is highlighted, and the believer's dependence on God for help and comfort is emphasized.
Characters to notice
- The Lord
The gracious Lord who makes His name known, adopts believers, hears their prayers, and grants His presence.
- Jesus Christ
The Savior who helps believers from the skies by His almighty hand, and whose smile compensates for all trials.
- The Saints
The adopted children of God who are called to His mercy-seat, united in prayer, and sustained by faith.
- The Narrator
The speaker who prays for assistance to pay the debt of praise and to enjoy a gospel-day.
Key passages
“Happy are they to whom the Lord His gracious name makes known, And by his Spirit and his word Adopts them for his own!”
Blessed are those whom the Lord reveals His grace to, and through His Spirit and Word, He makes them His children.
The opening stanza emphasizes the joy of divine adoption.
“The force of their united cries No power can long withstand; For Jesus helps them from the skies By his almighty hand.”
The combined prayers of believers are irresistible, because Jesus assists them from heaven with His mighty power.
This stanza highlights the efficacy of corporate prayer and Christ's heavenly intercession.
“Then mountains sink at once to plains, And light from darkness springs, Each seeming loss improves their gains, Each trouble comfort brings.”
Obstacles are removed, darkness turns to light, and apparent losses become gains, while troubles bring comfort.
This stanza expresses the transformative power of God's grace in turning trials into blessings.
“Though meanly clad, and coarsely fed, And, like their Saviour, poor, They would not change their gospel-bread For all the worldling's store.”
Even though they are poorly dressed and fed, and poor like their Savior, they would not trade their spiritual nourishment for all the wealth of the world.
This contrasts the believer's contentment with worldly riches.
“When cheer'd with faith's sublimer joys, They mount on eagles' wings; They can disdain, as children's toys, The pride and pomp of kings.”
When uplifted by the elevated joys of faith, they soar like eagles and regard the grandeur of kings as trivial playthings.
This stanza describes the spiritual elevation that makes worldly honors seem insignificant.
“Dear Lord, assist our souls to pay The debt of praise we owe, That we enjoy a gospel-day And heaven begun below.”
Dear Lord, help us to give the praise we owe, so that we may experience the blessings of the gospel and a foretaste of heaven on earth.
The final stanza is a prayer for help in worship and for the experience of heavenly joy in this life.