Olney Hymns · Chapter
Look Unto Me, and Be Ye Saved explained
This hymn, based on Isaiah 45:22, presents Christ's gracious invitation to sinners to look to Him for salvation.
What happens
This hymn, based on Isaiah 45:22, presents Christ's gracious invitation to sinners to look to Him for salvation. It draws on the Old Testament type of the serpent lifted by Moses, which healed the Israelites from serpent bites, as a foreshadowing of Christ's crucifixion and its healing power for the spiritually wounded. The hymn emphasizes that despite the depth of human sin and guilt, Christ's love is stronger than death, His blood was freely shed, and He offers full pardon and cleansing to all who look to Him in faith. It also portrays God's prevenient grace, which intervenes to save sinners who were bent on ruin, and concludes with a prayer for the melting of stubborn hearts and the gift of faith.
Themes in this chapter
Grace and Unmerited Favor
The hymn emphasizes that salvation is a free gift, not earned by works, as Christ says 'I have wrought out full salvation' and 'I have paid the countless sum.'
Faith and Trust in Christ
The central call is to 'look to me and live,' illustrating faith as the means of receiving healing and salvation, just as the Israelites looked at the serpent.
Characters to notice
- Jesus Christ
The speaker of the invitation, presenting Himself as the antitype of the brazen serpent, offering life, peace, and full salvation to sinners.
- Moses
Mentioned as the one who raised the serpent in the wilderness, a type of Christ's being lifted up for healing.
- The Narrator
The hymn writer who addresses the Saviour in adoration and prayer, representing the response of believers.
- Sin
Personified as a burden and guilt that the sinner is told to stop poring over, and which is forgiven and cleansed by Christ.
Key passages
“As the serpent raised by Moses Heal’d the burning serpent’s bite, Jesus thus himself discloses To the wounded sinner’s sight”
Just as the bronze serpent lifted by Moses cured those bitten by serpents, so Christ reveals Himself to sinners wounded by sin, offering healing.
This draws a typological connection between the Old Testament event and the gospel invitation.
“Pore upon your sins no longer, Well I know their mighty guilt; But my love than death is stronger, I my blood have freely spilt”
Stop dwelling on your sins; I am fully aware of their seriousness, but My love is more powerful than death, and I have willingly shed My blood for you.
Christ reassures the sinner of His knowledge of their guilt and the sufficiency of His sacrifice.
“I have seen what you were doing, Though you little thought of me; You were madly bent on ruin, But I said—It shall not be”
I observed your actions even when you were not thinking of Me; you were determined to destroy yourself, but I intervened to prevent it.
This expresses God's sovereign grace in preventing the sinner's self-destruction.
“Now my death has open’d heaven, Thither you shall shortly come.”
My death has opened the way to heaven, and you will soon enter there.
This points to the hope of eternal life secured by Christ's atoning death.