Olney Hymns · Chapter
The Beggar explained
The speaker, likening himself to a beggar at God's mercy door, pleads for divine grace and provision.
What happens
The speaker, likening himself to a beggar at God's mercy door, pleads for divine grace and provision. He acknowledges his unworthiness and total dependence on God, contrasting human disdain for beggars with God's gracious reception of humble prayers.
Themes in this chapter
Prayer and Dependence on God
The entire poem is a prayer of a beggar, emphasizing total dependence on God's mercy and the necessity of persistent prayer.
Grace and Unmerited Favor
The speaker acknowledges he deserves nothing but starvation, yet pleads for God's unmerited favor, recognizing that God's thoughts and ways are far above human understanding.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
The speaker portrays himself as a beggar, pleading for God's mercy and acknowledging his own unworthiness.
- God
The one to whom the beggar prays, who alone can help and pity, and who receives the beggar's prayer.
- Jesus Christ
Implied as the source of the word of promise and the gracious ear that hears the beggar's plea.
Key passages
“Encouraged by thy word Of promise to the poor, Behold a beggar, Lord, Waits at thy mercy’s door!”
Because of your promise to the poor, I come as a beggar to your door of mercy.
The speaker relies on God's promises to approach Him.
“I have no right to say, That though I now am poor, Yet once there was a day When I possessed more: Thou know’st that from my very birth I’ve been the poorest wretch on earth.”
I cannot claim that I was once better off; I have always been destitute.
The speaker admits his lifelong poverty and unworthiness.
“Nor can I dare profess, As beggars often do, Though great is my distress, My faults have been but few: If thou shouldst leave my soul to starve, It would be what I well deserve.”
I cannot pretend my sins are few; if you let my soul starve, I deserve it.
The speaker acknowledges his sinfulness and deserving of punishment.
“Though crumbs are much too good For such a dog as I, No less than children’s food My soul can satisfy. O do not frown and bid me go— I must have all thou canst bestow!”
Even crumbs are too good for me, but my soul needs the full portion of your grace; don't send me away, I need everything you can give.
The speaker expresses both humility and desperate need for complete divine provision.
“Thy thoughts, thou Only Wise, Our thoughts and ways transcend, Far as the arched skies Above the earth extend: Such pleas as mine men would not bear, But God receives a beggar’s pray’r.”
Your wisdom and ways are infinitely higher than ours; humans would reject my plea, but God accepts a beggar's prayer.
The speaker marvels at God's gracious acceptance of humble prayers, unlike human rejection.