# The Bee Saved from the Spider explained — Olney Hymns

> Chapter companion for Olney Hymns by John Newton.

## What happens

The poem uses the metaphor of a bee caught in a spider's web to describe the believer's encounter with Satan's snares, even within the means of grace. The soul, initially unaware of danger, is trapped and poisoned by the enemy, but the Savior's pitying eye breaks the snare and rescues the helpless soul, teaching believers to look to Him for aid.

## Themes in this chapter

### Spiritual Warfare

The believer faces the subtle snares and poisonous attacks of Satan, even in the midst of spiritual activities.

### Grace and Unmerited Favor

The Savior's pitying eye and rescue of the helpless soul highlight unmerited deliverance and divine compassion.

## Character check-ins

### Satan

The spider, who weaves unsuspected snares and poisons the bee, representing the enemy's attack on the believer.

### Jesus Christ

The pitying friend who saves the bee, breaking the spider's web and rescuing the soul from despair.

### The Narrator

The speaker who identifies with the bee, recounting personal experience of being ensnared and rescued.

## Key lines

> The subtle spider often weaves His unsuspected snares Among the balmy flowers and leaves, To which the bee repairs.

The cunning enemy sets hidden traps in pleasant places, where the unwary seek nourishment.

_The spider's web is a metaphor for Satan's hidden dangers in the means of grace._

> But oh! the Saviour’s pitying eye Relieved me from despair; He saw me at the point to die, And broke the fatal snare.

The Lord's compassionate gaze saved me from hopelessness; He saw my peril and destroyed the deadly trap.

_Christ's intervention is the central act of deliverance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters/92-the-bee-saved-from-the-spider
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters