Olney Hymns · Chapter
Hungry and Faint and Poor explained
The chapter is a prayerful hymn expressing the congregation's spiritual poverty and dependence on God's mercy.
What happens
The chapter is a prayerful hymn expressing the congregation's spiritual poverty and dependence on God's mercy. They gather at the door of mercy, acknowledging they have no righteousness to plead, and ask God to provide the spiritual food only He can give, that they may eat and live.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak occurs in stanza V, where the speaker’s hope is violently extinguished as Satan obscures ev…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Prayer and Dependence on God
The entire hymn is a prayer of dependence, acknowledging that without God's provision, they would starve.
- Grace and Unmerited Favor
The petitioners have no money or righteousness to offer, relying solely on God's unmerited bounty.
Characters to notice
- The Lord
The one to whom the prayer is addressed, who invites the needy and provides spiritual food.
- The Narrator
The speaker, representing the congregation, expressing their hunger, poverty, and dependence on God.
Key passages
“Hungry and faint and poor, Behold us, Lord, again Assembled at thy mercy’s door, Thy bounty to obtain.”
We come before you, Lord, weak and needy, gathered at the entrance of your mercy, hoping to receive your generous gifts.
The opening lines set the tone of humble supplication.
“Thy word invites us nigh, Or we must starve indeed; For we no money have to buy, No righteousness to plead.”
Your invitation draws us near, for without it we would perish; we have nothing to offer, no good deeds to present as a claim.
Acknowledges that salvation is entirely by grace, not by works.
“The food our spirits want Thy hand alone can give; Oh! hear the pray’r of faith, and grant That we may eat and live.”
Only you can provide the spiritual nourishment our souls crave; hear our faithful prayer and grant us life.
The final stanza is a plea for God to supply spiritual sustenance.
