[i]It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning;[/i] Ecc 7:2-4Oh my soul ...Is thankfulThat You haveReturned to itGrievingTo tear-lessIntercessionSo it seemed goodIn Your sightTo stop these At the bordersThus far And no further"[i]Oh [u]that[/u] my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people![/i]Said JeremiahAnd may it be as similar In those daysThat You disallowedEzekiel;[i] ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.[/i]A fountain - Rather, a reservoir, in which tears had been stored up, so that the prophet might weep abundantly. Said another.And the storehouse,The reservoir fullFed by the inletThe inward tearsAnd groaningsFor an endFor the completionFor the cleansingOf sin from the earthThe great woundOf healingFor a purePeopleThough the riverRan dryAnd the prayersTurned to leaningOn the foolish On what was knownAnd not on knowingReliance of A shaky confidenceBut not On TheeOh what miserable CreaturesWe truly areTo displaceAnd replaceTo rest onOur laurelsA faulty foundationThe plankOf presumptionStrikes the accuserAs much as The reproached[i]If we say...[/i]How tremendousAnd devastatingFor we say muchFar too muchOft timesA multiplicity Of wordsAnd littleCounselThey fallTo the groundWithout SoundCold, hard, FactsBereft of Your SpiritCareless considerationAnd prideful assumptionDisplaced motivationAnd unruly angerIndignation is HonorableIf it beUnmixedWith humanCompulsionAll else PrideHaughtyInsolubleArroganceMingled withIgnoranceA liftingOf the headOr a bowingOf falseHumilityThou knowestThou seestAh, but YouMy GodAre a terrorAnd a comfortGiving theSweetnessOf repentanceAnd unspeakableMercyMy follyHad turned awayYour faceIn angerHow rightAnd justYou are!Your chastisingDesiredBetterThan allThe earthsRichesWoe to beLeftWithoutFor whom The Lord loveth He chasteneth, And scourgeth Every son Whom he receiveth. And graciousAre TheeTo restoreThe heartTo mourningAs it wasBeforeThy silenceIs preciousAndThe groaningsUnutterableAreBittersweetAnd a comfortFor without themIs not the SpiritAnd if notThy SpiritNothingSo I rejoiceIn sufferingAnd am contentIn weaknessFor thenI knowYouAre thereAnd arePresentAh LordHow we presume!Upon ThyGoodnessContriteAndHumbleSuch preciousCommodityCan we notSee it?That we are NotConsumedIn Your angerAnd our bloodIs not drunkWith Thy arrowsA brood of rebelsAnd independentsGone astrayWith all ourKnowledgeKnowingWell knowingThe proclivitiesAnd the strayingWithout excuseIn honestyAnd yet ...When we haveFallenStumbledRecognizeNay, anticipateJusticeAnd punishmentDeservingAnd we againTurnWe find ...A welcomeAndForgivenessOh! It stopsThe mouthFrom boastingAh, my soul ...So it seemsThat the Tears Will remainBottledAndThe reservoirBrimmingSo it wasGoodIn Your sightAnd it seemsThat one dayThe damnWill burstAnd deathBy drowningMay it be soA pleasant sorrow
_________________Mike Balog
much meat to chew on. i love to ponder too!
_________________Lisa
Interesting thoughts to ponder, Mike! This reminds me of several passages that I have read in classic Christian literature (from [i]Paradise Lost[/i] to [i]Grace Abounding[/i] to [i]Pilgrim's Progress[/i]). Thank you for sharing. :-)
_________________Christopher