AROUND SELKIRK, SCOTTISH BORDER

 

GOD HAS BEEN MANIFESTED IN FLESH (IV)

 “I love my master” – how distinct has been

The speaking! – “my wife, and my children,

I will not go free”.

(Loanhead 13 June 2022)

So He came forth, the Universe-maker,

Heaven-measurer, to be confined within

The breadth of a tomb.

He who had spread out the heavens

As a tent to dwell in was prepared to be

Bound up in fine linen.

(Loanhead 15 June 2022)

He arose:

He ascended, and “set himself down

On the right hand of the greatness on high”.

The Father raised Him

By His glory; welcomed Him in glory,

Enfolded Him in heavenly glory.

(Loanhead 17 June 2022)

He was made alive

In the Spirit, acted by the Spirit,

Set forth the dawn of the day of the Spirit.

(Loanhead Lord’s day 19 June 2022)

Moral glories

Effulged on the day of resurrection

As the Shepherd ranged among His flock.

Official glories,

Once laid aside, now enjoyed,

Along with the One known now as Father.

(Loanhead 20 June 2022)

After the cataract

The river broadens, becomes an estuary,

Imperceptibly merges into the ocean.

From the glen’s darkness

The way emerges; the view broadens

Over the strath’s fertility.

(Loanhead 21 June 2022)

Enter by the porch

The house of God; see the enlarging,

The upward increase: for “the house had width upward”.

(Loanhead 22 June 2022)

Jesus Christ has come:

To all generations of the ages of ages

There will be glory unto God

In the assembly in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

(Loanhead 23 June 2022)

GOD HAS BEEN MANIFESTED IN FLESH (III)

Crowds acclaimed Him, disciples kept by Him;

Yet in time, disowned, betrayed and denied:

No human company.

 

(Inverness, Whisk Away Café 4 June 2022)

 

God’s action: He “gave his strength into

Captivity, and his glory into

The hand of the oppressor”.

 

There is no garden in Gethsemane;

All was the press of the spirit of Jesus:

Oppressed; depressed.

 

Unbounded in blessing; dweller in

Unbounded light; unbounded grace led

To being bound.

 

The Leader and Completer of faith has been

Led; the Leader of salvation led; the Originator of life

Has been slain.

 

(Tushielaw, 10 June 2022)

 

The feet that had walked in the Father’s way;

The hands that had reached out in blessing:

Men pinned to the cross.

 

(Tushielaw, 11 June 2022)

 

Denizen of eternal glory;

Habitue of the Father’s presence;

A forsaken Man.

 

(Dawyck)

 

Emmanuel, the Root and Offspring of David;

The Lamb of God; the Saviour of the world;

A forsaken Man.

 

(Loanhead, Lord’s day 12 June 2022)

GOD HAS BEEN MANIFESTED IN FLESH (II)

On the whale-route between Lewis and Ullapool

 

The Ocean-master, Lord of whale-routes,

Could come to be buffeted by winds,

Asleep on a boat.

 

But nothing could prevent

The Lord of wind and waves from

Making waves His path.

 

(Gearrannan junction 3 June 2022)

 

Confined to Israel, His recalcitrant people,

His grace ensured crumbs from the table

Reached Gentile dogs.

 

Birds had nests; and the foxes their earth;

Mem, palaces and hovels; but the Son of Man

Had no place on earth.

 

Yet what did it mean

To Him, that He could spend His nights

Abroad on the Mount of Olives?

 

(Stornoway, Loch Seaforth 4 June 2022)

 

Babes only He consorted with, fishers,

Yet His time and patience made them truly

The wise and prudent.

 

Thus the footsteps of Jesus funnelled

To Israel narrowed in His straitening

Towards Jerusalem.

 

The city of the great King, Jerusalem;

How He desired that the murderous city

Should rather nestle to Him!

 

The Eternal One, entering His creation

Found the time limits He accepted

Meant His time must come.

 

(Loch Seaforth, The Minch)