WATER

Egypt’s water - the first we knew -

Turned to blood

At the twirl of a staff.

Glad were we when the Red Sea’s water

Left the Egyptian shore

Irretrievably cut off.

Bitter were we till Marah’s drink

Was transformed for us

By cast wood.

Fertility greeted us,

Seventy palm trees,

At the twelve springs of Elim.

We murmured, but it was the Rock

Which was smitten; the Rock

Which gave water.

And the Rock was willing

To follow; to serve water

At the lawgiver’s request.

After our wandering years

At last we could wield staves

To dig the well.

The last water, Jordan, dashed

Hopes; till the ark

Championed our passage.

We have been brought to a good land,

A land of waterbrooks, of springs,

And of deep waters,

That gush forth in the valleys and hills.

FIGS

(Numbers 13: 25)
Found by searching
These figs - with the grapes,
And pomegranates -
Are fruit of the Land.

(Judges 9:10,11)
Whatever surrounds,
Observe in the fig-tree
Determination to produce
Its sweetness.

(! Kings 4: 25)
Security without anxiety:
Throughout the land dwell
Every man
Under his vine and fig-tree.

(1 Chronicles 12: 40)
Food on asses and camels,
Mules and oxen:meal,
Fig-cakes, raisin-cakes ...
Joy's hospitality.

(Proverbs 27: 18)
Who keepeth the fig-tree - 
Digging about it, labouring,
Putting dung - as reward
Shall eat the fruit thereof.

(Song of Songs 2: 13)
The winter chills,
The chill works
Within.  Sun revives;
The winter figs mellow.

(Isaiah 37: 21)
Even for an irruption
Of vileness from within
The plaster of figs
Provides healing.

AWAKE!

I slept. And my Beloved knocked. Alas!
That my response was not alacritous.
How unlike, Acsah springing from her ass,
Or Abigail, my moves were ponderous.
I rose to open but He had withdrawn;
I rose and sought Him but I found Him not.
I asked,where had my Well-beloved gone?
And went to seek Him since I was distraught

The watchmen wounded me. The daughters asked,
What He is like? And then He filled my gaze
With all His loveliness, and as I basked
In all His excellence I told His praise.

Blest Spirit, let me fix my eyes on Him,
And days will not be dull nor I be dim.

PILLARS

When he heard the word “Look on us”

What did the lame man see? Two

Pillars before the temple, Jachin and Boaz.

A man, founded on the fact and joy

Of the love of Jesus: “He will establish”.

A man, weakened in his nature’s vigour,

Founded in this knowledge: “In Him is strength”.

So that if given power in the Name

Of Jesus Christ the Nazaraean, he still

Clung to that Lord’s conspicuous pillars here.

This refers to Acts 3 and 1 Kings 7: 21.

ONLY JESUS

No one lived as Jesus lived

For He never once demurred

When He knew the Father's will;

Since His joy was to fulfil

All the details of God's word

No one lived as Jesus lived.

No one died as Jesus died

Since, despite the public shame,

He was shown to be God's Son;

And because His work was done

While He glorified God's name

No one died as Jesus died.

No one rose as Jesus rose

Since the glory of God's might

Brought Him scatheless from the grave;

Since He came with power to save

And emerged through His own right

No one rose as Jesus rose.

No one saves as Jesus saves,

For eternity and time,

To the uttermost extent;

Since in graciousness He went

To atone for every crime

No one saves as Jesus saves.

No one loves as Jesus loves

For He laid down His own life,

And He shed His blood for me;

Since He would not go out free

For His Master, children, wife

No one loves as Jesus loves.

(An old one re-posted)

SCOTT'S VIEW

Stopping each time he passed that way to trace

God’s workmanship in river, tree and hill

The poet frequently renewed the thrill

Which toil and worry struggled to efface.

The horses which had pulled and stopped his chaise

Finally pulled his hearse; and they were still

As subject to their absent master’s will

When they arrived at that familiar place.

I have a Master who is absent, too -

In everything that I may say or do

Do those who know He is my Master find

That I am subject to my Master’s mind?

I can be thrilled with Him and can derive

From Him who, though now absent, is alive.

This refers to the poet and novelist sir Walter Scott: the view is here.

ARISTARCHUS

Paul’s fellow-traveller, he would have seen

Paul’s teaching, conduct, purpose, faith and light;

Among the fresh assemblies would have been

A sharer of Paul’s fatherly delight,

While as his fellow-worker he would share

His love, endurance and long-suffering:

Striving to conquer moments of despair

And finding Christ his help in everything.

But as Paul’s fellow-captive he endured

What Paul endured - the bondage and the storm -

Till by the grace of God he was secured

In safety - where Paul’s service made him warm.

Lord Jesus, help me till I hear Thy call

To move, and work - and be in bonds - with Paul.

IF

If you have died with Christ to this world’s features      (Colossians)

Why still submit to what mere men command?

If you are raised with Christ raise up your thinking

To what concerns the Man at God’s right hand.

If we hold fast the boldness and the hope                     (Hebrews)

We are the house of God, moved by the Son;

If we maintain assurance to the end

We are become companions of that One.

If you love Jesus you will keep His word                        (John)

And give the Father an abiding place;

If someone else abides till Jesus comes,

Leave that to Him, follow, and grow in grace.



A re-posting