Post details: Jeremiah 4 The Watchman
Jeremiah 4 The Watchman
I, Jeremiah, speak as G-d's watchman
Repent, Israel, the standard algorithm
put off, all off, swear allegiance
practice truth, justice, righteousness
always has worded, always will
few avail themselves of the opportunity
Judah doesn't
yhwh demands all, Jerusalem gives less
remainder brings the curse
drought, pestilence, finally the pale horse
he has left, his journey is long
weep for your sons, wail for your daughters
unimaginable rapine, unbearable grief
the leaders, our brave leaders melt
"liar"
(where that came from I do not know)
but I accused G-d of deception
compassion, grace, slow to anger, abounding in love and truth
this is the G-d of Moses and Samuel, David and Solomon, Ike and Mike
but his own prophets cry "peace"
the Babylonian menace has been defeated (Carchemesh 609)
it's fact
who is right, I or they, we both can't be?
then night comes--vision or dream, who knows?
my body writhes in panic
martial sounds
am I the only one who hears?
Judah does not
in their wisdom, they do evil
it's as if eternity past lies
before me--tohu vavohu (formless and void)
hills frightened, all gone, smoldering destruction
Jerusalem the whore prepares for work
clients become predators
she cries, no one hears
not even yhwh
any future lies on G-d keeping his promise
I, Jeremiah, hate this job
Comments:
· http://leshemshamayim.wordpress.com/ Meanwhile, I must keep my own heart and life pure so they see that true hope changes all. I suppose, when I face that place in my heart that cannot understand why my God would use Babylon… I fight him and call Him liar. Yhwh, you don’t need to punish me or them so severely, they hurt enough, my consience condemns without your accusal! Yet, he accuses, there are the results… a reprimand which breaks my heart and floods me with shame when he says I am improving. Which is it, my God? How can you promise peace and send more turmoil? Something must be in spite of the circumstances.
I don’t sleep either. Does God call a watchman by removing ability to rest? Must one always be tormented by grief for a people who couldn’t care whether their unfaithfulness will destroy them or not? Those other lovers are using them, abusing, killing. How did God’s people get so sick as to remain with those slaking lovers? Did we submit to much to our own sin and long for it to dominate? Sure we cry, and then strengthen our resolve and return to “work.” Pain and regret only linger a moment… that hopeless ache for new strength fuels us on to our own destruction. We’re caught in the system, God have mercy.
And he does, but how unbearable is it for you, messenger, watcher? Am I to become like that too? God holds out mercy to them but tortures his own? How does God bear such a burden on his heart?
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11/23/07 @ 23:16 Leave a comment:
