Radiant

Radiant

O! hallowed Light, and radiant,

in You no darkness found,

what hope upholds Your penitent,

whom Your great wings surround!

In Your embrace no arrogant,

no scoffer, rude his sound,

finds portion. Yet Your testament

in us sees light abound.

Perdition has enveloped some

(such vessels thrown to break);

while thrones and powers argue from

the foot of their mistake.

Vain vie they with imperium:

Your breath sets them a-quake!

The darkness has not overcome,

will never light o'ertake.

Those called to Christ from ages old

are sealed unto Your Name

as lambs of one bespeckled fold,

nor lone, nor lost, nor lame.

Burns, bright against the bitter cold

of Death, Your altar-flame.

The darkness has not taken hold,

it has no worthy claim.

We flock beneath the stainèd rood

and, by indwelling Light,

see purchased for us every good,

inherit princely right.

What burning myst'ry that we should

in grace know Your delight!

The darkness has not understood,

abjured to outer night.

In radiance at temple-throne

Your saints, arrayed, will stand,

grand pillars hewn of marble-stone

engraved by Your right hand

with God's, the City's, and Your own

new Name - our living brand

in halls where night is never known;

and we shall understand!

~

AMDG / 5.5.14

*this poem revolves around the possible translations of the word " katalambano" in John 1:5, which may be rendered "overtaken," "comprehended," "laid hold of," "overcome," etc. . .

Burning Eyes

Burning Eyes

(Micah 7:7-10)

I have ordained my burning eyes

to watch; the Lord must soon arise

and bear salvation forth. He comes

and, faithful, hears my yearning cries!

Take no delight, mine enemy.

Though I should fall, these eyes yet see

what deep'ning shadows cannot veil:

I mount, alight eternally!

For sin I bear His wrath, and right,

yet He will draw me into Light,

will plead for me His righteousness,

and render justice in His sight!

Lay low your eyes, fool foe, in shame,

and still that tongue which mocks my claim.

These eyes will see you trampled down

as filth beneath His promised Name!

~

5.13.14

AMDG

Psalm 43

Psalm 43

Vindicate me, God Almighty, deliver me -

there is a nation that honors You not,

there is a man of deceit, and false-wrought.

Plead for my soul against all their calamity!

You are the God of my Strength! Tell me, why have You

cast out, rejected your servant made low?

Why must I mourn, and know intimate woe

under the yoke of my enemy bound anew?

Send out Your light and Your truth; I will guided be

up to the hill You have hallowed and held,

into the tent where Your presence has dwelled.

Draw me in Truth, by Your light only may I see.

I will draw near to the altar of God Most High:

He is the joy overflowing my cup!

Play on the lyre, and in praise lift Him up!

You, my God! Only God! O, my God! Hear my cry!

Why do you groan in despair in my innermost?

What has disturbed you, my soul? Give Him praise

whom you have trusted, again, who has raised

light to your countenance, God of all heaven's host!

~

AMDG

Wisdom Calls

Wisdom Calls

Wisdom, over din and clamor,

calls her suitors,"Turn aside!

Come! I will requite your ardor

as you will with me abide.

In my bower lie the words, which

jealous kings and augurs lust,

full of increase, fearfully rich,

for my lover held in trust."

"Fear the Lord and you will find me.

Find me, other treasures pale.

Gold will rust, fresh wells draw bloody

ere the righteous foot should fail.

Are you simple? Are you senseless?

My words are the faultless path.

Surfeit Folly reaps in violence - 

flee, ere she be stuft with wrath."

"Heed no more the songs of Folly - 

perfumed words dig open graves.

Blood, her milk, and dust her honey,

all her appetites enslave.

Better crust of bread and water

than the wine of Folly's press.

Better still the yearling slaughter

humbly offered, meet to bless."

"Turn aside! My feast is ready

if you would be satisfied,

filled with Truth, of Prudence heady,

in fair Counsel edified.

Ere the dawn of all creation

I have dwelt as God's delight!

Heed my gracious invitation - 

seize on Life and dwell in Light."

Wisdom whispers, still and secret,

"Lean not on your own device.

Christ will keep your pilgrim spirit - 

let no brazen claim entice.

This is faith: He is your treasure.

Glorify your joyous prize,

chase His steps, fill up His measure,

know Him and be counted wise.

~

AMDG/4.4.2014

The Armies of the Lord

The Armies of the Lord

See! The LORD conscripts His armies' might,

assembles His sworn banner-men to fight!

All earthly force His due,

all heav'nly ranks to war! Unto

His purposes they march, as just His right.

Swarming fleas and flies to choke and blind -

He flooded foes, and none could respite find.

His locusts stripped the land,

and frogs enveiled at His command,

consuming all whereof He had the mind.

Wroth, He summoned forth a black-flamed ghost,

and left no aping sorcerer his boast.

Each firstborn life cut down

from utter calf to princely crown;

unstoppable, one hand His vengeful host.

Raised, great Pharaoh's chariot and horse

were sent to set the Tribes their promised course.

God purposed not to slay

His own but, that remembered day,

to feast His fish with such a mighty force.

See! the armies of the LORD are raised

against the hardened heart withholding praise!

No power may refuse

but is expent as He may choose -

life, e'en in death, exalts Him endless days.

~

AMDG

4/10/2014

Unless My Sins

Unless My Sins

If my sins have not nailed You to the cross

(O! Christ! O! Precious Christ!) 

they surely yet adhere me fast to Hell. 

I cannot purchase grace, nor due wrath sell 

(My God! Most Holy God!). 

Your mercy spends my guilt – what happy loss! 

You are enthroned where mercy, justice kiss

(O! Christ! O! Son of God!) 

upon the crux of imputation, crowned 

unendingly, made worthy by Your wound 

(O slaughtered, living Lamb!) 

to open Glory’s gates, seal the Abyss. 

Confession on our tongues is blood and bread

(O! Christ! O! Sacrifice!) 

spilt, split for souls undone by faith ill-spent. 

True faith bestow, inspirit to repent 

(O! Spirit! Holy Ghost!) 

and find sin’s death in our undying Head. 

Quitclaim, my soul, your striving, sin, your self,

(O! ever-hungry beast!) 

all fork-tongued accusation. In His death 

Christ robbed your trespasses of bitter breath, 

(O! Christ! Victorious!) 

there left them, gathered you unto Himself. 

Lord Jesus, sanctify this mystery

(O! Christ! Revealing Light!) 

in me – this righteous covenant of wine, 

all joy of faith, eternal life, none mine 

(O! Just and Merciful!) 

save that my sins have nailed You to the Tree. 

AMDG

Storehouses

Storehouses

Surely the houses of store of the Lord,

lacking for nothing but lack, have been laid

bones to the beams with His fullness, arrayed

generously, as abundance befits:

shield, armor, sword – thence the saints are outfit;

faith in great loaves, strength of men to the task;

grace inexhaustible, barrel and cask;

fitness of body and fatness of soul;

justice in seven gold, terrible bowls;

rain for the harvest and lightning for awe;

rule of His love, and the love of His law;

holiness whereby His name to confess;

treasure up-piling, all blessings to bless

heaped for our good, here, by provident Word.

 ~

Ravus Caelum

9/29/13

AMDG