He spoke and the chaos was brought to order.
Land, light, and life were created at His word.
They talked and walked with Him everyday, but
Such bliss and beauty thrown away on a piece of fruit.
Fruit of destruction that took away our paradise!
How bittersweet were you to Adam?
The knowledge of evil traded for His holy presence:
Intimacy swapped for separation.
His judgment came in cursing and banishment
But His lovingkindness cannot be forgotten,
For the pathway to the tree of life
That was once guarded by cherubim and flaming sword
Is now marked by the blood from nail-scarred hands.
He descended on the mountain in a pillar of fire
And from the smoke the people heard His voice.
Generation to generation turned away from it
But the Law remained through war and peace.
His words were chiseled in stone, unchanging.
Not one could claim, not one can say:
“My righteousness comes from the Law.”
It did not allow righteousness, but was a guardian
But His lovingkindess cannot be forgotten
For the words that descended from that mountain
(Held dear in the hearts of a wayward people.)
Were a promise of life to those with fruitful hands.
From Elijah’s mouth came truth and rain,
And Isaiah’s words were of judgment and salvation,
Hosea’s call was forgiveness and Joel’s was deliverance.
For hundreds of years God spoke through faithful servants
(To a people inclined to idolatry, overflowing with pride.)
A call to repentance, to change, to faith.
Now, there are some who travel all over,
Some living in homeless shelters, holding signs
Proclaiming that Judgment Day is at hand
But His lovingkindness cannot be forgotten,
For all these words from human mouths
Are not a calling of death and destruction,
But rather a proclamation of His grace and mercy.
Spirit of Life that moved upon the waters
Has now moved in the hearts of His people.
From lumps of stubborn clay you make us into servants,
No longer in the oldness of the letter.
We were sons of disobedience, children of wrath,
Spending our lives in malice and envy.
Like straying sheep, wandering with no shepherd,
Face down in front of graven images.
But His lovingkindness cannot be forgotten
For His Holy Spirit brings down peace from above
Always there in our times of distress, always interceding
Now the promise to a holy nation.
To Him be the glory forever.