My God!
My God!
You walked away from me.
Why?
You’re so far away.
Why?
Can you even hear my heart-scream
At such a distance?
My God!
I cry all day long
And you don’t say a word.
I cry all night long
And sleep avoids me too.
But I stop and remember:
You’re unlike anyone else,
Seated on your kingly throne,
The one your people praise.
Our grandparents leaned on you.
They trusted;
You came through.
They cried;
You showed up.
They trusted and weren’t let down.
Not me though.
I’m scum,
Not even human.
That’s what everyone says,
Pointing fingers,
Shaking heads.
They’re unanimous in their disgust,
In their mockery.
They say:
”He claims Yahweh as friend.
Let’s see how that works out.
If Yahweh think he’s so special,
He’ll rush to the rescue.”
But my birth was no accident.
It was your doing.
Trusting you came as quickly
And naturally
As nursing at my mother’s breast.
From my first breath,
I’ve been yours.
Even when I was in my mother’s womb,
You’ve been mine,
My God.
But everything is upside-down:
You’re far;
Trouble’s near.
I’m completely helpless.
I’m surrounded by grizzly bears,
Massive, mighty creatures pacing circles around me.
Roaring lions
That tear their prey
Flesh from bone
Are on the prowl for me.
Empty, dying,
I’m water poured on desert sand.
My body crumples.
My heart fails,
Melting like ice in the sun.
My mouth is dry as dust.
My tongue, thick and swollen.
You, God, have dug the hole
I’ll be buried in.
A pack of street dogs,
Haters,
Surround me, howling.
My hands and feet bleed
From their wounds.
I’m just a bag of bones,
A freak show
Gathering rubber neckers.
They gamble for my garments.
They make a game of dividing up
A dying man’s last possessions.
But please, Yahweh,
Don’t stay so far away.
You’re my only strength,
Sprint to my side.
Snatch me from gunpoint,
My sweet life from dog teeth,
From lion claws,
From grizzly bear violence.
This I believe:
The day is coming when I will stand
In the middle of my people,
Shouting your name,
Singing your praise.
You people who look to Yahweh,
Praise him!
Come on now, you Jacob descendants,
Honor him!
You people of God,
Revere him!
He didn’t join in with the mockers,
Making fun of my misery.
He didn’t look the other way,
Ignoring me.
He heard my crying.
You’re the song
I teach the worshiping crowd.
I made promises
And make good on them publicly
Among those who take you seriously.
Those who can’t afford food
Will sigh with satisfaction.
Those hungry for Yahweh
Will sing their satisfaction,
Their hearts so full of life
They never stop.
This will extend to every inch of the earth
As every family
In every nation
Turns its attention,
Turns its heart to Yahweh,
Bowing to him as king —
Yahweh, whose rule and authority
Are unquestionable,
Ubiquitous.
The extravagant rich will worship;
The vulnerable and dying will kneel.
Everyone in between will serve him.
The Lord’s fame will engulf
The future of humanity.
They will say,
”He always does the right thing.”
He has.
He did it!
It is finished!