(April is National Poetry Month in Canada [and the U.S.]. That's all the permission I need to post a poem.)
Of all the fascinating images in the Bible, the tabernacle ranks right up there with the most intriguing. Many have studied this earthly tent, over which God's glory hovered as the Israelites wandered through the desert. Some extract meaning from its dimensions, the materials used to construct it, each piece of equipment employed in tabernacle worship, even its colors.
My study of the tabernacle has not yielded anything nearly so sophisticated - just some devotional thoughts which I have written in the form of old-fashion, traditional poetry. I hope you can relate.
TABERNACLE
i Materials (Exodus 25:1-9)
God asks from you an offering
He doesn’t want just anything
requests rare blue and scarlet thread
acacia wood, ram skins dyed red.
Bring to Him all your silver, gold
the bracelets, earrings you were told
to spoil from Egypt when you left,
bring willingly, don’t feel bereft.
The only gold you’ve ever owned?
Bring it to Yahweh, lay it down.
All your best treasures He will take
with them His Tabernacle make.
Not badger skins or incense sweet
our treasures to lay at His feet
but home, health, money, family
technology and time that’s free.
Confronts us with the same request
present to Him all of our best
a testimony house He’ll build –
our tabernacle with Him filled.
ii Construction Notes (Exodus 26)
The inner hidden part
the socket, loop and clasp
of linen, silver, bronze and gold
reflect God’s love of sterling art.
My inner house please mend
thoughts, words and private deeds
they’re often plaster, iron and tin
that crumble, rust and easily bend.
iii Pattern (Exodus 27:8)
Silver, wood and bronze
with gold take.
As it was shown you on the mountain
so make.
Mercy, love, forgiveness
Word gives.
As it is shown you in His presence
so live.
© 2010 by Violet Nesdoly
What does the tabernacle signify to you?
*********************
Website: www.violetnesdoly.com
Personal blog promptings (come visit during April for more poetry fun!)
Writerly blog Line upon line
Kids' daily devotions Bible Drive-Thru
A poem portfolio
NEW IN 2010: Other Food: daily devo's
Looking for a place to feel inspired and challenged? Like to share a smile or a laugh? Interested in becoming more familiar with Canadian writers who have a Christian worldview? We are writers who live in different parts of Canada, see life from a variety of perspectives, and write in a number of genres. We share the goal of wanting to entertain and inspire you to be all you can be with God's help.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Popular Posts
-
Write Canada is more than a professional networking conference. It’s a safe place where beginning and intermediate writers can learn ...
-
Inspiration hardly strikes on an empty stomach. For this, and other reasons, writers must eat. And if you like minced beef (and you...
-
Writers—especially those who aspire to write books—are currently being told that the publishing industry is undergoing a massive change. Th...
-
By Rev. Dr. Ed & Janice Hird By Rev. Dr Ed and Janice Hird What if most of the people in your family died from incurable illnes...
-
On Thanksgiving Sunday, our daughter and son-in-law blessed us with our first grandchild. My heart sings as I gaze in ...
-
Last week, I read this quote, “ Don’t regret growing older, it’s a privilege denied many.” I though about the truthfulness of this quote....
-
Commercials and television ads define their products with slogans. The Coke ad says, “Coke is it.” KFC says, “We do chicken right.” ...
-
“Why do we have so many ways to talk about the ending of life?” a writer asked a while ago. “A person croaked, kicked the bucket, bought th...
-
"Philosophers are finding fresh meanings in truth, beauty and goodness", John Cottingham tells us ( The Times , June 17, 2006): ...
-
Prediction, retrodiction, and malediction ... It's not even six a.m. here in EST, and already 230 people have visited the Post-Darwinist...
3 comments:
Hey, good ol' rhythm and rhyme --
but nothing outmoded here; what a beautiful thought-provoking devotional piece!
Thanks, Violet!
Simple, yet profound. I need to think more about the Tabernacle. Lovely Violet. Thanks.
Thank you so much, Peter and Glynis! To me the Tabernacle is just an example of the Bible's incredible depth. The more we dig around, the more we find that's of significance - even to us these many years later.
Post a Comment