Henrietta Dubb's Meditations

Psalms for singing, Lent 2005

 

Psalm 102

The prayer song of one with great affliction, about to faint, pouring a complaint before the Lord

 

 

Hear me Lord, I'm praying;

My crying you must hear!

Don't turn from what I'm saying

Please let me bend Your ear.

 

It's such a fix I'm dreading!

Come look and see my case;

Give me a speedy hearing

Today please show Your face!

 

My days pass up the chimney,

My bones aflame with heat.

My heart like grass is withering;

I've forgotten how to eat.

 

Now these groans are saying

As if I'd need to tell.

My bones and skin are fraying.

This is a living hell.

 

A hawk confused and lonely,

An owl broods long in grief;

I lie awake, "If only!"

Distraught beyond belief.

 

And all of this is weighty,

Such load so hard to bear,

Diseased with pain so mighty,

An end to all that's fair

 

My awful situation,

To make my groaning worse,

My enemies now taunt me,

And use my name to curse.

 

Ashes now my staple,

All drinks mixed with my tears,

What more to say or ask you,

Your anger fills my fears!

 

Have You not come collected

Me; You've dumped on barren ground.

Evening shadows, I'm dejected;

Withering with the grass around.

 

Since all began Your name is known,

Arise O LORD take Zion's side;

This is the day, the time has come.

I'm asking LORD, that you preside.

 

This is the time to show You care;

Come meet with us, this is the hour.

For those who serve, love Zion dear.

The place You meet us, shows Your power.

 

At that place we respect the stones,

Our sentiments bound to that dust.

Where You dispel our deepest moans

Where we Your promises can trust.

 

All nations LORD your name will fear,

One day, all kings the earth around,

Will reckon with Your presence here.

The LORD keeps Zion safe and sound.

 

His glory shines where He'll preside;

He fully covers those exposed

Their applications not deride

For to the poor He is disposed.

 

So let then this recorded be

For those who later come along,

The One Above looks down to see

He helps us praise in happy song.

 

 

The LORD looked down from holiness,

From heaven above surveyed the earth,

He hears my groans, my deep distress,

He knows my chains, my doom, my worth.

 

And yet men may indeed declare,

In Zion's meeting-place, His name

This LORD, in Jerusalem, is there

His Honour held with loud acclaim.

 

When people come and worship Him,

All kingdoms bow beneath His rule.

Our future can no more be grim

To take our courses in His school.

 

My strength You snapped mid-course;

Days shortened "My God," I say,

"Why cut me done with such cruel force,

Since You endure from now for 'aye!"

 

From ancient time the earth You set,

The skies Your handiwork display.

They wear out when Your plans are met;

It has been thus until this day. 

 

You toss them off like worn-out gear,

They all wear thin just like a shirt.

But You're the same, from year to year,

They pass away, return to dirt;

 

So, with us prompt Your hopeful look,

As we Your servants dwell secure;

Our children's children in Your book

Penned in and cared for, we endure.

 

 

 

 

Pouring a complaint before the Lord.

 Indeed that is this obedient servant's sacrifice.

It is all this person can give. And even to try and help this person by telling them this is not much good, not in these circumstances. God knows that this is the time where joint sorrow requires sitting with this person in quiet.

 

 

 

                        16/2/2005

 

 Henrietta Dubb, Christian citizen of the 21st century.

Previous Next

 

February 2005 © Henrietta Dubb's Diary, is written and published by Bruce C Wearne, 29 Lawrence Rd., Point Lonsdale Vic 3225 AUSTRALIA, 61-3-5258-3913. Each entry in the diary  may be photocopied or retransmitted in its entirety but shall not otherwise be reprinted or transmitted without the author's written permission. This is a project to encourage positive Christian citizenship, the development of policies and political attitudes that better express our love for God and our neighbour. Comments are welcome. Email can be sent to bcwearne@ozemail.com.au  Web-site http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bcwearne/hdd.htm