Psalm 66—The loves I laid on the altar to kiss and burn and bid away.
"His every work, the barest edge of him flashes thunderous light, sparks fire, dances."
Rendition of Psalm 66
Sing loud and shout, all the earth; Raise and rattle out a cry; Plea and praise and wonder; Trumpet the name of God; Shine around the brightest sound In praise of his fathomless glory. Tell the whole story back again, Belt it, blare it, heave, and hurl it out. There is no measure of it; It floods; it bursts its banks. His every work, the barest edge of him, Flashes thunderous light, sparks fire, dances. Every knee will bow, and every mouth sing, And confess at last the king is king. Come and see the works of God. He has not held back; he pours himself In double draughts. He is prodigal. He is wild and wanton, unwearying. He sows with a glad hand, Broadcast, unresting, unhasting. He turned the sea into dry land So his people could pass Through the water on foot. His strength has never found its limit. Nothing hides from his sight. He brings the proud to a point, And lifts the weak and weary. Gather the people together. Hear what he has done for me. My God, my life shook and slipped. I staggered. I fretted and kicked in your grip. As silver meets itself Before its dross is lifted, When my crucible came You held me in the heat. I saw things I’d done for years But never known before. You wove a net, and, With a flick, I was caught. You piled upon me, and I was pressed. I was dragged and crushed; I gagged. Each day, I woke to the fire Of grief, and I blackened and balked. At night, my bed was a raft rolled On a darkling sea while overhead Wheeled numberless stars That I could neither touch nor change. There was no way out but through. I lost everything I thought was mine, But I did not lose you. I rode the tumult until I found My way to rich and solid ground. I brought my sacrifices, My whole life, to your house. I made my pleas into promises. We cut covenants through the smoke Of the loves I laid on the altar To kiss and burn and bid away. Come and hear, if you fear God. I will tell the story back again. He did not relent Until my mouth was full Of the blessings I had learned to say; Until my hands were empty, And I raised them to heaven to be filled. My God has heard me. He gave me what I needed, But did not ask for. He did not turn away from me. I carry his kindness here Even when it cuts, As it carried me.
Psalms: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 46, 50, 51, 53, 54, 62, 63, 65, 66, 73, 74, 75, 84, 86, 88, 90, 91, 100, 107, 110, 114, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 137, 139, 140, 142, 147, 148.
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This is breathtaking. Its vivid portrayal of suffering and repentance left me speechless and helped me see this psalm with fresh eyes.
“Each day, I woke to the fire
Of grief, and I blackened and balked.
At night, my bed was a raft rolled
On a darkling sea while overhead
Wheeled numberless stars
That I could neither touch nor change.
There was no way out but through.
I lost everything I thought was mine,
But I did not lose you.”
Love the diction and the flow through this one! Particularly this part:
"At night, my bed was a raft rolled
On a darkling sea while overhead
Wheeled numberless stars
That I could neither touch nor change."