based on Lamentations 3
Scripture teaches that sometimes Christians go through what some have called "the dark night of the soul" where it seems that God himself is attacking them. Indeed, He may be. But Scripture also teaches that if God "attacks his people," he does so in a manner that is consistent with fatherly love, and with a purpose that is consistent with their highest good. In such times, it is of great value to recall that "though he causes grief, yet compassion he will show, according to the multitude of his great mercies."
This hymn, based on Lamentations 3, chronicles the dark night of the soul, and the hope that can be laid hold of even in the midst of the trial.
1 -3
I’ve seen affliction, the rod of His wrath.
Darkness, without light, He ordered my path.
Surely the Lord’s hand against me has been
Throughout my lifetime, again and again.
7-9
He hedged me in so I cannot get out;
Shut up my prayer though I cry and I shout.
My chain is heavy; my way blocked with stone.
Crooked He marked out the path that I roam.
13-15
His quiver’s arrows He made to pierce me.
My neighbors’ ridicule I am to be.
Their taunting song all the day long they speak.
I’m filled with bitterness He made me drink.
19-21
As I remember affliction from Him,
My soul remembers, and it sinks within;
Remember roaming and wormwood and gall --
Nonetheless, I have hope when I recall:
22-24
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed.
His great compassion each morning is new.
“Great is Your faithfulness, Lord”, says my soul,
“You are my portion, thus, in You I hope.”
27-29
‘Tis good to bear the yoke in a man’s youth,
For God has laid it on him -- this is truth.
Let man keep silent; let him sit alone.
Call this to mind -- that there may yet be hope.
31-32,21
For the Lord will not forever cast off
Due to the multitudes of His great love.
Though He cause grief, yet compassion He’ll show.
I recall this to my mind, and have hope!
Copyright © 1999 by Jon F Caudle Jr • all rights reserved
This text may be sung to the tune Slane (Be Thou My Vision)
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Hope
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Very good. Be Thou My Vision is a hymn I actually know, and I really love it. These are some excellent verses!
Nothing better than borrowing the tune from a great hymn :)
This passage from Lamentations (together with the hymn that gets its title from the passage: Great is Thy Faithfulness) is a favorite, that has long sustained me.
This hymn was actually penned the summer after Nathan's death.
Jon,
The kids are calling...no time to write or read more...BUT, I love the Slane melody, and I like your adaptation of Lamentations 3, and am curious about Nathan. Your son? So sorry for you and your family. And one more thing before I go, my grandmother's maiden name was Cadle. So, we're probably related, closer than going all the way back to Noah! :) So, cousin, I'll check back at your blogs later!
Deb,
First, something of interest. The other commenter on this post is also from Colorado but is not fond of the shortened form of the name, (so Deborah, this response is to Deb, not to you) ...
Yes, Nathan is (present tense - Matthew 22:32) my son. You can read a little more at the following posts:
On Fathers' Day
and ...
on the occasion of his birthday.
I wondered if you would find this song of interest, inasmuch as you had posted a piece that also used this tune.
About the family name ... we trace back to immigrants from Scotland/Ireland (around 1720) to North Carolina, and subsequently through Tennessee and into Illinois (by c. 1830) and then into Missouri (c. 1900). I strongly suspect the Scots Irish were Presbyterian, based on reading some of the family history; they became Calvinistic Baptists in the US, then a couple of generations became Mormon (c. 1850), followed by an agnostic generation. The Lord began calling us back in my father's generation (he is a Southern Baptist pastor), and I have recently returned full circle to the Presbyterian heritage, being part of a CREC church for the past 2+ years.
Jon,
I've just finished reading the two links you provided, and I'm quite humbled. My dad died two years ago (never admitting to any of us that he was a believer), and my husband and I spent 11 years early in our marriage mourning the children we could never conceive (until God graciously grew our family through adoption). I know a little bit about loss, but nothing of the magnitude you and your family have experienced. I can see how God strengthened you just prior to this tremendous blow to your lives, and how He has sustained you through the years. Thank you for sharing, and please accept my heartfelt prayers for you and your family.
Not to be crass, but changing the subject, we'll have to go back a few more generations towards Noah to find a common ancestor. My great grandfather was born in England, and his father (born in England in 1806) was John Cadle. The Cadles in our family were originally from Wales and England, to the best of my knowledge. Pretty close, though!
I envy you having a CREC church in your neck of the woods. Our little PCA church disbanded a year ago and my family and I have been very discouraged with the choices out there for places to worship and be fed. Do you realize how many churches sing mindless praise songs???? And that's only one complaint... But, our God is gracious and compassionate and sovereign, so I'll stop grumbling! :)
Post a Comment