The wide skies Speak of his mercy, and the distant hills Stand in his steadfast love
We resume our poetic journey through the psalms and come today to psalm 25, a little landmark and staging post, exactly one sixth of the way through the psalter. It’s a good psalm for pausing on the journey, taking stock, getting a good view of the way ahead for psalm 25 is all about putting earthly life in the heavenly perspective. I particularly like the line in verse 14:
Mine eyes are ever looking unto the Lord: for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
If I look down too often at my own tangles they get more tangled still whereas if I look up to Christ and trust him, he can gradually do some of the untangling for me, a theme I have developed in my response to this psalm.
As we reflect at this staging post, can I say a big thank you to everyone who has supported me me with a friendly ‘cup of coffee’ over the past month or so. It’s been very encouraging, and as a result I feel much more secure going forward into my new life as full-time poet. But can I also add that although the ‘buy me a coffee’ button is there for anyone to use at the end of these posts, there is absolutely no obligation, and it need only be an occasional thing. These posts themselves will of course always be absolutely free to all. (you can read more about the whole coffee thing and why I started it on this previous post)
As usual you can hear the poems by pressing the ‘play’ button if it appears, or else by clicking on the title.
The gates will open for us both, look up!
I hear that voice each day when I’m downcast
I hear it when I’ve almost lost my hope
And now, when I’m entangled by my past,
My feet are netted by necessity,
Snared in the traps of time that bind so fast,
My eyes turned downward, dimmed by what they see,
I hear that voice again and raise my eyes
And he untangles me and sets me free.
He alters my perspective. The wide skies
Speak of his mercy, and the distant hills
Stand in his steadfast love and make me wise
In his simplicity, and all my ills
Diminish and recede to their true size.
That I may find my peace in all he wills.
If you are enjoying these posts, you might like, on occasion, (not every time of course!) to pop in and buy me a cup of coffee. Clicking on this banner will take you to a page where you can do so, if you wish. But please do not feel any obligation!
Malcolm Guite 