O Lord (O Adonai)

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

From Sinai's bush which blazed in holy fire You answered, “I AM!”, gave Moses your name. And promised your arm would reach, never tire ’Til you saved your son from slav’ry and shame. And even while gath’ring the bread sent each day Sheltered beneath Sinai’s thundering peak The people yet complain, reject, and stray From HIM WHO IS deliv’er of the weak.

O Lord, redeem! My arms cannot bear The doing demands which Legality lords, Nor can avoid the tangle of sin’s snare But am trapped by desire, cupidity’s cords. I AM reached to a manger, bared his arm and crossed; Bound himself in our humanity to redeem and loose the lost.

© Randy Edwards 2016 artwork: Moses and the Burning Bush ; Michiel van der BORCH ; illuminated miniature on vellum from Jacob van Maerlant’s « Rhimebible » of Utrecht ; manuscript MMW 10 B 21; Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague

#poetry #sonnet #christian #devotional #advent "GreatOAntiphons