Last Wednesday, Dave’s fortnightly house group met, as usual at Mary’s house for a delicious home-cooked meal followed by discussion about faith.
The group have recently been reading the Psalms and Dave had set them the task of either writing a psalm or something inspired by a psalm. A few members of the group have kindly agreed to share their responses with us, which forms the basis of this set of blog posts…
Here is sonnet written by Dave himself, inspired by some verses from Psalm 91.
Psalm 91:1-10
Living in the Most High’s shelter, camping in the Almighty’s shade, I say to the Lord, “You are my refuge, my stronghold! You are my God—the one I trust!” God will save you from the hunter’s trap and from deadly sickness. God will protect you with his pinions; you’ll find refuge under his wings. His faithfulness is a protective shield. Don’t be afraid of terrors at night, arrows that fly in daylight, or sickness that prowls in the dark, destruction that ravages at noontime.
Even if one thousand people fall dead next to you, ten thousand right beside you— it won’t happen to you. Just look with your eyes, and you will see the wicked punished. Because you’ve made the Lord my refuge, the Most High, your place of residence— no evil will happen to you; no disease will come close to your tent.
Sonnet
Camping, living under God’s protecting shade.
Stronghold, refuge, is He of whom I sing
I can’t withhold my trustful worship offering.
The past has taught me surely He will aid.
Then doubt comes by, deriding plans I’ve made-
Where now is His great shadowing wing?
Once promised in the smile of God my King
Pictured in joyful prayers I’ve prayed?
For pain, oh pain, such pain comes screaming in!
Anguish at TV’s starving desperate child;
Or watching sickness as it grows the more;
Greed of those in charge gone wild;
The dispossessed crushed powerless on the floor.
Ah! When will mercy’s power begin?
Dave
