The Prophet’s Song

I say I will not mention him, I will no longer speak in his name. But then it is as if fire is burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding back, I cannot!
Jeremiah 20:9

Then I said, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding an ember which he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with it. “See,” he said, “now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” “Here I am,” I said; “send me!”
Isaiah 6:5-8

You set a fire within my bones,
a coal upon my lips;
their smoke pours out in cries and groans,
all joyful songs t'eclipse.

How can I sing, my God, for joy?
How can I fail to sing?
These burning embers would destroy
all other gifts I bring.

So as you bid, I lift my voice
with all the wildfire's roar
to sweep away the brittle joys
of those who doom ignore.

When summer storms fill skies with awe
and lightning strikes the ground,
I am the spark that finds the straw
that in rich fields abounds.

They smother me; they stamp me out,
but Lord, you made me flame:
Raise me and set my foes to rout,
for glory of your name!

For glory, Lord, is what you are,
the source of every spark.
Make of your world a burning star
and drive away the dark.

By Unknown author – Manuscrit (Constantinople, Xe siècle) dit Psautier de ParisFolio 435 versoBibliothèque Nationale de France (Mss., Grec 139), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=715188

Jeremiah 31

Oh, Zion! Oh, my daughter!
I loved her from of old.
For her, I parted waters
and rivers backward rolled,
and when she turned, I sought her,
allured her heart and soul.
I wept when others caught her
in snares of greed and gold.

Now Rachel weeps in Ramah
to see her children dead,
and there is none to calm her
or mourn them in her stead.
But I will still her clamor
and end her days of dread:
I pour my balm upon her
and bind the wounds that bled.

Return, of daughter Zion;
return and take your rest.
Come, mount the heights I ride on;
enjoy the gifts I bless.
A level road to stride on
I give you for your steps:
Give me your hearts to write on,
my law within your breast.

Be once again my daughter,
the people of my heart.
Return to Jordan's waters
and never more depart.
Belovèd of your Father,
hear my rejoicing start:
I have her, for I sought her
and her will ever guard!

You can sing it to AURELIA (“The Church’s One Foundation”).

*Jeremiah on the ruins of Jerusalem* (1844) By Horace Vernet – http://hdl.handle.net/11259/collection.37341, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34607057

Broken Wells

Cross to the coast of Cyprus and see,
send to Kedar and carefully inquire:
Where has anything like this been done?
Does any other nation change its gods?
—even though they are not gods at all!
But my people have changed their glory
for useless things.
Be horrified at this, heavens;
shudder, be appalled—oracle of the LORD.
Two evils my people have done:
they have forsaken me, the source of living waters;
They have dug themselves cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Jeremiah 2:10-13

A desert of where no shadow dwells
I walk for days untold
to find the spring where water swells,
where green baptizes gold,
transforming all my barren fells—
but I my compass sold
and in my wake dug broken wells
that will no water hold.

Let darkness fall to hide the scar,
to swallow my debris
and show more clearly where you are,
distractions dark to me.
Then send me, Lord, your guiding star
and give me eyes to see
and strength to walk, however far
the road to you may be.

Oh, let me find the hidden spring
where living waters run.
Let me take root and there I'll cling
and bloom beneath the sun.
I'll wet my throat and praises sing,
and stand in silence then,
in awe of you, great mercy's king,
and never thirst again.