Noah

I wrote this sonnet for the sermon I'm giving in the morning. I was having a hard time getting my arms around the story of Noah and this helped. It's a huge story about the nature of God and the nature of mankind and I'm still pretty nervous about teaching it. There are so many layers and I've chosen an application that's pretty broad and non-specific. It think tomorrow is one of those days that challenge our thinking about who God is more than a day that gives us a plan for the next week. I'm not using the poem in the sermon, but we did tag it onto the email that goes to the whole body each week.

Anyway, you need to know that the name Noah sounds like the Hebrew for comfort and there's a prophecy about that in Genesis 5.29.

Noah

His hand had stayed the furrow many days
without the tremble rain would recognize;
the oxen were resigned, the door was raised,
and thunder roared and ripped apart the skies.

A man of dirt might dream of dew and mist—
when water comes he’s thankful for the mud.
Raindrops would be blessing—never this,
the first fruits of fury and of blood.

Judgment smells like flotsam tinged with death.
Patience sounds like tide to those who wait.
Goodness looks upon all He gave breath
and Mercy says that none shall live save eight.

Alone, adrift, awake without relief,
aware that peace and Comfort come through grief.

(c) Steve Pruitt 2006