About Son of Man

Sunday, November 27, 2005

God's Grandeur

God's Grandeur
Gerard Manley Hopkins

The world is charged with the gradeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?
Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;
And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;
and wears man's smudge and shares man's smell: the soil
Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And, for all this, nature is never spent;
There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
and through the last lights off the black West went
oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs-
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

This poem reminds me of Psalm 19. "The heavens declare God's 'grandeur'." Dispite the failure of man to "reck his rod', or in other words, reckon him worthy, or heed his authority, His purpose will stand (Isaiah 46:9-10) . The wickedness of man; their smear, smudge, and their smell cannot quench the "dear freshness" in what he has made that bears his witness. The last two lines could refer to the brooding like that of a dove over its nest. I like that because the spirit was compared to a dove in the gospels. It also brings to mind the action of the spirit before the creation, hovering and brooding over the waters. Praise God for his patience with a world that in its darkness did not comprehend the light. Praise him for loving his enemies.

8 Comments:

Blogger TwinsK&D said...

Great first Post!! I also love the last 2 lines! Its amazing how words can express the things of God and yet still we cannot grasp Him fully! God is so 'other' than us! Glory be to God!

see ya soon,
Twin#2

5:30 AM  
Blogger Julian Freeman said...

Dude, you're awesome :-)

I'm totally digging your template. Just make sure you don't let kerux see it... he'll never let you hear the end of it. What a guy.

Thanks for the post... can't wait to see what you've got for us in the future. I hear you've got a book of Maoisms? Maybe you could inspire us with that! :-)

7:19 AM  
Blogger Paul said...

grafted,
my heart is reeling with delight that you have posted and with such literary expertise! post away young laddy!
my eyes are reeling with agony as your white font on black background is like razor blades slicing my retinas in a bowl of lemon juice slyly placed beneath a heat lamp.
excellent post.
horrific template. (that was for the fighter jet - a.k.a. "jlf81")
poems away!
learn us plain folk some of that english you are getting teached at york!!

8:29 AM  
Blogger TwinsK&D said...

Hey Bro
Amazing post!! The poetry makes my brain work. Keep it up! To God be the glory and the praise and the honour!!

Twin#1

3:23 PM  
Blogger Nick said...

I took college level english throughout highschool. But it sure does sound nice. Thanks for explaining ! Actually you see that is just a cover up. I am Batman. And as Batman I know a lot of stuff. I even have a Joshua english decoder. That will come in handy. Bravo Josh!

10:48 AM  
Blogger Nick said...

Hey Josh,

You seem like a little poet! Let's make a song dude.....Seeeing as I only know how to write songs about racoon's and knuckle fighting you oughtta be able to write some sweet words!!!!! Rock on!!!!! I just recorded a song at my house.....You should listen and try to inspire yourself.....Sweet.....Rock and Rowl......

7:30 AM  
Blogger Nick said...

Yes! Son of Man is back online!!! Uhhhhhhh hmmmmmmm Josh is back online!!!!!!!!!

8:58 PM  
Blogger TwinsK&D said...

Hey good to see you back online bro...what happened to your template? I liked it the way it was...could you please change it back? :-) so...whens your next post going to be..I keep checking! Blessings,

Twins#1&2

5:03 AM  

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