Lenten Devotional, Day 30: Poem: Prisoner of Hope, "This Scroll to Eat"
Dear Prilgrim Band,
The Scriptures for Thursday are Psalm 130; Ezekiel 1:1–3, 2:8–3:3; Revelation 10:1–11.
PSALM 130 REFLECTION (stave of six)
Against Thy Spirit am a supplicant;
The goads of His convictions cannot own.
Though nothing in His case could I recant,
Yet for sins mine cannot myself atone.
If prisoner must be, then one of hope
That nothing (no one) is beyond Thy mercy's scope.
Note:
• Stave is the same as a stanza. A stave of six is a fun length to summarize some thought. It rhymes ababcc. In this case the lines are iambic pentameter.
• I don't know the book, song, movie called: Prisoner of Hope. But those words I somehow knew and so I borrowed them.
• Lent 2026.
"THIS SCROLL TO EAT":
The words above are impalatable to my ears to mix a metaphor. (Poetry! A lil help!). But the idea is important. Both readings touch upon it.
"So I opened my mouth, and He gave me this scroll to eat." (Ezekiel 3:2, also Revelation 10:9, Jeremiah 1:9, 15:16, Psalm 119:103, Matthew 4:4, Proverbs 19:10, etc.). The idea is ubiquitous in Scripture.
We are told to eat the sweet and the sour, why? We need both Law and Gospel. The Bad News makes the Good News good. That is, the Law can only convict and condemn. The Gospel can forgive and give life. The Puritan ethos was to 'slay them with the Law and raise them with the Gospel.' It isn't what we think. They were severe as to the Law's demands but exquisitely tender with Gospel hope.
Why eat? The Word is likened to daily sustenance: "Wo/Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4). It is isn't a probiotic but a prospiriotic (that's a neologism or invented word). "For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12). That is some healing superfood (so take that you meanie-pants, carb-canceling, nutritionist zealot that I see...and appreciate ;). Yes, you can eat as much as you want.
Why eat and keep eating? "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16). Think of it?!?!?!? So thoroughly digested and richly absorbed that you can ""SING!"" it back out.
Why a clean plate? Because Mom and Cook (pun) and God know what's best for you. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the wo/man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16–17). And that is why we "did not shrink from [putting on your plate] the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27).
Do you need to eat more Word? Well, look in your Bible. See the underlining and highlighting? Well, that is the Jesus/Word that you know. What percentage is your Jesus? Do you need to eat more Word?
I hope you smiled with me; I'm getting slappy at the 30-day mark. Let us try to avoid John 21:25 overload or Acts 26:24 madness before this is all over. Look 'em up and grin.
The Only Best in/is Christ,
tIM