[327]. Poem - Victory Through Sorrow’s Deep Sea – Easter Poem – Part 2

[327]. POEM - VICTORY THROUGH SORROW’S DEEP SEA – EASTER POEM – PART 2

SPECIAL NOTE – This poem is too long for SermonCentral’s limited space for Sermon Illustrations, so I have had to cut it in half but don’t really want to do that. THIS IS PART 2. The events are in consecutive order so Part 1 is important.

This is a serious poem. It covers the time from the Garden of Gethsemane through to the crucifixion. It is a poem of 900 words and is divided into 6 groups of 5 stanzas each except for the last group of 4 stanzas..

HOW I USED THE POEM

This poem was used for an Easter sermon I gave. Because our church group is small I printed out the poem for people so that they could follow as I read and spoke. I read the first 5 stanzas, then spoke on the substance of them. Then moved to the next 5 and so on. That became the message.

The title of victory through sorrow is exactly what the Lord endured for sin. He passed through the sorrowful sea to the glorious joy beyond. It is sometimes the journey His own children have to make, more and more these days as Christians face courts and persecution for “hate speech” when they defend the bible’s teachings.

Just this morning I listened to an account of a lovely Finnish Christian lady who was convicted by the Supreme Court of Finland for a book she wrote called “Male and Female God Created Them”. Americans ought to be thankful that your founding fathers wrote FREEDOM OF SPEECH into your your Constitution. Australia does not have that, and now the new hate laws here from a Marxist, Israel-hating Government are being used against Christians. Here is the link if you want to see what is happening with this Finnish, Christian member of Parliament:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhEI5gZt_pQ

The poem draws heavily on the prophetic passages of the Old Testament for the Lord’s sufferings, namely Psalm 22, Psalm 69 and Isaiah 52 and 53. Also the New Testament passages for the betrayal night and the crucifixion are used.

I don’t think there is anything more to say. The poem speaks for itself.

{{Isaiah 53:6-7 “All of us like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb that is led to slaughter and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.”}}

{{Psalm 69:14-15 “Deliver me from the mire, and do not let me sink. May I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters. May the flood of water not overflow me and may the deep not swallow me up and may the pit not shut its mouth on me.}}

{{Psalm 22:13-16 “They open wide their mouth at me, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted within me. Dogs have surrounded me. A band of evildoers has encompassed me. They pierced my hands and my feet.”}}

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VICTORY THROUGH SORROW’S DEEP SEA – EASTER POEM – PART 2

“Loneliness I know in rejection;

My Person and message debased.

They scorn Me with absent affection.”

The enemy’s cause they embraced.

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“They all raised their voices against Me.”

They shouted with the devil’s voice.

Their bitterness was their enmity.

See how terrible was their choice.

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“A Man of sorrows, that’s what I’m called.

Grief hangs around Me like a veil.

Those who see Me, see with eyes appalled,

And the mockers against Me rail.”

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“Roman soldiers pierced My hands and feet.

My bones were strained, but broken not.

With mocking stares, My Person they greet.

Be near Me for trouble is hot.”

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“In the place of no standing, I sink; Stanza 20

Forsaken by God, I’m alone.

They give Me vinegar for My drink.

My title, My grief, they disown.”

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“Your waves and billows over Me pass.

I am weary with My crying.

I am surrounded by walls of brass

In the hollows of the dying.”

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“Let Me not be swallowed by the deep.

Dishonour has covered My face;

And what I did not sow, that I reap.

They gave Me gall for my food in My case.”

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“My clothes became the sackcloth of shame.”

The drunkards’ song His death inspired.

Gate-dwellers gossiped about His Name.

“We rejoice,” say those who conspired.

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“Answer Me for I am in distress.

Hide not Your face from Your Servant.”

The enemies’ mockings are ceaseless.

Their vile desires are fervent.

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Where were the sympathisers? Not one. Stanza 25

“By reproach My heart is broken.”

The vile crucifixion deed was done;

Not a comforting word spoken.

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“The flood overflows. I sink in mire.”

He had no foothold in that dread.

“Answer Me, My God, this My desire.”

The scene of death before Him spread.

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“Draw near to My soul to redeem it.

Known to You, My reproach and shame.

My enemies, before You they sit.”

Yes, Lamb of God, You bear man’s blame.

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“My God, My God, forsaken I am.”

He cried in both the dark and light.

Silent, God was, when suffered the Lamb;

You answered not in His dark night.

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We esteemed Him not, the One despised;

From Him, hidden are our faces;

The Man of sorrows whom we misprized;

His love, our hardness replaces.

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He was pierced through for our transgressions; Stanza 30

For our iniquities was crushed.

He encountered all men’s oppressions.

We scorned, when we ought to have blushed.

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Lamb of God, this One at the slaughter;

The silent Sheep that did not speak -

Hear His cry, “I thirst.” Give Him water;

The bruised Servant, lowly and meek.

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Cut off from the land of the living;

With wicked men He shared His grave.

At Calvary, He was forgiving;

Redemption now, to fully save save.

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The Lamb of God was our sacrifice.

For my sins, on the cross He died.

His victory rang through Paradise!

We love Him, the One crucified.

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Through Calvary on Golgotha’s hill;

Through scourging and mocking disgrace,

The Lord through death won the battle’s prize!

Vict’ry through sorrow’s sea, embrace!

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23-26 July 2020 Ronald Ferguson 9-8-9-8 ABAB