[299]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE WORLD IMITATES THE FOREST IN DROUGHT
This poem is a comparison. The first 5 stanzas describe trees affected by a long, dry spell, and the remainder of the poem transfers those conditions to a sinful world suffering a spiritual drought.
Sometimes I like to walk in rainforest much more more in the past, not really so much now, and I’d ascend to about 1 300 feet on a rough track. When this poem was written, we had a dry period and the heat was starting to come in. The leaves were hanging listlessly and it was so still on this morning when I went for that walk.
Of course a forest in drought is one thing but a world in drought is another. The spiritual condition of the world is pathetic. There is hardly any witness for Christ in Russia, North Korea, Japan and others we could select. Even in nations where some are Christians such as China (about 7%, far more than Australia – 1%) there is still such spiritual drought.
One line says this – “My nation languishes in barrenness;” and that is very sad because my nation is so pagan and godless. You can “feel” it and I believe that a Christian can feel an oppression when in the company of godlessness. It seems like a descending heaviness. That idea is mentioned in the poem.
The children of God must take comfort from the Lord’s presence because a saved child of the Lord is never abandoned. {{Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have, for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?”}}
The last stanza mentions mercies in the morning. That is the sense of this passage – {{Lamentations 3:22-23 “The LORD’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.”}}
Droughts never last and the rains will come. This world in drought will one day be in the Lord’s Kingdom when He returns at the Second Coming. Then all will be excellent such as we read in Isaiah 11.
God keeps His children in the spiritual droughts in their nations!
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THE WORLD IMITATES THE FOREST IN DROUGHT
The leaves are falling freely from the trees;
Crinkled and burnt, curled and brown.
The yellow orange covering around,
Clearly has come from the leaves fallen down.
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The trees are hanging limp, and seem as posts;
Lifeless looking in the tropical sun.
This forest is tired with trees like ghosts,
Like exhausted runners whose race is run.
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The forest is still; the hot air is still.
Not a faint murmuring sound can be heard:
The stillness of silence, minus a trill;
No songful melody from any bird.
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The place is in drought and I walk about.
What is see and what I feel is dismay.
This once green sky dome is drooping in drought -
Pitiful and languishing, the display.
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Like lengthy shards, the branches are tilting.
Leaves point downwards to the sad, mournful earth.
Hope has faded away; leaves are wilting;
Forgotten, the joy of their pristine birth.
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What is physical can also apply
To earth’s nations’ fading morality.
Decency in our lands has withered dry,
Lost in the drought of stark depravity.
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Like a forest of drought-affected leaves,
Spiritual life has faded in death.
Hot winds of hate have gathered in sheaves
Upon all the earth, those souls who draw breath.
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My nation languishes in barrenness;
Its drive and purpose melt in godless stench.
Like mournful forests is the rottenness
That seeks this world in filthiness, to drench.
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Children of God can feel the dreadfulness
Of persecution, in a barren land.
Though faith is attacked, they’re not comfortless.
They know full well God does understand.
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Godless drought may cause a depleted walk
Through heaviness, in burning heat and thirst.
Note that moisture is retained in a stalk,
In absolutely all things, God comes first.
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Mercies are renewed in love each morning,
Where God sustains His own through hardest times.
Seek Him daily for strength in sin’s dawning,
For spiritual drought, each day it climbs.
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30 October 2021 R E Ferguson A-B-A-B
Metre = 10 throughout