his fury

December 14, 2017

The salvation of Yahweh (Hab 3:12-3:13)

“In fury,

You trod the earth.

In anger,

You trampled nations.

You came forth

To save your people.

You came forth

To save your anointed.

You crushed

The head

Of the wicked house.

You laid it bare

From its foundation

To its roof.”

Selah

Yahweh in his fury and anger would trample the various countries on earth.  Yahweh was going to come forward to save his people and their anointed one, the king.  He was going to crush the head of the wicked house, destroying it completely from its foundations to its roof.  Yahweh would save his people and their king by destroying their enemies.  Once again, we have a meditative pause in this canticle with a Selah.

May 17, 2017

The filthy rust remained (Ezek 24:12-24:13)

“In vain,

I have wearied myself.

Its thick rust

Does not depart

By the fire.

Yet,

When I cleansed you

In your filthy lewdness,

You did not become clean

From your filth.

You shall not again

Be cleansed

Until I have satisfied

My fury

Upon you.”

Yahweh, via Ezekiel, was upset that the thick rust did not leave the pot, even with all the burning fire. Yahweh had tried to cleanse them of their filthy lewdness, but they did not come clean from this dirt. Yahweh then said that he was not going to clean them again until his fury was satisfied.

April 2, 2017

The three kinds of deadly punishment (Ezek 6:11-6:12)

“Thus says Yahweh God!

‘Clap your hands!

Stamp your foot!

Say!

Sadly!

Because of all

The vile abominations

Of the house of Israel!

They shall fall

By the sword,

By famine,

By pestilence.

Those far off

Shall die of pestilence.

Those nearby

Shall fall by the sword.

Anyone who is left

Or spared

Shall die of famine.

Thus I will spend

My fury

Upon them.’”

Yahweh told Ezekiel to clap his hands and stamp his foot. He was to speak about all the vile abominations of the house of Israel. They were going to suffer death three ways. They would either first fall by the sword. If not killed by the sword, they might die from famine or pestilence. Those far away would die from the pestilence. Those nearby would be killed by the sword. Otherwise, they would die of hunger from the famine. There was no mention of those living in captivity here. Yahweh was determined to show his fury among these Israelites.

February 23, 2017

Yahweh has become the enemy (Lam 2:4-2:4)

Daleth

“He has bent

His bow

Like an enemy.

His right hand

Is set

Like a foe.

He has killed all

In whom we took pride

In the tent

Of daughter Zion.

He has poured out

His fury

Like fire.”

Yahweh has become like an enemy of Israel. He bent his bow like an enemy archer about to release an arrow. His right hand was like an enemy warrior. He has killed all the important prideful people of Zion. He has poured out his fury like a raging fire. Yahweh was really mad. This verse starts with the Hebrew consonant letter Daleth. Each verse after this will use the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet in this acrostic poem.