Poems on Beauty

PART 2 ~An Eternal Purpose to what is Passing

(set to "The Lilies" ; A Song of Love)

"My heart is overflowing with a good theme
I recite my composition concerning the King:
'In Your majesty, ride forth prosperously
Because of truth, righteousness, and humility'

'I'm not sick or a stranger
For Creation is still but not silent
My mind is free and not a danger
To need an insane asylum

I will give praise and thanks to You
For every season You give me
Though to eternity, they are few
And endure for the momentary

Will I sneer at the flowers
Only because they last a day?
Because the 2nd law invokes its powers
Making strength and beauty to fade?

When I look on earth's mighty forests
Like proud champions that've withstood all weathers
Should I reject their present chorus
Because, of course, they will not stand forever?

Refuse the mountain height so lofty
Denying its long and mighty range
To turn from the expanse of the valley
Because time and hands will bring it change?

Shall I turn a blind eye and despise these seasons?
For to their existence, surely there is a reason
Though by sin, nothing will stand for eternity
Surely, there is praise to be given in the momentary

Aye, they may not last
And all things must come to pass
We dare not hold on to what is unsure
A lasting embrace only to what endures

How I wish I could grasp what I say
That I could have all understanding to explain
Why He has let us be born into all that is fleeting
If not to declare His goodness and find Him pleasing

Clearly He has a purpose
To what lasts but a day
His works are wondrous
And they He will not forsake

Surely He does not despise
Even the smallest sparrow
But has willed that His goodness
Be seen now and not tomorrow

I watch as He shakes His mountain
And puts forth the wind and flames
Ans to prove He is the Fountain
In a still voice He speaks my name

I know that God alone endures
Yet blindness is not the destiny to live
He would have our hearts be pure
That we may see Him for who He truly is

He has not only revealed Himself
Through wisdom's words and wealth
But has set Creation as a sign
For us to not be in ignorance blind

The earth declares His praise
And the heavens, His glory
Declaring it good, all that He made
From the beginning of His story

He determined reality to not be
Held solely to ideas and the unseen
But rather made way for us to taste and see
His goodness and lovingkindness in the land of the living

Indeed, He has given the truth
And put it into more than just words
It is not far to seek, or hidden and aloof
But He has revealed and your heart has heard

Surely, it is in the multitude of Your mercies
You established the proof of Your love
In order to accomplish redemption's turning
You gave us the way, the truth, and the life
In the form of flesh and blood

Impossible to complete His praises
And there is no end to the study
To record all His wondrous ways and
Acts, there is still much for discovery

So to all this, let us hear the end of the matter:
To everything there is a season
Though fallen, yet remains the Divine reason

He has destined us mortals, from one generation to the next
To speak the might of His awesome acts
To meditate on His splendor and His works so wondrous
Declaring His greatness and the memory of His goodness

"All Your works shall praise You, O Lord
And Your saints shall bless You
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom
(Of Zion, the perfection of beauty)
And talk of Your power
To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts
And the glorious majesty of Your kingdom"

"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever
And with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations"

Surely, I will walk in the steps of my Creator
And imitate all that I see in God my Father
For though Creation will not be forever
Yet still He does not forsake but finds pleasure

Listen, O prince's daughter
Consider and incline your ear
Forget the house of your father
And to your Beloved draw near
For the King desires your beauty
Because He is your Lord, worship Him

"I am a royal daughter in robes of many colors
I have been made all glorious within His palace
Oh that You were like my brothers
Then I would kiss you; causing you to drink from my chalice

Woven gold is my clothing
The virgins, my companions following
All shall be brought before Him
With great gladness and rejoicing"

Therefore, because He delights, I will delight
I will delight because of Him'