That I Might Know His Might

I do not know the power of prayer,
Though I’ve heard stories told,
And never run to the hour of prayer—
More often seconds cold.

But I, by your great mercy,
Will come into your house;
In reverence will I bow down

Toward your holy temple. Psalm 5:7

I seek to do your will,
To know your word, to hear your voice—
For sin is perched to spring and kill—
And you provide a choice.

In my Anguish I cried to the Lord,
And he answered by setting me free.
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me? Psalm 118:5-6

But my anguish persisted,
My sin carried on.
My God I resisted—
And depended on.

I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
But the LORD helped me.
The LORD is my Strength and my song;
He has become my salvation. Psalm 118:13-14

Salvation eternal—
At once I’m set free;
But damn this infernal
Rebellion in me!

How can a young man
Keep his way pure?
By guarding it
According to your word. Psalm 119:9

And guard it I shall
By your strength, and that only,
With power endowed
From on high to the lowly.

Depart from me
You evildoers,
That I may keep
The commandments of my God. Psalm 119:115

I did not know the power of prayer,
Nor even the might of your word,
But discovered it, as through trial and error
You spoke and made yourself heard.

On the Shoulders of Giants

Where, O History, is your friend?
Tumbling backwards like fools we pretend
Our ideas are our own and too our success—

So progress is sacrificed at the altar of progress.
Illiterate children instruct in the classroom.

Let him who is without sin tear down the first statue.