Hear and Tremble

To err and to be human—not the same…

For I was made to glorify the Lord

By loving and by counting on His name,

Heeding His voice and trembling at His word.

What—you suggest a cosmos came to be

Without a Maker? With no grand design?

That chaos brought about complexity?

That nothing birthed a world so vast and fine?

The One who made me owns a ruler’s rights,

Yet took the pains His wisdom to express

And even stooped to earth from Heaven’s heights

To earn for me a saving righteousness!

How can I shame Him then, who loved me so—

Ignore one single word that He has said?

Can I be false—my faith not but a show

When only by His words daily I’m fed?

Does my obedience suit my own desire

With mere convenience sovereign over all?

Or is true, loving gratitude a fire

That drives my soul to heed His voice’s call?

I fear displeasure in the ones I love

And those who hold my wages in their hand—

I tremble if to judges I must prove

My innocence of flouting some command…

And conscience plagues if elders are distressed

At mischiefs done with no intent to wound;

Should I not fear to wound the One who best

Embodies all respects on earth I’ve found?

My Lord—the loved, and Lover of my soul

Who holds rewards of grace which never fade…

The Judge whose mercy swallowed justice whole

Because a debt of wrath had to be paid…

Each word, each syllable, each dot and stroke,

Each saying from His lips I shall obey,

Though scoffers sneer and learned jesters joke;

All will tremble at His word that final Day.