Seventy Times Seven

Judgment and forgiveness in weeks of years contained...

Love combined with justice...rejection and pursuit...

God's prophetic pages with godly tears are stained,

Wept to wet a garden full of immortal fruit.

Seventy times seven, since Ephraim returned

To a land now rested from stolen Sabbaths all...

Seventy times seven, save one, since Christ was spurned,

One dread final "seven" awaits the Master's call.

At His joyful entry the nation could have knelt:

Childlike folk acclaimed Him while fathers turned aside...

Vast angelic wonder: His prayer when death was dealt!

"Father, please forgive them. They're blinded by their pride."

Seventy times seven, a pattern Jesus set

For a true disciple by world or brother hurt...

Seventy times seven: we have not suffered yet

As our Savior suffered; His way we can't desert.

Likely hailed and hated through our three-score and ten.

Our supreme Forgiver, His strength cut off halfway,

Grants renewal, redemption, raised up with Him again...

Present both in sufferings and in the debts we pay.

Seventy times seven, to thankful, godly hearts,

Seems no cost for patience, no pain for perfect love.

Seventy times seven. Among all human arts,

Glad forgiveness pictures the grace of life above.

MNA

1993(?)