Christian poem 'THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL' by Lionel Ledbetter (Christart.com)

THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL
by Lionel Ledbetter

God decreed a covenant; a covenant of works,
on Sinai He gave it to man:
Obey the Law, from it righteousness draw,
- be saved by it if you can.

We labored and cried, and from it we tried,
to earn our favor with God.
We strained and strived, in failure we sighed,
- and felt the disfavor of His rod.

After many years through sorrow and tears,
we discovered our nature too foul.
Our confidence gone, we moved out alone,
- ran to an idol named Baal.

He too, was severe, filled us with fear;
demanded our children to take.
This was for naught, no righteousness it brought,
- so him, we too, did forsake.

On return to our land, we dealt with a man,
many people worship as Deity.
He taught mercy and grace; withstood us to face,
- was nailed to a Roman tree.

After the dispersion of all, denying Adam's fall,
our leaders placed our trust in man.
Utopia to build, by the strength of our will,
- find satisfaction in life as we can.

Doomed to fail, we helped make a Humanist hell,
with torture as never before.
Workers paradise gone, its doctrine all wrong,
- salvation's not there anymore.

Some men claim, to our 'perceived' shame,
that Messiah was the one crucified.
But, they're common folk, without credentials of note,
- and are quiet easily stupefied.

Surely we, the learned, can readily discern,
by reasoned, scholarly analysee.
We're not easily fooled, as a general rule,
- and we have an historic pedigree.

Yet, if Abraham's promised seed, was singular indeed,
reason demands Messiah be so too.
Then, our Zionist claim, to National Messianic fame,
- is just another fanciful bugaboo.

Should we look anew at him whom we slew,
determine if his claims could have merit:
The Prophets shed light on a Messiah in type;
- shall we see if the scriptures declare it?

In the Genesis of old, a wonderful story is told,
of a singular birth - miraculous.
The woman's seed (Virgo), a virgin shall conceive,
- calling him Immanuel (God with us)

Did Adam's fig leaf portray his work in brief;
the attempt, his sinfulness to cover:
While the 'blood sacrificed skin', atoned the sin;
- covering it rightly all over?

Cain's works of his will, 'the best from his field,'
could not win him God's favor.
Was Abel's sacrifice, a 'type' of Christ?s strife,
- to God, a sweet smelling savor?

The 'provided' Ram, replacing the damned;
Abraham saw this parallel.
Did Christ, sacrifice give, for sinners to live,
- sparing them a deserved hell?

Hosea redeemed, a shameful, unfaithful thing,
paying the price that was due.
Gomer, prisoner of sin - Hosea, her freedom to win;
- is this what Christ came to do?

Joseph, you know - with the colorful clothes,
was wrongly abused by his brethren.
But, the pain he went through, though they never knew,
- resulted in their natural salvation.

Is, "When I see blood, I'll pass over you", Metaphoric too:
is this, Christ's passion being shown?
The Egyptians paid the price, with a useless sacrifice;
- they had no savior to atone.

Of the bones in the valley, lets make a short tally;
did the wind bring life - or prophesying?
They used not their will, in that lifeless field;
- it was the Spirit's own devising.

The blood of the sacrificial Goat, - Israel's great hope,
seems (spotless) a "sign" of perfection.
The ancients shed light on a Redeemer of might,
- bestowing a sinless connection!

Does the Christian life, 'typed' in Israel's Sinai strife;
show Moses to be Christ's shadow?
He led them well, made intercession when they fell,
- brought them to Canaan's bright meadow.

Could extremities in the past, of Israel be cast,
to reveal a new covenant future:
Where wisdom and light, come not by natural sight,
- but are granted by Spiritual nurture?

If Christ was a King, being predestined to reign,
over an eternal kingdom -
It couldn't be carnal, for that's not eternal,
- but a Spiritual one, say some.

My confusion is great, as is all Israel's of late,
while we wonder in great exasperation.
Oh, where is our peace, when shall the warfare cease,
- oh, God where is our consolation?

Isaiah 7:14
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name 'Immanuel'(God with us)

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