Not getting away with it

Haiku reminding us that even kings are not meant to be above the law.

With Uriah dead

Bathsheba mourned for him, then

moved in with David.

Bathsheba married

David, gave birth to a son.

God was not impressed.

Nathan, the prophet

shows up, and tells a story;

more a parable.

Two men, rich and poor.

Poor man has a much loved lamb;

the rich man takes it.

David is angry.

That rich man deserves to die!

He had no pity!

You’re the man, David!

God’s given you ev’rything,

you have done evil!

You had Uriah

killed, you took his wife as yours.

The Lord has judged you.

The sword will not leave

your house; you have despised me

in your wicked deeds.

From within your house,

strife; your wives will be taken

where all can witness.

You sinned in secret,

but your shame will be exposed

before all the land.

I have sinned! David

declares. Yes, but you won’t die;

God has let it go.

© Ken Rookes 2024

Listening and Telling

 

The first part of this sequence of haiku was published in January. I have reprinted it here, along with the second part published now. Together they tell the whole story of the boy Samuel’s encounter with God

Here I am

Haiku for a call

There, in the Temple

at Shiloh, boy Samuel

served under Eli.

For many years now

God has been silent. No word,

no visions, either.

Samuel, resting

in the temple, with the ark

of God, heard a voice.

Samuel! The voice

called twice. Here I am, he said,

and ran to Eli.

I did not call you,

said Eli. Lie down again.

This happened three times.

Eli realised

that ‘twas God calling the boy;

told Sam what to say.

The Lord came once more,

calling, Samuel! The boy

said, Speak, I’m list’ning..

When you’re just a kid

it must be daunting when God

calls you by your name.

Listening and telling

Haiku of punishment

Now he knows the rules

boy Samuel is able

to listen to God.

Bad news for Eli;

the corruption of his sons

has not gone unseen.

Punishment is nigh

for Eli’s house; there’s no way

he can avoid it.

Samuel’s anxious,

tries to keep it to himself,

doesn’t tell Eli.

Eli’s insistent.

What did the Lord say to you?

Hide nothing from me.

Samuel told all.

Fair enough, said Eli. God

will do what he must.

No point pretending,

Your deeds will catch up to you,

eventually.

© Ken Rookes 2024

Punishment

 

Haiku to be avoided

A fallen woman

personifies the city;

weeping, abandoned.

She's been unfaithful

to God, and all her lovers

have abandoned her.

She was exalted,

a princess; now she's become

but a bond-servant.

The roads to Zion

mourn, streets are empty, no one

attends festivals.

Grieving and groaning;

she is a desolation.

Her lot is bitter.

Enemies prosper,

the suff'ring is great: even

her children are gone.

For her many sins

Judah is left desolate;

punishment from God.

There appears no hope

in images of despair.

For that we must wait.

© Ken Rookes 2022

Nobody listens

Haiku of desolation

Desolate pictures

of a land laid waste. We watch

as it is fulfilled.

A hot northerly

is bearing down upon us;

it does not relent.

Like stupid children

not knowing what is right; my

people do evil.

The earth is wasted,

and the skies bring no light; all

the birds have flown off.

What had been fruitful

will be desert, and cities

will be laid in ruins.

It won't be the end,

but the punishment must hold;

God's mind won't be changed

Nobody listens

to the voice of the prophets;

much to demanding.

© Ken Rookes 2022 

Unproductive vines

 Haiku of failed privilege

A model vineyard.

Fertile, cleared of stones, wine-vat;

all ready to go.

Planted with choice vines,

the vintage is guaranteed!

But the grapes are wild.

What more, questions God,

could I have done for my vineyard?

I shall destroy it!

It shall be devoured,

broken down, trampled; given

over to the thorns.

An allegory!

The vineyard is Israel

and Judah’s people.

God looked for justice,

from his privileged people;

saw only bloodshed

Seeking righteousness,

God heard only anguished cries

from those cast aside.

We, who are priv'leged,

do we build justice, truth, hope;

are we serving love?

© Ken Rookes 2022

Unrequited

Haiku of failure

Unrequited love;

God’s for Israel. Little

wonder that God weeps.

Prophet Hosea

brings the word of God’s anguish

along with judgement.

They went their own way,

ignoring the call of God

for justice and truth.

Profound love imaged

in the tender embracing

of parent with child.

This is a strange God,

feeling rejection; needy

and so capricious!

The anger; is it

because of faithlessness, or

the failure to love?

God’s recoiling heart,

refusing harsh punishment;

the power of love.

Judgement is forestalled!

The God of second-chances,

the God we worship.

Return, O people!

God who balances justice

with mercy awaits.

© Ken Rookes 2022 

Fruits of iniquity

Haiku of shame

Amos; more judgement.

The fruits of iniquity

reveal rottenness.

Contemporary.

The rich trample the needy,

the poor are ruined.

Fundamentalists

who say they love the scriptures

ignore these verses.

Wait ‘til Sunday’s past

to get back to the business

of cheating the poor.

Buying the needy

for the price of sandals, and

the poor for silver.

Justify your greed;

decry the poor as lazy,

unblessed, unworthy.

Convince the needy

that you know what’s best for them;

they might vote for you!

The sky will be dark;

your songs will become laments

of bitter sorrow

A famine descends,

not of bread or of water,

but of hearing God.

It is upon us,

this famine of God’s good word.

Just a few will hear.

© Ken Rookes 2022

Plumb lines

Haiku for measuring up.

Plumb lines, measuring

that which is true, right and straight.

Ancient, effective.

The wall is built true.

The Lord holds a plumb line. What

do you see, Amos?

Is Israel true,

how does the land measure up

to its high calling?

They are found wanting,

Israel, chosen of God.

Judgement is severe.

Those who have received,

much is expected of them.

They, too, will be judged.

The question disturbs.

How well do I measure up,

how faithful am I?

The response:

Go away, Amos!

Your words are not welcome here.

Prophesy elsewhere!

Amos answers:

I am no prophet,

never asked for the job. God

has done this to me!

You say: Go away!

But yours are not words from God,

and you stand condemned.

© Ken Rookes 2022

A final kingdom image

Haiku for ruminants

Matthew delivers

a final kingdom image:

sheep, goats and judgement.

The sheep receive praise,

commendation for their acts

of love and service.

Hungry or thirsty,

naked, stranger, in prison;

so many need help!

So much injustice,

while those who pretend to care

only want power.

As you act with love

to the least of my fam’ly

you show love to me.

On the other hand,

the goats stand condemned, having

failed to practise love.

Jesus, Son of Man,

measures kingdom credentials

by love and service.

© Ken Rookes 2020

When the harvest comes

Haiku for judging

The kingdom of God,

what is it like? A story

agricultural.

An enemy comes

by night, sows weeds with the wheat,

and then goes away

Good mixed with the bad,

how quick we are to rush in;

how quickly we judge.

Growing together,

weeds and wheat: strange companions,

until the harvest.

Take time, seek the fruits;

these alone will determine

what is good and bad.

Jesus sows the seeds,

the children of the kingdom

produce righteous fruit.

Judgement is waiting

for the children of darkness

at the age’s end.

The righteous will shine

like the sun in God’s kingdom.

Do not wait to shine.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Innocent

Haiku for contemplating death

A tree, when cut down

still has hope that it might sprout,

and send forth new shoots.

When mortal life ends

there can be no returning.

The line has been ruled.

Images of death.

A lake might lose its water:

a river dries up.

Let me be hidden

among the dead in Sheol;

I long for release.

My words of complaint;

someone write them in a book,

lest they be forgot.

My vindication

awaits me. I shall see God

when my time has come.

There must be someone,

among heaven’s hosts, who knows

I am innocent.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Posted in response to the Narrative lectionary for the third Sunday after Pentecost

Of all his stories

Haiku for a servant people

Imagination

is engaged less by constructs

than by parables.

He told his stories;

cunning, sneaking up on us,

causing us to think.

Many parables

cause us to squirm. Banish them;

choose other verses.

His stories trouble.

This one disturbs more than most;

gives no place to hide.

Unavoidable!

The king, (Jesus), expects us

to care for others!

Naked, in prison,

hungry, homeless or stranger;

we must show them love.

The neighbour in need

is an opportunity

to love your master.

Make no excuses.

We will be judged by our deeds;

by how we have loved.

© Ken Rookes 2017

Fig tree fruits

If you repent,
the much-loved doctrine declares,
you will be forgiven.
A simple-enough transaction,
with the reception of forgiveness transmuted,
by divine alchemy, into the golden currency
of paradisiacal admittance.

With much tears and wailing, repentance is enacted,
souls are pronounced saved,
and heaven’s host, we are told, prepares another room.

But what if repentance is no mere turning point,
arrived at once and finally?
What if it is an attitude that grows, develops,
and manifests itself in actions;
many and uncounted, small and large;
with an impetus towards sharing and justice
and generosity and peace?
And what if the second chance grace
is all about such fruitfulness?

Fig tree fruits from plants worth their place
in the garden.

© Ken Rookes 2013