Who shall I send?

Reflecting on Isaiah chapter 6

Haiku for trembling

In the sixth chapter

of his book, Isaiah tells

how it all began.

A vision of God

on a throne, lofty; his hem

filling the temple.

Seraphs attending:

six wings. Covering faces,

feet; two wings flying.

Calling each other,

Holy holy holy; Earth

fills with God's glory.

The seraphs' voices

shook the temple; it is filled

with smoke and wonder.

Woe is me, I'm lost,

my lips are unclean, I dwell

among the unclean!

A seraph flew near

with a coal from the altar,

touched my mouth with it.

The Lord's voice cried out;

Who shall I send, who will go?

Here I am, send me!

Go and say to them.

Keep hearing: understanding

will not come to you.

You won't comprehend,

or turn to be healed, until

your land lies in ruin.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Solomon prays

Haiku for a dedication

Solomon offers

his prayer of dedication

having built God’s house.

Before God’s altar

in the presence of Israel,

the King spread his hands.

There is none like you,

Lord, in heaven or on earth;

keeping your promise.

You told my father,

David, that his successors

would sit on his throne.

God, you dwell on earth

by grace; we don’t imagine

this house contains you.

Hear my prayer, O Lord,

watch over this house, hear us;

listen and forgive.

When foreigners come

and offer prayers in this place,

listen to them, too.

All people of earth

shall know your name and fear you,

coming here to pray.

© Ken Rookes 2024

I make you a house

Haiku for building

The Lord gave him rest

from his enemies; David,

at last, dwells in peace.

The Ark of God stays

in a tent, he tells prophet

Nathan. It’s not right.

I shall build a house

as a dwelling place for God.

Do it! says Nathan.

Nathan has a dream.

God says, tell David I have

not asked for a house.

From Egypt travels

to now, I journeyed with my

people in a tent.

You were a shepherd;

I took you from minding sheep

and made you a king.

You shall reign in peace,

Israel shall put down roots;

they shall be secure.

I make you a house.

It shall be great; your offspring

will rule after you.

You will have a son.

I will make his kingdom great;

he will build my house.

© Ken Rookes 2024

Who will go for us?

Haiku for a calling.

A wondrous vision,

surprising, of God’s glory,

there, in the temple.

Isaiah sees God

high, upon God’s lofty throne,

seraphs attending.

Six wings per seraph,

two shielding face, two the feet,

and two giving flight.

The seraphs call; ‘Holy

to the Lord of hosts; the earth

fills with God’s glory!

The building shakes, filled

with incense smoke. Isaiah,

trembling, cries in fear.

Woe is me; I’m lost!

Sinfulness overwhelms me,

yet I have seen God!

A seraph flies down

with a coal from the altar,

touched it to his lips.

This has touched your lips

Your guilt is taken away,

your sin blotted out.

The Lord’s voice calls out:

Whom shall I send? He answers

Here am I; send me!

© Ken Rookes 2024

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.

© Ken Rookes 2024

Building a house

 

Haiku for a dwelling

David the monarch,

living in peace, thinks to build

a house for the Lord..

Nathan, the prophet,

agrees; goes home, has a dream

causing a rethink.

Nathan tells David,

since I set my poeople free,

I’ve not had a house.

Have I ever asked

Israel’s leaders to build me

a house of cedar?

You were a shepherd;

I took you from the pasture

to rule my people.

I have been with you.

Your ememies are beaten;

I’ll make your name great.

They will dwell in peace,

planted in the place that I

have appointed them.

God makes you a house!

Your kingdom lasts for ever;

your throne is secured.

© Ken Rookes 2023

Walk in God's light

Haiku of peaceful hope

The days are coming

when the nations will stream to

the house of the Lord.

Many peoples come,

saying, let’s seek Jacob’s God,

so to learn God’s ways.

They will say, Come, now,

We will learn the ways of God,

walk upon God’s paths.

From Zion, God’s word

comes forth, to instruct and guide

and show us God’s way.

God shall judge between

the nations, and determine

what is fair and just.

They shall beat their swords

and spears on anvils, into

ploughs and pruning hooks.

No more shall they learn

warfare; nations will not fight

or lift up their swords.

God’s light shines on all;

come, house of Jacob, let’s walk

in the light of God.

© Ken Rookes 2022

The future glory

Haiku of splendour

Very specific;

the date of the prophecy.

Must be important

Haggai, the prophet

brings the long awaited word

of restoration.

Does anyone here

remember the great glory

that was the temple?

People, take courage,

the Lord fulfils the promise

made at your release.

My spirit is here

among you; there is no need

for any to fear.

It’s time for shaking;

heaven and earth, sea and land,

and the nations too.

The nations shall come

bringing all of their treasure

as homage to God

Creation’s glory,

all the silver, all the gold,

belongs to the Lord.

The temple’s splendour

in the past was great; it shall

be even greater.

© Ken Rookes 2022