Who finds me guilty

Reflecting on Isaiah 50

Haiku of vindication

I am called to teach,

to bring words to encourage

those who are weary

.

Every morning

God wakes me, opens my ear

to teach me his way.

I listened to God,

I did not rebel or turn

away from the Lord.

Enemies struck me;

I took their blows, accepting

cruel punishment.

They tore at my beard,

I hid not my face from them;

their spitting insults.

I am not disgraced,

I have set my face like flint;

The Lord God helps me.

God vindicates me

and God is near; no one dares

to contend with me!

Who challenges me?

Bring them on! The Lord helps me;

who finds me guilty?

Ken Rookes © 2025

And your land, Married.

 

Isaiah 62:1-5

Haiku of vindication

Claiming the True God

as their own, Israel feels shame

at so much failure.

The chosen people

are to be restored, after

their years of disgrace.

Their restoration

is hardly a reward, but

rather comes from grace.

God makes promises:

Zion's vindication will

be seen by nations.

A crown of beauty

and a royal diadem

in the hand of God.

Desolate no more,

nor forsaken; the nation

becomes God's delight.

Call the land “Married.”

God is joined to God's people

in deep commitment.

A bridegroom takes joy

in his bride; so God takes joy

in Zion's children.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Sorry I spoke, God.

Haiku of vindication

Overwhelmed by God’s

magnificence, Job is forced

to humbly concede.

Compared to you, God,

I am an ignorant fool,

I’m sorry I spoke.

How can I question

your ways, O God? My knowledge

can’t compare with yours.

I had only heard

of you; now, having seen you,

I am mortified.

The story concludes

as Job’s fortunes are restored;

a happy ending!

The bit we missed.

After Job’s response

God agreed against Job’s friends;

Job had spoken truth.

Vindicated! Job

did not deserve to suffer;

he’d done nothing wrong.

A protest story:

Just because you’re suffering

doesn’t mean you’re bad.

Among the lessons

of this story: it’s okay

to argue with God.

© Ken Rookes 2024

A renewed people

 Haiku of promise

Prophet Isaiah

brings words of consolation,

hope for his people.

The days of sorrow

and suffering, they will pass;

rejoicing follows.

God is generous:

gives garments of salvation

robes of righteousness.

They spring up like shoots

in God’s abundant garden:

righeousness and praise.

The prophet cries out,

unable to keep silent

at God’s salvation.

Before the nations

Zion stands vindicated,

shining like the dawn.

There for the nations

to witness; God’s salvation,

like a burning torch!

A renewed people

warrant a new name; The Lord

will spread it abroad.

God’s faithful people,

a lovely crown, a royal

diadem for God.

© Ken Rookes 2023

I stood and took it

Haiku of vindication

The Lord God gave me

a teacher’s tongue, to speak words

to bless the weary.

Every morning

God wakes me, opens my ear

to learn the Lord’s ways.

I obey the Lord,

never turning back, always

looking towards God.

When they struck me, spat

upon me and pulled my beard,

I stood and took it.

The Lord is my strength,

I have set my face like flint,

I will not be shamed.

God vindicates me,

who will accuse me? Come on,

I’m ready for you!

God is my helper.

My accusers are nothing;

like moth-worn garments.

© Ken Rookes 2023

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