ALL thoughtful at the close of day,
As Judah’s captive Prophet lay
By Chebar’s rapid tide;
Transported to his native land,
Jehovah’s Angel seemed to stand
In vision at his side.
Far as he cast his eyes around,
The bones of men covering the ground,
It seemed as white as snow;
For dry and blanched by sun and rain,
They seemed the bones of armies slain
Full many an age ago.
“Can these bones live?” the Angel cries;
The Prophet, much amazed, replies,
“Lord, thou alone dost know.”
“Then go,” the Angel says again,
“And preach to these dead bones of men;
‘Tis God commands thee, go.
“And know, O man, thy God can give
Life to the dead and make them live
To praise his mighty power.
For hopeless tho’ they seemed before,
His quickening spirit can restore
Their vigour in an hour.”
Doubtful at first, the Seer obeys,
And “Live, ye bones, live, live!” he says,
“And hear Jehovah’s word.
Spirit of life, reanimate
Their withered, dead and hopeless state,
That they may praise the Lord!”
Soon as the Prophet lifts his voice,
Sudden he hears a rustling noise
Around him on the plain.
The bones unite! and lo! they rise
In flesh and blood before his eyes,
A host of living men!
Thus, wheresoe’er, O Lord, we go
To preach thy Gospel here below,
The ground whereon we tread
Only presents a numerous band
Of sinners in each guilty land
As hopeless and as dead!
Mere human power can ne’er revive,
Or spirit, health and vigour give
To these dry bones, O Lord!
But still we know thy power can make
The dead to hear and to awake;
And still we preach thy word!
Lord, send thy spirit from on high!
That while we preach salvation nigh,
The dead in sin may hear,
And to new life arising stand
A numerous and a holy band,
Accomplished in thy fear!
(John Dunmore Lang)
More Poetry from John Dunmore Lang:
John Dunmore Lang Poems based on Topics: God, Man, Power, Life, Sin, Cry, Fear, Angels, Snow, Age, Prophets & Prophecies- The King And The Abbot. (John Dunmore Lang Poems)
- My Dream. (John Dunmore Lang Poems)
- Ode To Glasgow College (John Dunmore Lang Poems)
- Verses - III (John Dunmore Lang Poems)
- The Female Convict's Death. (John Dunmore Lang Poems)
- The Irish Stew. (John Dunmore Lang Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Man Poems, God Poems, Life Poems, Cry Poems, Fear Poems, Power Poems, Sin Poems, Snow Poems, Age Poems, Angels Poems, Imagination & Visualization PoemsBased on Keywords: chebar, reanimate