A Lament for the Rainbow {In Jars of Clay #2}

 

 

 

O Lovely Lady, dressed in vibrant light

Stitched by God’s hands with diamonds glistening

Wrapped round the world — a shadow of his throne

Where colors find their pleasure in him alone.

 

He graced you as a crown upon the clouds

After they had washed the world with their tears,

With water God would not destroy again

With mercy he’d pursue us through the years.

 

The Image Bearers God endowed to be

A testimony lived out in the flesh

Again, would turn from him to their designs

His Word under their feet they would thresh.

 

Lovely Lady, radiant and pure

Your colors gleam above as your gown,

You shone upon the earth as ages passed

And beamed the promise in Bethlehem’s town.

 

Your glowing hues whisper shimmering breath —

 God reminds the world as the years pass by

That his promise to save the world from death

Shall be fulfilled in the Lord’s perfect time.

 

O Lovely Lady, did you not behold

The hill where God in mercy washed the world?

The Son of God hung there upon the tree,

God’s rescue plan in history now unfurled.

 

He did not use water, for his Word

Indeed, proved true on that dark judgement day.

The blood that poured down from Jesus’ wounds

Washed the darkest stains of sin away.

 

All this your sparkling colors in the sky

Proclaims, dear Lady, though all can’t comprehend.

Your ribboned promise dancing in the light

Proclaims that Jesus is the sinners’ friend.

 

This is the truth —so weep for what they’ve done

They’ve stripped your colors to drape ‘cross their sin

For they’ve turned from God’s way and his design

To seek what they imagine deep within.

 

Your gown of glowing light shall yet remain

Though humans bend its purpose to their will.

The God above who set you in the clouds

Shall vindicate your beauty at the hill

 

Where the Son of God poured out his blood

To cleanse the hearts of all who will believe

For there a fountain flows for all to come

And wash their souls in mercy at the tree.

 

But now I weep and rend my heart for you

For your beauty now is joined with human wit

To turn against the God who placed you there

In dust and ashes here, my soul shall sit.

 

For the City on a Hill, savored the fruit

Ripened by the fathers’ enlightened minds

They thought the wisdom they discovered new

But it was the same old fruit of Adam’s time.

 

O City on a Hill, now weep and wail,

You’ve traded in God’s wisdom for your own.

A Day is coming, and the Day is nigh

When Jesus shall return, though not alone.

 

This time the King of all shall rend the clouds.

His beauty shall gleam bright on all who wear

His promise here in life as their crown

When they see him, his image they shall bear.

 

They chose his way, his will and his design

And repented of the light they sought within

And at the hill and tree where Jesus died,

God washed their souls and cleansed them of their sin.

 

O City on a Hill, come join the throng!

Of the blood-bought sinners who now repent

But know that if you tarry here too long

Your day of mercy may soon all be spent.

 

So come, the rainbow points you to the tree

Where Jesus Christ did die for you and me.