Tracing Biblical Elements from Contemporary Poems – II

Continuing the analysis of “Channel Firing” by Thomas Hardy

From Stanzas 3 to 6

The glebe cow drooled… Now “glebe cow” is something that is donated by the local community for the benefit of the church. The people during that particular age were selfless. They did not have a selfish ambition. If we contemplate on the Jewish law of sacrifices, we come to know that only the best among the other animals were to be offered to GOD. The adjective “unblemished” and “without defect” come into play. This is a remark that I would like to elaborate in the next stanza.

Now, the Creator of the Universe and Author of Life steps in. GOD of the Bible, he comes to provide answer to what really is happening, what is the cause for this chaotic pollution. He tells that it is, “It is gunnery practice at the sea…” There are three important qualities of GOD, he is omnipresent (that is GOD is present everywhere), omniscient (he knows everything) and omnipotent (he has unlimited power and great influence over everything). He replies that it is a target practice that is being held by army. Army wants its soldiers to be ready for waging war whenever necessary. Hence, this practice is being held at a quite unfamiliar hour. GOD also brings to notice that the world is still the same. In fact, it would be right to say that the world is becoming more evil and full of selfish ambition. Now, I would like to bring the remark that I made earlier. People donated their very best for the service and betterment of the community. In earlier days obviously. But People nowadays, are full of selfish ambition, self-conceited, having an exaggerated sense of self-importance. For example, let us look at Satan in Isaiah 14 we read how he wanted to “ascend to heaven, raise his throne above the stars of GOD as well as how he wanted to sit on the mount of assembly” he has this selfish ambition glued with excessive pride. That is what he put in the mind of Eve when he tempted her. And that is what has been the mentality of “fallen beings” - US.

 

In the Book of James, we find, “for where you find envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”  James 3:16. This is in fact true, also can be universally accepted fact. Countries and nations envying over the territory of each other is also one of the most important reason for deadly wars around the globe. This was the state of the previous generations as well as it is the same with the current. Hence, GOD puts it this way, “Just as you went below; The world is as it used to be:”  

 

“All nations striving strong to make Red war yet redder…”  Along with the fall of mankind, men now having sinful attitude and behaviour thought that they are greater than the others. It forged the concept of discrimination, race and division on various basis. Such as complexion, race, caste, creed, religion, language, place of birth etc. For instance, we all are aware of the Holocaust, Hitler believed that Germans were Aryans by race, they should rule the world. The amount of bloodshed he did to fulfil his belief is known by everyone. Bloodshed. Man-slaughter. Auschwitz. People who died are not always evil but innocents too. If we look, the line has an adverb “striving strong”. The word “strong” has variety of meanings, but one meaning is quite relevant that I have included is, “powerful and difficult to resist or defeat”. This is quite similar in terms with powers who participated in the “Great War” all of them had a “strong” desire for power, territory and authority. “Mad as hatters They do no more Christ’s sake…in such matters” A person who used to make hats, went mad due to the process that was used for hat-making involved a chemical mercuric oxide. Over-exposure to this chemical led to insanity. Perhaps, selfish ambition is compared as a chemical that makes a person insane. Now, that these people who are listening are dead, they are “helpless”. People don’t do anything for the sake of Christ now, forgetting his sacrifice to redeem entire humanity from sin. Rather engage in evil activities instead of repenting.

The LORD says that this isn’t the hour of judgement. To spread more light on the matter, we can read from the Book of Revelation 20:12 “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne and books were opened. Another book was opened, which was the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they done as recorded in the books.” He reminds them, if it was Judgment Day many of these evil-doers that it they might have to scrub the surface of hell for such destruction, simply put Hell would be over-crowded.

“Ha, ha it will be warmer when I blow the trumpet…rest eternal sorely need” To understand this concept of trumpets, we have to turn to the Book of Revelation 8. We get to know, that it is Jesus the Lamb of GOD, only Jesus has the authority in entire heaven to open the seven seals. “It is Jesus who is found to be worthy to open the seals, because he died for the world, with his blood he has purchased for GOD persons from every tribe and language and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our GOD, and they will reign on the earth.” Revelation 5;9,10

This stanza is in coherence with the earlier one, because when GOD blows the trumpet, the judgement would take place. One particular passage comes to mind, when Moses has gone to meet GOD in the Book of Exodus 33:14 “The LORD replies, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.””  Moses is asking for GOD’s presence to lead him and the Israelites in the wilderness to the Promised Land.

The peace that a person seeks throughout his lifetime, the Bible has answers. Many passages talk about peace, we will discuss them in future, GOD-willing.

 

But one important is that in Jesus we can have peace. In his presence alone can one experience true peace!

 

Shalom!