John 2:13-17. ZEAL. He came and looked and saw beyond the business of the place To where the holiness of God once moved men and women To bow in deep contrition and repentance, and offer their best. Without a sense of grace or reverence that was becoming They counted the money in their hands claiming they were blessed Not knowing the actions that so completely them engaged Left them empty swept and garnished, dry husks of forms In which they named the name of God – and left Him out. In the distant memories of the ancient past they thought were up to date And God looked on – closer than they thought - He’s here in this desecrated place of prayer Observing until the twisted cords combined To make a stinging lash which ‘round blue-trimmed garments twined Moving the bargaining covetous throng to find a different place. Running and leaving behind a dreadful wake For in the Father’s house the dirt and feathers And the sound of ill-gotten gain rolling about Until like silly children chasing jacks, was now Cleaned out of the terrible travesty of religious joking And “The One” is there with words to pierce the hard hearts “Take these things hence…” and zeal has its way.
He comes and looks today, and sees what we don’t see The hearts and motives of people moving in to worship And beyond the form; the sound of music easy on the ears He watches and listens to the sounds known only to Him. Sounds of hearts – some moved by “Amazing Grace” To close eyes and listen to the timbre of such words on souls redeemed – While others listen and watch, and form the words just right So what is heard is perfectly in tune – with everyone else But not with God, who moves among them unseen. “Was it for crimes that I have done…” sung with broken voices And the heads are bowed or eyes fastened on some distant point As the grace of God melts down again into the spirit deep Bring appreciation out to God alone in words unspoken – Perhaps even unexpressed or inexpressible – but real. The soaring sounds of “A Mighty Fortress…” and the accompaniment Far out-sounds the words and people shiver at the tones The words forgotten in the overwhelming noise That drowns out heart-sounds only God can hear. But hear He does – and waits to cleanse and recover And receive that from the hearts of those appreciating – “Hallelujah, what a Savior…” and zeal has its way.
“What power there is to righteous zeal, O God. Before the eyes of on-lookers there is evidence that God is still in control; even when men think they are. Help us who gather unto Thy Son alone, to maintain a holy honesty in our prayers, hymns and words of worship and praise. May the house of God always be clean and ready for any service the divine authority chooses to use it for. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”