26 Jul The Song of Naomi, as She Held Obed in Her Arms
Three who have slept and Moab has kept
One who turned away after she wept
Bone of my bone had left me alone
And once was your time to go back home
That sleep would be what sets me free,
What terrors of God overshadowed me!
I would not stay awake for anyone’s sake
Because nothing was left for God to take
Mara, Mara, all sweetness poured to waste;
And this empty vessel witnesses Bethel;
She too saw an angel God gave her to wrestle
Before crossing the river, to call herself Bitter
In spite of the sweetness He had still to give her
And Boaz had seen in fields as she gleaned
Not one but the two women he had redeemed;
What are you worth, O salt of the earth,
My sister, my daughter, my happiest birth?
Mara, Mara, seasoned away bitter taste;
The LORD God took everything, once,
And now takes from me bitterest sorrow!
I pray that you shall be a companion
For every woman, for every tomorrow;
The LORD God took His time, once,
And now He takes us under His wing;
I pray our sons and daughters know you
For every good work, for every blessing!
And how Pleasant it is again to sing
This song for all ages,
This song for the King –
A Son of a Man one day is coming
Yes – a covenant remembered,
A covenant might bring –
A thousand generations yet to be
Shall call you their mother,
Shall look and shall see –
You have served the LORD, faithfully
Yes – a daughter of Israel,
A daughter to me.