Ghosts and Locusts

Ravenous locusts blackened the air,
grinding forest and field to grist,
flooding destruction over the land;
a sudden tsunami of deep despair.

Sorrow now rises up as a mist,
slender fingers of an unseen hand
gather into a ghostly fist
that grips my throat like an iron band,
chokes back my grief, my sobs desist.

Head hung heavy with disbelief,
I seek the solace of troubled sleep.

Then in the night, a song, unbidden,
soothes my soul, blessed messenger, unseen,
brings flowers forth from the soil of despair.

Hope restored, I awake, fear bestridden,
and before daylight dissolves the dream,
the lyrics of the song still float upon the air,

Reminding me of Joel’s prophecy
that the Lord will restore,
and supply even more..

“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten… You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you.”

The book of the prophet Joel, Chapter 2, verses 25, 26

Do what you will, foul fiends –
dread army of pestilent ghosts.
You spread but small, crawling shadows
ahead. Lost in the vast scope of eternity.
Don’t you see? You labor in futility.

Each cut and tear, a small pare,
used by the Husbandman to remove
what was uncomely in His sight,
making room for the growth
that He will approve –
the kind that will eternally bear,
displaying His glory and His might.

---

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”

Jesus, as recorded in John, Chapter 15, verses 1-2

---

Postscript:

Several weeks ago I suffered a big setback in my chronic pain condition after having made what felt like real progress. I went to bed thoroughly discouraged, and slept poorly from the dramatically increased pain and frazzled nerves.

In the morning I awoke with the chorus of the song “Beyond Compare” by Dennis Jernigan⁽¹⁾ going through my mind on repeat, and it was like a heaven-sent message of encouragement to my soul. An encouragement that has helped sustain me through the last seven weeks of pain, panic attacks, and sleepless nights by reminding me to see my present trials in the light of eternity.

All of God’s wonderful covenant promises are “yes” in Christ Jesus. Despite our best efforts, this life and these bodies will soon end in death and decay, but one word from the Lord Jesus and this body will be raised incorruptible and full of joy at the Last Day, along with all who long for His appearing.

---

⁽¹⁾ “Beyond Compare” by Dennis Jernigan, from the album “I Surrender,” released by “Here to Him Records” in 2001.

© Craig Sabin 2022 All rights reserved

Image courtesy of Max Pixel, CC0 Public Domain