Exodus 20.1-17
I Corinthians 1.18-25
John 2.13-22
9.8.9.8. Possible tune – St Clement (H&P 648, R&S 584)
We thank God for the laws that guide us,
As we build up our common life,
Giving a frame for all our actions,
To find the good and manage strife.
Yet law can always be corrupted
To serve the strong against the weak,
Its wisdom lost in twisted reason,
Its simple truth turned to mystique.
Our path to God can thus be twisted,
The temple made a market place,
When rules and language, rites and learning,
Prevent us looking on God’s face.
God make us fools to follow Jesus,
Count strength and wisdom both as loss,
To judge all laws with Christ as measure,
And find our God upon a cross.
© Alan Hinton 2000,
Permission given for use and private distribution, but not for commercial publication in any form.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for this hymn. I shall be using it in our worship this week at the church I serve, with attribution of course. I appreciate how it ties together the three scriptures from the lectionary this week. And the suggested tune is lovely.
Gerry, thanks for commenting. I know Alan will be pleased. I’m delighted you’ve found your visit useful.
Thank you so much for your hymns. I have only recently discovered (and then used) them. It’s so good to have hymns so rooted in the week’s readings – and to a familiar tune. This will certianly be a regular site for me in the future.