“Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way?” Jeremiah 2:3636Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria. (Jeremiah 2:36); 2 Chronicles 28:16-2316At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. 17For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. 18The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. 19For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the Lord. 20And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. 21For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not. 22And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz. 23For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. (2 Chronicles 28:16‑23).
Back, thou truant! guideless going,
Gadding much to change thy way,
Soul corruption, in sowing,
Broadcast too, from God astray.
Breaking down divine defenses
(Lines which mark the way He trod),
Bold and wayward midst offenses,
Loins ungirt, and feet unshod.
Periled truant, drifting, drifting,
“First love left”—no point to steer;
Faithless as the quicksand’s shifting,
Quicksand thou, with soul-wreck near.
Self-defiant, past controlling,
Drunken, reeling to and fro;
Waves like mountains, rising, rolling,
Rive and rend with wail and woe.
Oh, what tumult, fiercely raging
(Whirlwind-reaper, tempest-test)!
Wildest waves— (no tears assuaging) —
Cast thee wrecked on sorrow’s coast,
Wearied with corruption-reaping,
Conscience craves the path once trod;
“First love too, aroused from sleeping,
Lifts its own remembrance-rod.
Oh, what smiting, wailing, weeping—
Weeping back thy way to God!
“Weepiest thou thy love’s disaster
Chiefly from thy soul’s dismay,
Or for Him thou calledst Master,
When He turned thy night today?
“Criest thou for lost communion,
Lost adornment of thy soul—
Loss of all the bloom of union,
With its fervent first control.
My love like thine, so brief, so broken,
Slights, alas! the Saviour’s name;
Still His love—the cross its token—
Meets thy tears, and grief, and shame.
Blest contrition, God will teach thee,
Stranded on repentance-shore;
One unwearied cloth beseech thee,
Watching, waiting to restore.
Oh, what blessing He provides thee—
Bright renewal of thy soul
In His passion safe He hides thee,
None but Jesus maketh whole.
“First and Last”—He gave thee being,
In Himself the quickening Word;
Sought thee, brought thee back from fleeing,
Back to blessing, back to God:
All the ways of grace agreeing
With the counsels of the Lord.
C. F. C.