Comments on: Friday poem http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/ A daily webzine and forum for discussion of news that arises at the intersection of religion and culture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:03:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: VS http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248940 VS Sun, 09 Dec 2007 03:42:48 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248940 Somehow I missed this yesterday. But another great choice Harrison. Appreciate the input and insights from the rest of you! Somehow I missed this yesterday.

But another great choice Harrison.

Appreciate the input and insights from the rest of you!

]]> By: Scroop Moth http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248447 Scroop Moth Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:17:36 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248447 KI : <i> In a sense we are still slaves to Satan when we fall into temptation , , , It seems Donne is asking God to break those bondages or to throw him back. </i> Donne wants God to be a jealous God. He acts out like a character on Lifetime TV, taunting God to get rough. Who is the more likeable, the poet or God? KI : In a sense we are still slaves to Satan when we fall into temptation , , , It seems Donne is asking God to break those bondages or to throw him back.

Donne wants God to be a jealous God. He acts out like a character on Lifetime TV, taunting God to get rough. Who is the more likeable, the poet or God?

]]> By: KI http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248365 KI Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:36:45 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248365 I guess I looked at it as being a call for a deeper walk with the Lord; a deeper relationship. When we first are placed into Christ there is a new, young relationship and many sins, though justified, hold us fast in their grip. In a sense we are still slaves to Satan when we fall into temptation in those areas. We love God and want to obey him perfectly and yet find ourselves going back to things we know are wrong. It brings us back to our need again and the cross. It seems Donne is asking God to break those bondages or to throw him back. He wants all of God or none. Rather like Moses telling God to either be with him in leading the Israelites or Moses didn't want to continue either. It is a desperate poem, but written, in a sense, that one knows one can trust God to do what He has promised. To me that is about sanctification and is promised in justification. I guess I looked at it as being a call for a deeper walk with the Lord; a deeper relationship. When we first are placed into Christ there is a new, young relationship and many sins, though justified, hold us fast in their grip. In a sense we are still slaves to Satan when we fall into temptation in those areas. We love God and want to obey him perfectly and yet find ourselves going back to things we know are wrong. It brings us back to our need again and the cross. It seems Donne is asking God to break those bondages or to throw him back. He wants all of God or none. Rather like Moses telling God to either be with him in leading the Israelites or Moses didn’t want to continue either. It is a desperate poem, but written, in a sense, that one knows one can trust God to do what He has promised. To me that is about sanctification and is promised in justification.

]]> By: Scroop Moth http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248289 Scroop Moth Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:03:22 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248289 Pauline, having been born again three times, I know what Donne is talking about, and the frustration that drives him to all those body puns (sorry). Donne loves a God who refuses to get physical with him. Desire is not enough. Donne needs the handcuffs, the rod and the staff, so he keeps sneaking back to his former spouse. Pauline, having been born again three times, I know what Donne is talking about, and the frustration that drives him to all those body puns (sorry). Donne loves a God who refuses to get physical with him. Desire is not enough. Donne needs the handcuffs, the rod and the staff, so he keeps sneaking back to his former spouse.

]]> By: Pauline http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248240 Pauline Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:20:46 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248240 I like it also, but I find the theology of it somewhat puzzling. I agree with KI that "It truly shows the slavery of sin and our need of God to break that bondage." But someone who is "like an usurp’d town to’another due," and "betroth’d unto your enemy" sounds like someone who still "belongs" to Satan, still in rebellion against God, not a Christian struggling between the desire for God and the pull of sin. Yet this person also speaks of dearly loving God. The theology I learned says that until God regenerates a person, bringing the person's spirit from death to life, the person cannot even desire God. I like it also, but I find the theology of it somewhat puzzling.
I agree with KI that “It truly shows the slavery of sin and our need of God to break that bondage.” But someone who is “like an usurp’d town to’another due,” and “betroth’d unto your enemy” sounds like someone who still “belongs” to Satan, still in rebellion against God, not a Christian struggling between the desire for God and the pull of sin. Yet this person also speaks of dearly loving God.

The theology I learned says that until God regenerates a person, bringing the person’s spirit from death to life, the person cannot even desire God.

]]> By: Scroop Moth http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248123 Scroop Moth Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:42:45 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248123 Oh the liquifaction of that whip. Oh the liquifaction of that whip.

]]> By: Cheryl D. http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248108 Cheryl D. Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:13:35 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248108 I had to write an essay on this one in college--my midterm or final exam, I think. (We weren't prepared ahead of time with what poem we'd work with, just told how to "explicate" a poem--how to take it apart line by line to catch every metaphor and shade of meaning. After my English prof and I became friends, for one birthday I asked her for a book of John Donne's poetry, since she was the one who made me fall in love with it, by introducing us to several of his sonnets. It's a haunting poem--I love You, I really do, but I can't even love You in my own strength. Please help. One thinks of Paul's lament that he can't do the good things he wants to do, and continually does bad things he doesn't want to. I had to write an essay on this one in college–my midterm or final exam, I think. (We weren’t prepared ahead of time with what poem we’d work with, just told how to “explicate” a poem–how to take it apart line by line to catch every metaphor and shade of meaning.

After my English prof and I became friends, for one birthday I asked her for a book of John Donne’s poetry, since she was the one who made me fall in love with it, by introducing us to several of his sonnets.

It’s a haunting poem–I love You, I really do, but I can’t even love You in my own strength. Please help. One thinks of Paul’s lament that he can’t do the good things he wants to do, and continually does bad things he doesn’t want to.

]]> By: Harris http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248060 Harris Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:06:37 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248060 Donne does so many things well. Interesting too, how his metaphors move from that of an imprisoned town, to the ruler, to the very (sexually) intimate. The last line has a boldness nd forthrightness to it is rather extraordinary. Donne does so many things well.

Interesting too, how his metaphors move from that of an imprisoned town, to the ruler, to the very (sexually) intimate. The last line has a boldness nd forthrightness to it is rather extraordinary.

]]> By: KI http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248051 KI Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:55:38 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248051 I like this poem. It truly shows the slavery of sin and our need of God to break that bondage. Too often the modern view of sin is so weak. We act as if people just need to "know" or to "understand" or to "have the will power" and they can break the bonds of the sin that holds them in slavery. What a prayer this poem is. I like this poem. It truly shows the slavery of sin and our need of God to break that bondage. Too often the modern view of sin is so weak. We act as if people just need to “know” or to “understand” or to “have the will power” and they can break the bonds of the sin that holds them in slavery. What a prayer this poem is.

]]> By: Austen http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248047 Austen Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:54:54 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/07/friday-poem-17/#comment-248047 my favorite poem ever! (along with like, oh, twelve others). : ) my favorite poem ever! (along with like, oh, twelve others). : )

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