Kevin Hartnett Poetry

Honored Be Thy Wondrous Word!

With Your Name supreme exalted, 

Honored be Thy wondrous Word! 

Safed from mankind's ill persuasion, 

Has Thy truth thus been preserved. 

Warnings sure, but comforts better! 

One the witness from its parts;  

Fire to heat the studied preacher; 

Hammer cracking stony hearts. 

 

Could there work a keener power, 

Strong and sharp to meet its ends? 

By it stand the stars of heaven; 

With it, angels swift He sends. 

Piercing down 'tween soul and spirit, 

Finer than a two-edged sword; 

Strength prepared to smite the nations, 

Poised to slay the devil's horde. 

 

Agent of the great Creator, 

Moving surely through the earth;  

Sowing seed that brings salvation, 

Watering the souls You birth; 

Daily feeding thankful thousands, 

Earnest trust of those in need;  

Faithful to fulfill Your purpose, 

'Turning not 'til You succeed.  

 

Light of Life dispelling darkness, 

Lamp before the pilgrim's stride, 

Let illumined truth resplendent 

Richly in my soul abide! 

Turn these eyes from worthless pastimes, 

Teach me all Thy ways aright;  

Open up Your wondrous statutes; 

In Thy law is my delight!

 

 

-- K. Hartnett, March 1999

 

I've dedicated this poem to Dr. John Piper of Desiring God Ministries because of his infectious love for the scriptures and marvelous teaching from them.  It was one of his teaching tapes that broke the writer's block that I had and helped me finish this poem.  Sad but true, my block was after the very first line - a line that I carried around in my head for the better part of a year!  May the Lord open up His glorious Word to you afresh, Dr. Piper.

FYI - My original format for this poem included a second column with references to the various scriptures that I paraphrased in the body of poem.  Unfortunately, the center column of this blog template is too narrow to include them.  If you'd like a copy of this version, click here: Download honored_be_thy_wondrous_word.doc

How Awesome Is That Day to Me

How awesome is that day to me- 

O day of hallowed history! 

Set time in God’s determined plan 

To sacrifice the Son of Man. 

What famous work that day was done  

By Jesus Christ, His Perfect Son! 

The Second Adam, sent to save, 

Humbly obeying to the grave! 

 

How savage is that day to me- 

O day of pure brutality! 

When Christ, the Son of God Most High, 

Was fiercely whipped and hung to die. 

And O the horror of my sin, 

Seen there in His appalling skin! 

For God struck down- as meant for me- 

The sinless One, at Calvary. 

 

How precious is that day to me-

O day of purchased liberty!

In Him, a freeman now I live;

My sins, through death, did God forgive.

No wrath at length looms o’er my head,

But lovingkindness there instead. 

His righteousness, my guilt replaced, 

And Love, this ransomed soul embraced!

 

O awesome, savage, precious day- 

‘Tis God the Savior on display! 

What peerless, holy, gracious Mind 

Would fashion such a Grand Design?

 

 

-- K. Hartnett, September 2001

 

The idea for this poem came to me during a devotional time over lunch.  I remember thinking that I hadn't written anything for a while and desired to write something hymn-like.  This was the result - a poem that 'came' very quickly - in just a few days.  I initially thought it should have additional stanzas, but left it at three so that it was short enough to be read in a worship service and not get boring.  I think it actually could be set to music, but perhaps with a different, less contemplative chorus.