Creator’s Sabbath

Today’s poem comes with acknowledgement to Professor John Walton, whose teaching on Genesis 1 and the meaning of God resting on the seventh day completely turned my thinking on its head – in a wonderful way.

Creator’s Sabbath
 
Do you suppose He rested because
            the six days’ labour had worn Him out,
as though the arms that flung the stars
into deep space had need of sleep,
           as though the hands that tuned the spheres
                        were weary and were weak? No,

When He rested He put up His feet
           upon His footstool, or to use
another image, came into
His house, turned on the lights and made
           Himself at home. You see, a house
                      becomes Home when we’re at rest,

and so He took the seventh day off
            to open up His bags and let the
world begin, invited some guests, went
walking in the garden and saw
            space there for a world of friends
                        and set the home in motion.

And sleepy hares underneath the tree
            worshipped Him with rest that day, neither
tired from their exertion nor
reigning like He reigned, but still at
            rest because they knew the king was
                        home to stay and home to rule.