ACACIA WOOD

To make the Ark  required acacia wood:

A supple wood,  well able to endure

And thus to bear   the testimony through.

The copper altar  required acacia too

To bear the fire  and all the heat produced

That God’s delight  should daily be ensured.

But this wood also,  standing as it was hewn,

Formed boards by which   the tabernacle stood

Since only this  in all its strength conduced

To form the tent  which God Himself would choose.

One kind of Man  could be before God’s heart:

Suited to God  within His inner Man.

Only the Christ  could be the perfect Ark,

One kind of Man  in sufferings and charm

Clears the approach  by which we may advance

To God’s abode  where we may boldly stand.

One kind of manhood  alone is consonant

With Christ Himself  and God can rest in that.

Men after Christ  now have their heavenly part

Which will remain  when death and sin are past.