Discipline
Pleading for Gentle Discipline
The speaker begs God to set aside wrath and rod, expressing a heart bent toward consent and complete submission to God's word.
Throw away your rod, Throw away your wrath: O my God, Take the gentle path. For my heart's desire is bent toward yours: I aspire to full consent. I don't claim a single word or look as my own—only by the book, and your book alone.
Perseverance and Love's Transforming Power
Despite failure and weakness, the speaker persists in prayer, trusting that love alone can soften stony hearts and act as a mighty warrior.
Though I fail, I weep; though I limp along, I still creep to the throne of grace.1 Then let anger go away; love will do the deed, for with love, stony hearts will bleed. Love is swift of foot; Love's a man of war, And can shoot, And can hit from far.
Love's Inescapable Bow and Final Plea
Love's arrow is inescapable; what humbled God must humble the speaker, leading to a final plea for mercy rather than wrath.
Who can escape his bow? What worked on you, brought you low, must work on me.2 Put down your rod; though humanity has its frailties, You are God: put down your wrath.
Read the original English
Throw away thy rod, Throw away thy wrath: O my God, Take the gentle path.
For my hearts desire Unto thine is bent: I aspire To a full consent.
Not a word or look I affect to own, But by book, And thy book alone.
Though I fail, I weep: Though I halt in pace, Yet I creep To the throne of grace.
Then let wrath remove; Love will do the deed: For with love Stonie hearts will bleed.
Love is swift of foot; Love's a man of warre, And can shoot, And can hit from farre.
Who can scape his bow? That which wrought on thee, Brought thee low, Needs must work on me.
Throw away thy rod; Though man frailties hath, Thou art God: Throw away thy wrath.
Notes
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