Toxic Shade

This poem was inspired by Hosea 4:13, which describes rebellious, adulterous Israel: “They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar and terebinth, where the shade is pleasant.”

Israel is a wreck, spiritually and culturally. God uses Hosea and his prostitute wife Gomer to illustrate His faithfulness, desire to pursue them, and openness should they return. The problem is that their polluted, lesser loves have captivated and enslaved them. They have the option of returning to their true Beloved, whose embrace is always open, but they choose instead to exchange Him for something as fleeting as shade.

Jeremiah 59:14 describes a world where “justice is driven back,” “righteousness stands at a distance,” “truth has stumbled in the streets,” and “honesty cannot enter.” Similarly, during this time in Hosea, the affluent and powerful are entertained by violence and lies (Hos. 7:3) as Israel rejects what is good (8:3) and essentially becomes the vile thing she loves (9:10b).

From our perspective, Israel’s (and Gomer’s) choice seems ridiculous and laughable. They would incur our compassion if they weren’t so stupid. And yet, we do the same thing.

What I mean is that God in Christ invites us to Himself. In Him, we are welcome and compelled to come, and yet we choose our broken cisterns (Jer. 2:13). We serve ourselves, the worship of blind and lifeless idols that molds us into their image, and their fleeting relief or “shade,” when we could choose the King.

The core problem, as C. S. Lewis remarks, is that “our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

In other words, instead of the faithful Beloved who cherishes us, we chase the fleeting attention of those who mistreat us. Instead of the eternal pleasures of the right hand of God, we prefer the transient satisfaction of fulfilling our corrupt desires. Instead of the peaceful relief and security of the One who will love and accept us, we choose the lesser reprieve of the oak, poplar, and terebinth. Instead of the seaside, we favor the slum.

The following poem is a loose summary of Hosea 4. Sin has entered the world unrestrained. Creation groans, and animals suffer. Accusations and blame-shifting are common, and the people of God are “destroyed from lack of knowledge” (v. 6). Even the priests are trading the glory of God for greed, disgrace, and untruth.

Perhaps we should consider the words of Isaiah 25:4, speaking of God: “You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.” Shade is not wholly bad, but the oak and popular are insufficient. We need a shade that will last.

Enough with the deceptive sanctuaries of idols and of Egypt. Let us shift our affections and abandon the shade that has become so familiar for the worship and Shade that satisfy. And let us pray for the day of forgiveness and fruitfulness that comes from the Lord, when He will receive us graciously, and men will “dwell again in his shade” (v. 7).

Because the Shade Is Too Pleasant

Righteousness suffers. Wisdom is hushed.

In the street, Justice and Truth lie crushed,

Across their faces the shadow of death,

As Peace draws one more unpromised breath.

Folly and Pride over Discipline gloat,

While Vice holds a knife at Purity’s throat.

Faithfulness, Love, exposed and outflanked,

Are martyrs where God is unloved and un-thanked.

Kings are amused by violence and lies

While the land mourns, and the animal dies.

Yet let no man bring a charge for abuse,

For all are implicit and have no excuse

For leaving the child and widow unheard

While bear is a duke, and prince is the bird.

They stumble o’er truth and wisdom avoid

And are by a lack of knowledge destroyed.

The priests increase yet defile their place

And exchange their Glory for lies and disgrace.

On the plentiful sins of My people they feed;

They pardon their pretense and nurture their greed.

Therefore, they shall not outlive their deceit,

Nor shall they have enough when they eat.

For their bold spirit of prostitute pride

Leaves them too easily satisfied.

They reject the path of God and of good

And consult and worship their stick of wood,

Faithful slaves to their crippling will

And—blind like their idols—to love that will kill.

O how can Israel, stubborn and strong,

Be pastured and guided to where they belong?

How will she the joy of her husband discover

Pursuing, indulging her forbidden lover?

She refuses to of her sowing repent,

For she is with too little content.

She cares but for herself, deceptive and proud,

While her affections lie raw and unplowed,

Deaf to the cries of her children unborn:

“Return and save us from judgment and scorn.

Abandon your gifts below each spreading tree.

Find grace and salvage your legacy.”

Her husband stands ready, with mercy, his present—

But no, she declines, for the shade is too pleasant.

Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground… But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil,

you have eaten the fruit of deception.

Hosea 10:12-13