When the aggressor
strikes
there are
consequences
in man’s laws, and
the law of God
when there is harm
there is a judgment;
but no more than
is truly needed
not to inflict pain
but to exact
justice
to balance the
scales
to mete out the
measure
an eye for an eye
a life for a life
but no more than
that
No more than that
is truly justice
no more than that
is God’s punishment
the words of Exodus
the Law of Moses
the Word to the
people
the chosen of God;
When the victim
becomes
the new aggressor
demanding more
than God calls for
Himself
than God allows
=====
edited
February 14, 2015
proportionality
– v3
(merging
edits to version 2 and original)
edited
February 4, 2015
proportionality
– v2
edited
August 3, 2014
proportionality
Hamas
may have fired rockets into Israel
but
has Israel’s response been proportional,
consistent
with the Law
&
Exodus
21:23-25
“23
But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life,
24
eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25
burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.
Exodus
21:12-36
&
edited
July 26, 2014
even
if they are right – v2
edited
July 26, 2014
even
if they are right
(after
the end of the 12-hour ceasefire)
edited
July 18, 2014
pray
for the children
after
the ground invasion of Gaza
by
Israeli forces
edited
July 11, 2014
does
it matter who started this
edited
July 11, 2014
fish
in a barrel, fish with weapons
edited
July 10, 2014
Israel’s
Future
post
of child in rage about the Israeli’s bulldozing his home
in
the Gaza Strip
7/10/2014
edited
July 10, 2014
the
battle foreordained – v2
new
poem June 8, 2014
the
battle foreordained
Daniel
7
and
Men’s Bible Study
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
June 8, 2014
&
edited
March 16, 2014
“Innocent
Blood – v5”
(editing
version 3)
Edited
November 26, 2012
“Innocent
Blood – v4”
after
rereading original inspiration for the poem
Edited
November 23, 2012
“Innocent
Blood – v3”
November
23, 2012
“Innocent
Blood – v2”
after
writing several poems on this topic
&
announcement
of a cease fire
between
Gaza (Hamas) and Israel
November
21, 2012
&
the
tragedy of the fighting in Gaza and Israel
and
the source of the conflict
in
the division of Ishmael and Isaac
the
sons of Abraham
&
original
poem
January
14 and 15, 2009
“Innocent
Blood”
Matthew
2:13-23
and
words of Bishop Peter Weaver,
in
his Partners in Ministry email
1/14/09,
“♦ THE TERRIBLE VIOLENCE IN THE GAZA STRIP is
deeply disturbing. Hundreds of innocent
civilians, including children are being caught in the crossfire. Last week,
after we celebrated Epiphany (Jan. 6, the magi visiting Bethlehem) I thought
about the rest of Matthew 2 where Herod sets out to kill all the
"innocents" under two and Mary, Joseph and Jesus head for
Egypt....probably through Gaza! Both the
Palestinians and Israelis fear and react to violence from the other side and to
a long history of threats and actions that are indelibly etched in their
memories. Tragically, every additional
death and injustice etches new memories in new generations who will grow up
with even more hatred and determination to "win", no matter what the
means of terrorism or oppression. "An eye for an eye, leaves everyone
blind"
How can peace with justice be found?
A Quaker saying, based in the Gospel,
points the way. "There can be no
peace without reconciliation. There can
be no reconciliation without forgiveness.
There can be no forgiveness without giving up the hope of a better
yesterday." In other words, holding
on to the deeply etched bitterness of the past prevents us from embracing a new
future of peace. Nations do it. Families do it. Churches do it. Pray that we might all become
peacemakers. Pray for the land we call
"holy."”
All
of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights
reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 35,900+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
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