We continue our Lenten meditations with stanzas 19 – 28 of George Herbert’s poem “The Sacrifice.” 

(The bullets allow me to single-space the lines.)

• They bind, and lead me unto Herod: he
• Sends me to Pilate.  This makes them agree;
• But yet their friendship is my enmity:
  • Was ever grief like mine?

• Herod and all his bands do set me light,
• Who teach all hands to war, fingers to fight,
• And only am the Lord of Hosts and might:
  • Was ever grief like mine?

• Herod in judgment sits, while I do stand;
• Examines me with a censorious hand:
• I him obey, who all things else command:
  • Was ever grief like mine?

• The Jews accuse me with despitefulness;
• And vying malice with my gentleness,
• Pick quarrels with their only happiness:
  • Was ever grief like mine?

• I answer nothing, but with patience prove
• If stony hearts will melt with gentle love.
• But who does hawk at eagles with a dove?
  • Was ever grief like mine?

• My silence rather doth augment their cry;
• My dove doth back into my bosom fly,
• Because the raging waters still are high:  [reference to Noah, the flood, and the dove]
  • Was ever grief like mine?

• Hark how they cry aloud still, Crucify:
• It is not fit he live a day, they cry,
• Who cannot live less then eternally:
  • Was ever grief like mine?

• Pilate, a stranger, holdeth off; but they,
• Mine own dear people, cry, Away, away,
• With noises confused frighting the day:
  • Was ever grief like mine?

• Yet still they shout, and cry, and stop their ears,
• Putting my life among their sins and fears,
• And therefore, wish my blood on them and theirs:
  • Was ever grief like mine?             

• See how spite cankers things. These words aright
• Used, and wished, are the whole world’s light:
• But honey is their gall, brightness their night:
  • Was ever grief like mine? -“The Sacrifice” by George Herbert, stanzas 19 – 28.

Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight. (Psalm 144.1, KJV)

And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. (Luke 23.7 – 12, ESV)

Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” (Matthew 27.22 – 25, ESV)