The Death of Moses

*** Revised Common Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 CLASSIC POEM: The Death of Moses George Eliot Moses, who spake with God as with his friend, And ruled his people with the twofold power Of wisdom that can dare and still be meek, Was writing his last word, the sacred name Unutterable of that Eternal Will Which was and is and evermore shall be. Yet was his task not finished, for the flock Needed its shepherd and the life-taught sage Leaves no successor; but to chosen men, The rescuers and guides of Israel, A death was given called the Death of Grace, Which freed them from the burden of the flesh But left them rulers of the multitude And loved companions of the lonely. This Was God’s last gift to Moses, this the hour When soul must part from self and be but soul. God spake to Gabriel, the messenger Of mildest death that draws the parting life Gently, as when a little rosy child Lifts up its lips from off the bowl of milk And so draws forth a curl that dipped its gold In the soft white—thus Gabriel draws the soul. “Go bring the soul of Moses unto me!” And the awe-stricken angel answered, “Lord, How shall I dare to take his life who lives Sole of his kind, not to be likened once In all the generations of the earth?” Then God called Michaël, him of pensive brow Snow-vest and flaming sword, who knows and acts: “Go bring the spirit of Moses unto me!” But Michaël with such grief as angels feel, Loving the mortals whom they succour, pled: “Almighty, spare me; it was I who taught Thy servant Moses; he is part of me As I of thy deep secrets, knowing them.” Then God called Zamaël, the terrible, The angel of fierce death, of agony That comes in battle and in pestilence Remorseless, sudden or with lingering throes. And Zamaël, his raiment and broad wings Blood-tinctured, the dark lustre of his eyes Shrouding the red, fell like the gathering night Before the prophet. But that radiance Won from the heavenly presence in the mount Gleamed on the prophet’s brow and dazzling pierced Its conscious opposite: the angel turned His murky gaze aloof and inly said: “An angel this, deathless to angel’s stroke.” But Moses felt the subtly nearing dark:— “Who art thou? and what wilt thou?” Zamaël then: “I am God’s reaper; through the fields of life I gather ripened and unripened souls Both willing and unwilling. And I come Now to reap thee.” But Moses cried, Firm as a seer who waits the trusted sign: “Reap thou the fruitless plant and common herb— Not him who from the womb was sanctified To teach the law of purity and love.” And Zamaël baffled from his errand fled. But Moses, pausing, in the air serene Heard now that mystic whisper, far yet near, The all-penetrating Voice, that said to him, “Moses, the hour is come and thou must die.” “Lord, I obey; but thou rememberest How thou, Ineffable, didst take me once Within thy orb of light untouched by death.” Then the voice answered, “Be no more afraid: With me shall be thy death and burial.” So Moses waited, ready now to die. And the Lord came, invisible as a thought, Three angels gleaming on his secret track, Prince Michaël, Zamaël, Gabriel, charged to guard The soul-forsaken body as it fell And bear it to the hidden sepulchre Denied for ever to the search of man. And the Voice said to Moses: “Close thine eyes.” He closed them. “Lay thine hand upon thine heart, And draw thy feet together.” He obeyed. And the Lord said, “O spirit! child of mine! A hundred years and twenty thou hast dwelt Within this tabernacle wrought of clay. This is the end: come forth and flee to heaven.” But the grieved soul with plaintive pleading cried, “I love this body with a clinging love: The courage fails me, Lord, to part from it.” “O child, come forth! for thou shalt dwell with me About the immortal throne where seraphs joy In growing vision and in growing love.” Yet hesitating, fluttering, like the bird With young wing weak and dubious, the soul Stayed. But behold! upon the death-dewed lips A kiss descended, pure, unspeakable— The bodiless Love without embracing Love That lingered in the body, drew it forth With heavenly strength and carried it to heaven. But now beneath the sky the watchers all, Angels that keep the homes of Israel Or on high purpose wander o’er the world Leading the Gentiles, felt a dark eclipse: The greatest ruler among men was gone. And from the westward sea was heard a wail, A dirge as from the isles of Javanim, Crying, “Who now is left upon the earth Like him to teach the right and smite the wrong?” And from the East, far o’er the Syrian waste, Came slowlier, sadlier, the answering dirge: “No prophet like him lives or shall arise In Israel or the world for evermore.” But Israel waited, looking toward the mount, Till with the deepening eve the elders came Saying, “His burial is hid with God. We stood far off and saw the angels lift His corpse aloft until they seemed a star That burnt itself away within the sky.” The people answered with mute orphaned gaze Looking for what had vanished evermore. Then through the gloom without them and within The spirit’s shaping light, mysterious speech, Invisible Will wrought clear in sculptured sound, The thought-begotten daughter of the voice, Thrilled on their listening sense: “He has no tomb. He dwells not with you dead, but lives as Law.” *** This poem is in the public domain, and may be read in a live-streamed worship service. CONTEMPORARY POEM: The Death of Moses Dietrich Bonhoeffer SNIPPET: Upon the mountain’s summit stands at last Moses, the prophet and the man of God. … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]