A Psalm for the Festivals

Oh, that I could bear sheaves of grain wave offerings in my arms
Bear them up to the Temple among a throng of worshippers
Joyful break out of dancing, up to Abba’s house
For the festival
Oh, that my heart could rejoice as I pound my grain to fine flour
Pour over it the costly, pure oil of my sacrifice
And bring it before You in Your dwelling place
Such gratitude needs a tangible offering
These hands must not be empty!
Words from the heart aren’t enough
My whole being longs to thank You
Oh, that these hands could heap gifts before You
That I could wave those sheaves before You with all my might
I see with my heart’s eyes the palpable peace on the faces of the forgiven
For the Yom Kippur sacrifice has been accepted by the Eternal One
Whose judgments are just and righteous, Whose mercy is the same
Oh, that I could see with my own eyes the pillar of cloud rising to Heaven
And tuck my family into one of the myriad tents surrounding
The Sukkah of Yahweh, His fire pillar glowing its reassurance all night long
Know His presence has longed since eternity to dwell there with us
Yet Your salvation has reached me here, thousands of years removed
From that holy place in the desert
You have brought definition to what was only a shadow
My body still praises You with all its might
Though my hands have no sheaves of grain
For You have enlightened the view of what once was not seen
How much more reason to give my freewill offering
Before the eternal throne, where Your Faithful Presence still dwells
I join the multitude, the countless numbers of others
Who rejoice that the Eternal Yom Kippur sacrifice has been accepted
We who have never seen Your pillar of fire and cloud
Have known Your fire in our bellies, joined Your Spirit in intimate union
We who have never smelled the incense of the golden altar
Have joined our sweet prayers of frankincense before You night and day
We who have never carried the first fruits, the wave offerings before You
Who have never mixed oil in flour and eaten before the Lord’s presence in celebration
We have brought all we have before You in reverence
There is no Temple but the heavenly one, and our faith embodied
Makes our sacrifices sincere and complete
Our voices have joined those in the heavenly court
We rejoice at this solemn, holy convocation
Empty hands, perhaps, but not empty hearts
Receive this deepest gratitude from us for Your enduring faithfulness
We ask You what more we can bring in sacrifice