God Speaks Through Wombs

Poems on God's Unexpected Coming

Drew Jackson

• Publisher: IVP
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781514002674
• eBook ISBN: 9781514002681
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Religious Poetry
• Index: Literature

Christian Book Award Finalist

But God speaks through wombs,
birthing prophetic utterances. . . .
Enough of this unbelieving religion
that masquerades as faith.
Divine favor is placed on what we
have disgraced.

In God Speaks Through Wombs, Drew Jackson explores the first eight chapters of Luke's Gospel in a new poetic register. These are declarative poems, faithfully proclaiming the gospel story in all its liberative power. Here the gospel is the "fresh words / that speak of / things impossible."

From the Magnificat ("That girl can sing! . . . She has a voice / That can shatter shackles") to the baptism of Christ ("I stepped in / Committing insurrection"), this collection helps us hear the hum of deliverance—against all hope—that's been in the gospel all along.

IV

TEMPTATIONS

DESERT OF DESIRE

Luke 4:1-3

And here he comes,

right on cue,

the one the folks used

to call Ole’ Slew Foot.

This evil that slithers

between the feet of

Pharaohs and Caesars,

tempting me to be like them.

But such is common

to humanity,

and so it is here that

I must begin.

In this desert of desire.

In the badlands with

the bad man that

we all must battle.

This is the snake

that makes

empires great

again and again.

The time has come

for me to get bruised

while I crush him

under my foot.

PROVE IT

Luke 4:3-4

There is not a place in this world where I am not asked to prove it.

Substantiate my belonging.

Verify that my body is qualified to occupy this space,

as if the miracle of my enfleshment weren’t enough.

But I am asked to be superhuman. Divine even. More than mediocre,

like the rest of them,

to demonstrate that my placement on this earth is not the mere result of affirmative action.

But I will not eat the bread of your cunning. My sustenance is found elsewhere.

VIEWS

Luke 4:5-8

The view from up here is beautiful.

There’s nothing like a penthouse

with a private rooftop deck to look

out on all you have conquered—

I mean, to look out at the city.

This unobstructed view.

You can see from sea to shining sea,

from the East River to the Hudson.

It makes me want more.

And you can have it. Imagine the development

you could do. We’ve already flattened Mannahatta,

gave it a better-sounding name, and cleared out

Seneca for our premier park. Let the horizon

be your motivation. You only have to invest

the small sum of your soul. And your people.

You’re selling this thing real good,

but I’ll pass. That price is too high for my liking.

SHUCKIN’ AND JIVIN’

Luke 4:9-12

Go on! Dance for me!

Move those feet! Shuck and jive

like I know you can. Go on! Dance!

Fancy me with your

smooth moves. Impress me with

your tricks. Do some flips and splits!

That will get you what you want.

The people will ooo and ahhh.

We’ll all give you a round of applause.

Trust me. Do these things

and your name will be known. And them

pockets, watch how them pockets will grow.

I am not your prop.

I am not here to entertain.

And I refuse to play this little game of yours.

I know I have skills,

but don’t try and twist this and

use it to line your pockets.

I will not be used.

You can’t throw me a few dollars while

you continue to abuse my people. I’m no fool.

Don’t test me!

I will not let you arrest me with your charm.

So like we say back home, get to steppin’!

AN OPPORTUNE TIME
(OUT IN THESE STREETS)

Luke 4:13

I remember the day they gave me the talk:

Watch the way you walk,

out in these streets.

Pay attention to how y...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication Page
• Contents
• Foreword by Jon Batiste
• Introduction
• I. Openings
• II. Revelations
• III. Immersions
• IV. Temptations
• V. Rolling Deep
• VI. On the Plain
• VII. Life Lessons
• VIII. Parables and Other Things
• Praise for God Speaks Through Wombs
• About the Author
• More Titles from InterVarsity Press
• Copyright