‘The Altar’ by George Herbert is a Christian poem that explores the relationship between a person and God through the metaphor of an altar. It is a pattern poem, meaning that its shape on the page resembles an altar, reinforcing the poem’s theme visually.
In the poem, Herbert describes an altar made of a broken heart, cemented with tears. This suggests that the altar is not a physical structure but a symbol of the poet’s contrite and humble heart, offered to God. The act of constructing this altar signifies repentance and a desire for spiritual renewal.
The poem begins with the line, ‘A broken ALTAR, Lord, thy servant rears,’ indicating that the speaker is dedicating a broken heart to God. The use of the word ‘rears’ implies that this act of dedication is a conscious and deliberate effort. The heart, described as broken, signifies a state of humility and contrition, essential for true worship and connection with God.
Herbert continues by explaining that the altar is ‘Made of a heart, and cemented with tears’, emphasizing that the foundation of this offering is built on genuine sorrow and repentance. Tears represent the sorrow for sins and the longing for forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
The poem then reflects on the nature of this heart-altar, stating, ‘Whose parts are as thy hand did frame; / No workman’s tool hath touch’d the same.’ This means that the heart is created by God and is unaltered by human efforts. It suggests that true repentance and devotion come from a sincere, God-given place within the individual, not from external, human-made constructs.
Herbert highlights the purity and sincerity of this offering by asserting that ‘A HEART alone / Is such a stone, / As nothing but / Thy pow’r doth cut’. This suggests that only God’s power can shape the human heart into a worthy offering. The heart, like a stone, must be chiseled and refined by God’s hand to become an acceptable sacrifice.
The poem concludes with a plea for God to accept this humble Christian offering: ‘O let thy blessed SACRIFICE be mine, / And sanctify this ALTAR to be thine.’ Here, Herbert asks God to sanctify the altar—his heart—and make it holy and acceptable. This final plea underscores the poet’s deep desire for divine acceptance and transformation.
The Altar | George Herbert | Christian Poems
A broken ALTAR, Lord, thy servant rears,
Made of a heart and cemented with tears:
Whose parts are as thy hand did frame;
No workman’s tool hath touch’d the same.
A HEART alone
Is such a stone,
As nothing but
Thy pow’r doth cut.
Wherefore each part
Of my hard heart
Meets in this frame,
To praise thy name:
That if I chance to hold my peace,
These stones to praise thee may not cease.
Oh, let thy blessed SACRIFICE be mine,
And sanctify this ALTAR to be thine.
When Jesus heals Simon Peter’s mother-in-law, the effect is instant. Not only does the fever leave her immediately, she is able immediately to get up out of bed and to serve Jesus and the other people present. This tells us something of the nature of our own healing, our freeing from sin, by Jesus. We are called and we are enabled to serve. This is our active participation in Christian community. We may recall that the sick were excluded from participation in religious services in Jewish society. Jesus calls the sick home, to be with God [ … ]
Jesus visits the disciples, where they meet in a locked house, to bring them faith and reassurance, and to entrust them with their evangelical mission to spread the good news about Christ throughout the world. Christ’s is now a glorified body. A locked door is no obstacle to him. He is no longer bound by the limitations of space and time. In Luke’s Gospel, we are told how the disciples are, understandably, frightened by the appearance of Jesus. They think he must be a spirit. Now, to reassure the disciples and help them to know the truth of his resurrection, Jesus offers his body to them. This, he lets them see, is Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified and, as he promised, has risen from the dead [ … ]
Psalm 81 is a beautiful and sensitive call to worship God. The psalm becomes a tapestry of remembrance, recounting the historical journey of the Israelites from the land of Egypt and God’s faithfulness in delivering them. The psalmist invites the people to celebrate the appointed feasts, recalling the statutes and laws established by the God of Jacob. In this call to celebration is a reminder of human disobedience and consequences of turning away from God’s loving guidance. There is earnest plea for Israel to heed the divine voice, embrace obedience, and receive abundant blessings promised by their covenant-keeping God [ … ]
