Shakespeare Sonnet XXIX and Psalm 73; the end of self and the beginning of joy
Shakespeare’s famous Sonnet XXIX, however unaware I am of Shakespeare’s actual intention and meaning in the sonnet, it is dear to me for reasons of my own interpretation. What do I mean? The sonnet begins, “When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes, I alone beweep my outcast state…” He is dealing with a focus on self. If you continue reading, you will quickly gather a mood of discontentment with the ways things are for him and this of course leads the pathetic chap to look on the prosperity of others. He sees the wealthy, the talented, the good-looking, and this, to no surprise, leads to coveting. But, as with all sonnets we have 8 lines problem and 6 lines solution (note: the solution is always much shorter than the problem, because of God’s grace He permits a simple solution to the “complex” problems of man). And just what is Mr. Shakespeare’s solution to his discontented state? “Haply I think on thee…” Now, herein lies my earlier remark, I am unsure of Shakespeare’s intention with such a solution, he might have had some love interest in mind, but to this problem of self consumption, what prescription need be filled? The focus on another. And who else is there that deserves our forever gaze than the God, of whom in likeness, there is no other? And this returns me to His Holy Word.
The Psalmist of Psalm 73 deals with a similar issue. ” (verse 3) For I was envious of the arrogant, As I saw the prosperity of the wicked… (verse 16) When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight (verse 17) Until I came into the sanctuary of God…(verse 28) But as for me, the nearness of God is my good.”
The nearness and gaze upon Jesus Christ is our only hope for defeating the dangers and disappointments of self consumption. I am not talented enough, I am not good enough, to have been His, as Moses writes to His people Israel, ” The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers… (Deuteronomy 7:7-8a)” He loves us, because He loves us. And God, so rightly, is focused with Himself, because He is the Perfect and Self-Sufficient God of all. We would do well to imitate His example and always be about our Father’s business (Luke 2:49).
And so, when in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes…
I haply think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remember’d such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.I would not trade my place with the wealthiest, the most talented, or the very fortunate, for, John 3:30, “”He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Thank you Father that You are all I need, and that Your Goodness is my joy when I have no goodness of my own.
In Christ Alone,
Amen
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