"Kept"

Jacob left Beersheba with nothing but,
With his father's blessing and the dirt road,
No temple, no altar, alone he strode,
To take stones 'neath his head, his eyes did shut.

From atop the ladder He spoke downhill,
The Covenant Keeper promised the same,
Mid-flight, mid-fear, mid-sleep he did exclaim,
Not I may, not if worthy, but I will.

To keep is not merely to recollect.
It is to guard, to carry, to return.
God keeps covenants so that we can learn.
The way a father keeps watch, double checked.

Every covenant we make with the One,
Written in our hearts with a spiritual pen.
Is our God saying again and again:

I will not leave thee.

I will not leave thee.

I will not leave thee.

'Til every word I have spoken is done. 

Then wake, like Jacob, trembling, unafraid,
Pour oil on stone; the covenant was made.

I am with thee, and will keep thee
in all places whither thou goest,
and will bring thee again into this land;
for I will not leave thee,
until I have done that which I have spoken.
Genesis 28:15

Content based upon Genesis chapters 24-33

AI Summary by NotebookLM

This poetic piece examines the unwavering faithfulness of God through the lens of the biblical story of Jacob. While Jacob travels in isolation with nothing but a stone for a pillow, he receives a divine assurance that covenants are maintained by God’s will rather than human merit. The text redefines "keeping" a promise as an active, protective guardianship similar to a father watching over his child. This spiritual commitment is depicted as a permanent internal inscription that guarantees God will never abandon his followers. Ultimately, the poem suggests that recognizing this divine presence transforms a person's fear into a state of worshipful confidence. Through this narrative, the author illustrates that every promise made by the Creator is destined for total fulfillment.

Audio discussion about the poem:  Link to NotebookLM