Here’s a snippet from a hymn sung in the Orthodox Church on Holy Friday (Good Friday). It’s good writing. The devotional and the literary can happen at the same time. Besides the meaning of the words, I also appreciate the juxtaposing of two seemingly incompatible things. Effective comparing and contrasting.
Today, He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung on the tree.
The King of the Angels is decked with a crown of thorns.
He who wraps the heavens in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery
He who freed Adam in the Jordan is slapped on the face.
The Bridegroom of the Church is affixed to the cross with nails.
(from Holy Friday Matins)
