The Bible in Poetry: Job to Ecclesiastes

Extracted from the Bible In Poetry

From Genesis to Revelation

 
Job

Job was an upright man according to the Father’s view,

He was known to fear God and all evil he eschewed;

Satan hatched an evil scheme to prove God incorrect

If he should lose his riches even God he would reject.

Well God had given permission for Satan to attack

He did his very worse to move Job from God’s track;

His property and children taken yet Job kept his cool

And at his wife’s chiding he said she spoke as a fool.

  

Three of his friends on hearing came to counsel Job

But criticized him the more and just added to his load;

So ridiculed and scorned in sackcloth and ash he lay

Cognizant of the fact that God gives and takes away.

But God had restored to Job all that Satan had taken

Then rebuked his friends for the counsel they had given;

Job had not sinned although he pleaded his innocence,

In all the trials confronted he clearly showed his patience.

The Psalms

Blessed is the man that delights in the law of the Lord

Whatever he does will prosper according to the word;

The ungodly are not so but like chaff are blown away

They like all sinners will perish on that judgment day.

The Lord is that shepherd that looks after His flock,

His eyes run to and fro and he is always taking stock;

Even among their enemies he still supplies food

And he knows each by name not one would he exclude.

Make a joyful noise raise a standard in His name,

Serve him with gladness and lift the joyous refrain;

For the Lord is good and He’s greatly to be praised

His works are wondrous; His people are amazed.

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?

By taking heed to God’s word each and every day;

Feeding on His word he will not sin in his heart

And walking with God nothing will keep them apart.

Words of Wisdom

The Proverbs of Solomon, son of David the King

Speak to all life’s issues, yes, each and everything;

To know wisdom and instruction, justice and equity,

Thus avoid the schemes of them that plan secretly.

Ecclesiastes

There is a time to be born and there is a time to die.

There is a time to make peace and a time to defy;

There is a season for everything that’s under the sun, 

It flourishes for a while and then after that, it’s done.

Stewart Russell © 2013

Stewie's Silly Snippets 3

Weather Forecast

What awful wet weather these last two dry days!

Having rained for a week the weather forecast says.

The rain began yesterday and has fallen so long,

Raining the whole week and the forecast isn’t wrong.

Sun out and Snowed in

The sun was so hot that it snowed all night,

The night was so cold as the sun shone bright.

The sweat on my brow was like frozen ice,

It wasn’t a great feeling but just simply nice.

 

Strong Delusions

Wood sharpens iron I know you would agree,

Steel can’t bend or break, try it and you’ll see.

Fools get wiser, the wise getting dumber,

Been here a long time but just getting younger.

 

Which is it?

Here I am at the beginning starting the ending,

Yet I am at the ending beginning the starting.

If I am starting the end just when I am ending the start,

Would it be cart before the horse or horse before the cart?

  

Mule Sense

A horse is always a horse of course, that is that!

And poor donkey’s always a jackass, that’s a fact!

A mule is neither an ass nor horse, just a mule,

And will often grow up to be a stubborn old fool.

 

A Play on Word Twins

Hustle and bustle, tit for tat,

You hit me I hit you back;

Pros and cons, law and order,

Conflict still, crossing the border.

  

A Play on Proverbs

Many hands make light work,

Too many cooks spoil the broth,

Ask my companion if I be a thief,

A soft answer turns away wrath.

 

A Play on Family

If your parents did not have a child,

Chances are you will not have one either;

Matters not how wise or otherwise,

There’s no offspring without a “him” and a “her”.

A Play on Family

Grandchildren are God’s gift to parents

For not killing their children

When they had reason to;

For had they given into to that spontaneity

Grandchildren would have been a mystery.

 

My Absurd Blood Line

Before Daddy came about

Grand-daddy had fallen out;

Won’t happen to me,

I’ve got two already and going for three.

How Come?

How come numbers go beyond seven?

There are eight, nine, ten and eleven;

Shouldn’t be any after seven, you see,

Seven ate the rest for dinner and tea.

 

  

Someone Like You

Someone like you came into my view,

I was positively sure it couldn’t be you,

If it were you it could not be like you too,

Study for a moment how this must be true.

  

Stewart Russell © 2013

Love Is

What is love? I’ve heard many ask,

From whom does it come?

And to whom does it go?

Tell us, we really want to know.

I have heard some try to explain it,

They try to quantify and qualify

But always there’s something missing

And often leave you still guessing.

Some say it is a feeling you feel

Like having had a delicious meal,

Others attempt to prove it by talk

But never express it in their walk.

What is love?  Can no one show me?

I am desperate and I need to see

A demonstration of this phenomenon;

Can it be found in this earthly kingdom?

Check these examples hope they satisfy,

I will not attempt to quantify or qualify;

I’ll give them to you then you can decide

By which of them you’re willing to abide.

Love is a mother reaching out to a child

And wondering the source of its pain;

Knowing no sleep till she brings relief

And rids him of his discomfort and grief.

Love is a father watching a child

As it makes its first unsteady steps;

Walking beside in case of a stumble

Helping to avoid a discouraging tumble.

Love is a brother or indeed a sister

Ready ever to defend that sibling

That encounters a stroke of misfortune

And seeks the other’s understanding.

Love is a friend who is like a brother

Though not born of the same mother;

Does what he can to comfort another

In the time of his trouble and bother.

  

Love is a fireman in a burning building

Refusing to leave it till he is sure

That all of the occupants are safely out

And only then he heads for the door.

Love is an artist who patiently paints

Aiming for that elusive master-piece

While anticipating that moment of joy

When the eyes of the world will have a feast.

Love is a teacher whose heart is troubled

By a single pupil who is unable to grasp

And with great empathy she finds a way

To bring him on par with the rest of the class.

Love is a child who clings to a parent

Though a spanking has just occurred;

Love is a parent who hugs that child

And makes sure that love is not blurred.

Love is a kind and gracious person

Who offers help to someone in need;

Who asks and expects nothing in return

Regardless of status, ethnicity or creed.

Love is one man and one woman

Who stand before God declaring, “I do”;

And thereby forsaking all others

Cling to one another in love that’s true.

But notice something of all the above,

Human love is limited in scope and depth

And no matter how hard we have tried

The greatest human need remained unmet.

This need required the greatest love of all,

There’s only one on whom God could call;

His only begotten Son he did commission

To die for us was his sacrificial expression.

God’s love looked down from on high

And saw a people he wanted to draw nigh;

A people he wanted for His very own

That He could nurture and set life’s tone.

The more He would reach out to them

The more they would spurn His love;

Till finally in the fullness of God’s time

Love came down from heaven above.

Love in human form met human kind,

Love left heaven’s glory, from it resigned

To journey to a cross to die for my sin

So that a crown of glory I could win.

Leaving heaven’s glory to take my place,

Experiencing contempt and loss of face,

Reaching out to me in my disgrace,

His love for my hate, His amazing grace.

How can I quantify such wondrous love

Or in my finite mind attempt to qualify?

The least I can do, yea, the most I rephrase

Is surrender to Christ, my sufficient supply.

God’s Divine love pursued after my soul,

His amazing grace has made me whole.

Christ conquered Calvary removing my load,

What mercy, what grace, what love untold!

Love is the Saviour who took my place,

Yes! Love is this sinner saved by grace,

Love is my Shepherd who is the Lamb,

I am that sheep saved by the great “I AM”.

Stewart Russell © 2015