The Ending Matters

 

 

He was not the second king

And he was not the third

Can you guess which one?

Check it out in God’s word

 

He came from a tribe

A case of the last being first

And without much experience

Into kingship was immersed

 

He was up above all

As king he was quite tall

He was chasing after animals

When he first received the call

 

He was the people’s choice

Well, more or less

Since they rejected the King

That was their best

 

He started out well

But like many his end was not

He was finally dethroned

But he suffered a lot

 

 

He rejected God

And sought his successor’s life

After giving his daughter

To this champion to wife

 

He became very jealous

Of the younger prospect

That received more praise than he

And much greater respect

 

He disregarded the prophet

And offered the sacrifice

And as a consequence

He paid a hefty price

 

God rejected him

It was the final straw

He would finally seek advice

From a witch at Endor

  

Quite a dismal story

I am sure you would agree

Name the king inferred

If you are not too blind to see

 

He fell on his own sword

After his amour-bearer refused

But an Amalekite took the claim

And his life too did lose

 

 

This king erred exceedingly

He had played the fool

This was his very sentiment

Even while he ruled

 

At which verse did you guess?

The first was meant to mislead

But if you guessed it by verse 3

Then you are up to speed.

 

Stewart Russell © May 2019

 

Presidents and Precedents

 

 

Presidents and precedents

Sound pretty close, don’t they?

In concept too, I must admit

They are similar in some ways.

 

In America, for example

Take the last two Presidents

Obama and Trump are who I mean

Both were precedents.

 

Setting precedents and becoming Presidents

As in Presidents Trump and Obama

May at times be well and good

But is never without its drama.

 

 

Obama, as far as we can tell

Was the first black President,

Trump was a first too as it happened:

Not one but two impeachments.

 

That Trump was the worst President

Is the opinion of many,

And who can compare with President Trump?

For some, there isn’t any.

 

As President he set a precedent

To make America great again,

For many that was wonderful news

But for others it meant more pain.

 

Obama on the other hand

Established Obama care,

For many this was seen as a precedent

In putting so many on welfare.

 

 

Trump was determined to wipe it out

Along with the Obama name

But he ended up hurting himself

As President with a one-term fame.

 

So Presidents do set precedents

Sometimes to their own demise,

Trump apparently was one of these

Though not so in some people’s eyes.

 

For many he was not a puppet

To be manipulated by the informal powers,

To many he was no politician

But the man who owns Trump Towers.

 

Maybe therein was his mistake,

Trying to make America his enterprise

Since it appears in many corners

For this he was sorely despised.

 

 

Precedents can be good or bad

And so too can be Presidents,

This is borne out in the public polls

Depending on the people’s bent.

 

Trump will go down as the underdog

That won at tremendous odds

But was ousted after just one term

Making the claims that he was robbed.

 

He claimed the election was stolen

And allegedly incited a riot

In the hallowed chambers of Capitol Hill

Disturbing its peace and quiet.

 

Whether he was robbed or not

I certainly would not know

But I do know he set a precedent

By not going when he should go.

 

Somebody once said

The voice of the people is the voice of God,

While I do not necessarily agree

The vote is still the people’s call.

 

 

A precedent may set a President apart

And that may be for good or ill

But whether he goes or whether he stays

Is the people’s choice still.

 

Presidents and precedents

Sound alike, don’t they?

But please don’t mistake one for the other

They are different in some ways.

 

Stewart Russell © February 20, 2021