Judges

Deuteronomist plans, stranded in cyclical nature,

Israelites fall into idolatry with foreign people,

Watch the light that spread its beam so far

From blood Red Street of Egypt to lands in upheaval.

 

Joshua’s deepest footprints held in remembrance,

The richest treasures from captured territory,

God’s guidance, sentence of judges to deliverance

From the political and religious turmoil of the enemy.

 

Crossbow scars unveil the weight of the battle,

Shamgar stick showed no mercy for crossing fate,

His cunning toy, cast the clouds of a dark spectacle

Ehud turns the tide of morbid sorrow into hate.

 

Oceans flows between mountain pastures green,

Where the changing hues of nature fills the eyes,

Lebanon deep forest brim lies placidly in between,

Quiet springs, spray its beams on the Canaanites.

 

Judah at last took possession of the stony hill,

Fought against chariots fitted with iron on display,

At Bokim, an angel of the Lord came to dwell,

From dawn’s daring snare, to explain another way.

 

The message of judges, God will not allow sin,

Engaged in blatant immorality, even in trying times,

Israel was Gods people, he was their beloved king

In the Promised Land, had designs on fruitful vines.

 

In graphic form, the dramatic heroes were born,

Poured scorn upon disturbing and violent scenes,

In righteousness, some noble deeds they perform,

Others profit from the realm of evil schemes.

 

Caleb passionate zeal, wield sufficient influence

Strong character revealed his daughter's desire,

Overcome with faith in difficult circumstance,

The tallest giants destroyed in a rage of fervour.

 

Memory is a gift all the tribes did not remember,

In the reign of judges, everyone did as he saw fit,

Fancy whims of the wicked draws near Kishon River

Life’s darkest discreet strain covered under a blanket.

 

Jael with temple nail enters into the deadliest epic,

Barack human frailties blinds the truth of revelation,

God’s discipline made Deborah’s plans more strategic

The period drama judges the sequel to Joshua ambition.

 

Victory came when the princes in Israel take the lead,

They praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song

Travelers took to winding paths along the road,

Gideon, thresh wheat in the winepress of Midian.

 

A few enticing pleasures, they were slightly hidden,

Some would see the sin, but the angel saw different.

Brave actions would lead to the future doors left open,

In the land of dread, courage stole the moment.

 

Gideon took the chance with sheer determination,

Looked at the place and squeeze the fleece out,

Captains came down, thinking of thrashing the town,

The dark nights, was disguised by the dancing light.

 

Ephraim’s pretty head of warriors was thickly spread, 

Take them to the water, three hundred will avoid defeat.

The brook of honesty will decide the path to tread,

Happiness replete among the chosen few God shall meet.

 

Around the camp, walking on soft carpet in a dream

Grasping the torches, jars broke the barrier of sound,

Victory revealed, Oreb and Zeeb, did not come clean, 

Scattered forces around, left everything on the ground.

 

The pursuit of Zebah and Zalmunna, Sukkoth didn’t hear,

Comparable account of apostasy made conscience unafraid,

Bring dinner for the men, order something we can all share

In the variety of cities, towns and battlefields need first aid.

 

Bring food that we may eat now, or later, a treat of thorns

Fail to show loyalty to Jeru- Baal, but pleasurable wish,

Abimelech the scoundrel king, tricked the citizens

Of Shechem, hope you won’t mind, I am your flesh.

 

From judges, lessons we learned, we’ll never forget,

Yesterday it touched the flawed individual lives,

Serving God in life and times that were imperfect,

Periodic oppression raise wickedness and divided tribes.

 

War ravages the cliffs, Jephthah’s promise runs cold in veins

A puzzled mind holds the darkness that beckons to Samson

Silver tongue Philistines made hand and spirit restrains,

Enviable Delilah watched him grinding grain in the prison.

 

Into the dark, the Lord abode, warm fires of prayers explode,

Repentance pews for been shaved, the warning Godsend,

In a final act, approval of Gods mercy Samson made,

Sacrifice to Dagon in vain, with all his strength to defend.

 

Judges, Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar, Deborah and Barak

Gideon, Tola, and Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan,

Elon, Abdon, Samson, in the final act

Judges span the geographical breadth of the nation.