This is a poem my pop wrote as he was talented in poetry. He and I both enjoyed writing poetry together. He called them fancy jingles! So here goes.........
GENERAL GIDEON..........A LESSON IN MILITARY HISTORY!
Now long ago it came to pass that the children of Israel were sorely oppressed
because, against their Lord, they had once again transgressed.
They cried unto the Lord with all their might
hoping the end to this tunnel of despair might soon be found, and with it some light!
So the Angel of the Lord came one day to Gideon.....just a simple man was he......,
and said, "Oh mighty man of valour, soon you shall have a great victory!"
But, said Gideon, "The Midianites are great in number, a war with them will be in vain.
Besides, who am I to lead our troops in such a great campaign?
"Give me a sign I pray thee, that this meeting between you and me is real
so that I shall not have indigestion and nightmares following this evenings meal!"
For I am only a farmer, I do not know how to fight,
and should combat ensue without a miracle, then we shall all be in a terrible plight!"
So the Lord did comply with Gideon to alleviate his fears
and to assure him that soon he would wipe away all of Israel's tears.
Now there was a neat plan which the Lord Himself had devised
so that Israel's victory would, indeed, be realized.
Not be defeating the enemy with more troops than he,
but by clinching the win with some slick chicanery.
To create confusion within their ranks,
by pulling off some really nifty pranks!
Since Gideon could never muster greater numbers to overwhelm his foe,
"then with just a few we'll invade the enemy's lair, wait till it's dark, and then we'll go."
Just a few men would do the job, 300 would be enough.
To stir up confusion, plus terror, in the enemy's camp thus engineering a mighty bluff!
Night time came, the Midianites slept, with their tents pitched far and wide.
Then, with lanterns flashing, trumpets blasting, Gideon's men came charging in,
like a great tsunami tide!
Well, there was confusion and panic in the enemy's camp that night
from just a few invaders causing maximum fright!
Each man's sword was turned against his brother
and in the dark they all would up killing each other!
Since there was no invading army,
deception had been complete.
For the Midianites it was total disaster.....irreversible, self-inflicted defeat!
Thus by a miracle was Israel once again spared,
by just a few men who dared,
who dared to trust God once they had heard
and simply take Him at His Word.
To walk by faith and not by sight
and thus, with His Help, to overcome a difficult plight!
The story of Gideon is written for all to see
that nothing is too hard for the Lord who indwells you and me!
By Philip B. Holwick, M.D.
This was a poem, an excellent poem that my dad wrote. He and I loved to write poetry together. He called them fancy jingles.
GENERAL GIDEON..........A LESSON IN MILITARY HISTORY!
Now long ago it came to pass that the children of Israel were sorely oppressed
because, against their Lord, they had once again transgressed.
They cried unto the Lord with all their might
hoping the end to this tunnel of despair might soon be found, and with it some light!
So the Angel of the Lord came one day to Gideon.....just a simple man was he......,
and said, "Oh mighty man of valour, soon you shall have a great victory!"
But, said Gideon, "The Midianites are great in number, a war with them will be in vain.
Besides, who am I to lead our troops in such a great campaign?
"Give me a sign I pray thee, that this meeting between you and me is real
so that I shall not have indigestion and nightmares following this evenings meal!"
For I am only a farmer, I do not know how to fight,
and should combat ensue without a miracle, then we shall all be in a terrible plight!"
So the Lord did comply with Gideon to alleviate his fears
and to assure him that soon he would wipe away all of Israel's tears.
Now there was a neat plan which the Lord Himself had devised
so that Israel's victory would, indeed, be realized.
Not be defeating the enemy with more troops than he,
but by clinching the win with some slick chicanery.
To create confusion within their ranks,
by pulling off some really nifty pranks!
Since Gideon could never muster greater numbers to overwhelm his foe,
"then with just a few we'll invade the enemy's lair, wait till it's dark, and then we'll go."
Just a few men would do the job, 300 would be enough.
To stir up confusion, plus terror, in the enemy's camp thus engineering a mighty bluff!
Night time came, the Midianites slept, with their tents pitched far and wide.
Then, with lanterns flashing, trumpets blasting, Gideon's men came charging in,
like a great tsunami tide!
Well, there was confusion and panic in the enemy's camp that night
from just a few invaders causing maximum fright!
Each man's sword was turned against his brother
and in the dark they all would up killing each other!
Since there was no invading army,
deception had been complete.
For the Midianites it was total disaster.....irreversible, self-inflicted defeat!
Thus by a miracle was Israel once again spared,
by just a few men who dared,
who dared to trust God once they had heard
and simply take Him at His Word.
To walk by faith and not by sight
and thus, with His Help, to overcome a difficult plight!
The story of Gideon is written for all to see
that nothing is too hard for the Lord who indwells you and me!
By Philip B. Holwick, M.D.
This was a poem, an excellent poem that my dad wrote. He and I loved to write poetry together. He called them fancy jingles.