Where is the shepherd
Who left behind his livestock
At the Lover's Seat?
The hired hand sleeps
Inattentive to the flock
The sheep go their way
They are unaware
There is danger near the cliffs
Though the grass is sweet
Where is the Shepherd
Will he retrieve his people
From the Sinner's Seat?
I am the good shepherd;
the sheep are my life.
He who is hired
does not own the sheep,
Sees the wolf coming,
Thinks about running.
Avoiding danger, flees from the strife,
Leaving them helpless, runs for his life.
Snarling, the wolf rends,
devours, tears patches;
Ruthless, descending,
he scatters, he snatches.
He who is hired
cares not for the sheep
I am the good shepherd:
My sheep know my voice.
I lay down my life for them;
I do so by choice.
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from John 10, the chiasmus here is the contrast between the shepherd and the hired hand
Shepherd
Hireling
Wolf
Hierling
Wolf
Hierling
Shepherd
“Truly I am the gate for the sheep.
Any who over the wall would leap
would alarm my flock
bring harm like a fox,
but over the fold good watch I keep.”
“I am the Good Shepherd, not a hired hand,
ready to die, a beast to withstand
for the sheep in my care.
For whatever the scare
I know my flock and they me understand.”
John 10.1-18
I am worthy to sit at the right hand of Christ; I am worthy to see Gods shining light.
I am worthy to work as Christ’s hired hand, to work in the field as he has planned.
I am worthy of feeling all of Christ’s love, and the love of the father from up above.
For I am seen as the righteousness of Christ, even when he chose to up his life;
For God’s great plan of redemption existed before the fall of man. So we can all witness his loving hand.
As he empties all my backpacks filled with sand, and as we walk together through this wretched land. He will protect me with his righteous right hand.
And until I reach the end of my road, he will never let go of his loving hold.
For when I am finished with my sanctification, I will be seen with him in a pure and perfect body of glorification.
For by his sacrifice; I am worthy.
Hired Hand
6-8-2016
Some people work hard but can also be lazy,
Thinking one person can be both, isn’t so crazy.
Being an early bird, may not be to his liking,
Even though his physique could be called striking;
Early risers generally, are the ones to get ahead,
Not those who choose to stay snuggled in bed.
Hard work, I’ve been told, has never killed a soul,
He’ll never accumulate much in terms of a bankroll.
To follow instructions seems to make him squirm,
Thinking he should be boss not someone’s worm?
But he’s more than willing and has a good heart,
His dilemma is getting here, at work time, to start.
My day started at seven and he’s not here at noon,
He’ll tell a pitiful story that will make me swoon.
He likely wonders why he can’t find steady work,
Perhaps it’s just because he’s an undisciplined jerk.
This Age Old Tale Has Now Been Truly Told
Farmer was old, beloved land eroded
Story told, how his farmhouse exploded
Very soon after he was newly wedded
Inquiry his young wife dearly dreaded.
His body freshly placed in new graveyard ground
Back at his farm only emptiness found
New wife and hired hand had fled so far away
None there caring enough to make them pay.
Sorrows in howling night winds there fiercely blew
Moaning echoed words that so many knew
Empty dynamite box hidden in old barn
Revealing this sad story is no yarn.
Train they took, had wrecked at rampage junction pass
Both dead in crushed steel, jagged window glass
Justice, they died young, while he so very old
This age old tale has now been truly told.
R.J. Lindley
Rhyme, (Dark Tales Told)
April 19th 1971
Note: Presented as was written for a high school class assignment.
Great teacher, so very strict, gave me a C+ grade on it....
She herself a great poet, I then barely 17 years old, thought the grade was just....
Now I think maybe, it was justly due at least a B....
Syllables Per Line: 0 11 10 11 10 0 11 10 11 10 0 11 10 11 10 0 11 10 11 10
Total # Syllables: 168
Total # Words: 122
burning branches
the vine
a new name coloring I am..
the shepherd is now the vine
the hired hand the branches..
the colors change
but I am..our identity..remains..
branches express the separation
which we all experience..
we live in what seems as
a subject-object world..
as branches we seek the vine
unaware that we already are
the vine..!
then it happens in a moment
as the seeking wearies
our false identity as branches
is burned..at last revealing:
I am the vine..and the
fruits of joy burst forth...
John 10:12
The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
Prince of this World
The prince of this world was not created,
His nature was never begotten,
Oh if only it could be forgotten,
But that darkness is that rejected,
An absence so complete,
It could be pure, yet cannot compete,
And that prince rides out,
His malicious cry, simple doubt,
Fallen malice raising a mace of avarice,
Sweeping the flanks when backs are turned,
Worm tongue whispers whilst nights so young,
Stay away from church today,
What was it that you thought they say,
Why not seek revenge and make them pay,
Let us not work but go on holiday,
And peer review will be the tool,
That creates an illusion of confusion,
And screw tape can contemplate,
Opening some different gates.
@Andrew Carnegie, Sunday 8th January, 2016.
If you would like to know a bit about me and my poetry please click this link below:
https://youtu.be/Ic_V7aX4xbk
Wonderful imperfections at every glance
Edges worn, as solid as ever
Age gives proof of the foundation
No splash of paint could increase the value
Pretending it is new only cheapens
Not sensible to others
The value truly only to the owners
It is a priceless work of art
No hired hand could finish the work
The natural look of it brings awe
Hired Hand
and so we see,
That some are in the hands of God because they love him, his son, and his commandments.
While others point the finger of their false Gods
and teach a false Christ to their neighbors.
and Jesus exalts his holy father in heaven and says 'I am the way'.
while others teach, 'I am your holy father come to my church and pray'.
and they set up idols and false gods as stumbling blocks, to lead the flock astray.
I witness, it would be better for them to destroy all their images, statues, and artifacts,
than to have one proselyte kneel before them to pray.
and I'm afraid
that no place for them will be found
come judgment day.
And Moses was a mighty warrior who with words and power divided a nation.
How much more mightier the Lord Jesus Christ,
who divides churches, people, and nations.
and the blind cannot see for they cling to their twisted faith
how can those in the hands of false gods
ever find their way
for it is not in them to repent
for the sins that they commit
easier for them to deny and or justify
their deeds, their ways, and their sins