Fifty Lines
What could I say if my limit was fifty
Surely my story would be quite nifty
I’d begin with creation and then the fall
Right after Adam named them one and all
It tasted so good and changed their whole view
When they lost sight of what was theirs to do
Then there was pride and murder and such
Seems there was nothing sin did not touch
Mens’ hearts hardened and they went their own way
Till God said “Enough; Come inside today”
Forty days it poured; forty nights it rained
God was cleansing what evil men had stained
One and his brother were a quarrelsome pair
He wrestled with God then worshiped him there
Thrown deep in the pit for jealousies’ sake
Was just the Lord’s plan to give them food to bake
Delivered from slavery by a cast out man
Trapped at the red sea in fear they did stand
With all the miracles they would not obey
For only two said we are able this day
Still forty more years they wandered around
Then marched upon Jericho with trumpet’s sound
The Lord fought their battles defeating each foe
The land they possessed as God’s glory did show
The Judges ruled well but still there was one blight
As men did that which was right in their own sight
So they asked for a king without trusting in God
He answered by giving them one with a rod
Herein is wisdom for those who will hear
Men cannot rule well without godly fear
Then came King David with a most holy heart
Until he allowed lust to have its start
The histories were written of good kings and bad
Some who did evil and a faithful young lad
Deserving God’s wrath and conquered by sin
Babylon was chosen to cool their heels in
The prophets had warned and lamented their plight
Hoping that faithful souls might get it right
Then Daniel and friends prospered under God’s hand
Not fearing lions, fire or treacheries of man
Bethlehem was foretold to be the choice place
Where they would first know God’s amazing grace
Shepherds and angels communed in the night
Announcing the One John proclaimed as the light
Teaching the truth to men simple and learned
Oh how their hearts must surely have burned
Still they slew Him thinking to do God a favor
Yet out of the grave He arose without waiver
So there is my story in the fifty I’m given
Believing in Jesus is the only life worth living