Advent Poem

I recently found myself inspired by John Piper, so I wrote this poem about the shepherds in the fields who were visited by the angels. It's a little long. Randy

"Shepherds "

The hills of Bethlehem were dim
As shepherds gathered near the brim
Of their communal ring of fire
With warmer hands their one desire.

And Eli told of how that day
He’d saved his lamb who went astray
From near the flock to thickets far,
Then wondered at a brighter star

Than he had seen in all his years.
“Perhaps the winter weather nears,”
He spoke aloud, to those around
Though each in his own thoughts was drowned.

Young Malachi was missing home
For in these weary fields he’d grown
Accustomed to monotony
And staring at the same old tree.

He’d dreamed so many times before
Of breaking through great Caesar’s door
With sword in hand to pierce his heart.
That’s how deliverance should start.

Tonight, he dreamed of no such feats.
But thought instead (amid the bleats
Of clustered sheep) of father’s smile
And mother’s hug. “It’s been awhile

Since either joy has been my lot.
For I’ve been camped upon this plot
Of meager land to care for all
My family has. And I recall

A promise that my father made
That he would help me learn a trade
When things picked up in grandpa’s store.
But through the years our village bore

The weight of Caesar’s cruel pax.
His iron fist and ruthless tax
Has stolen all we had.” And now
We may break free, but God knows how.”

He sat in somber silence when,
Oblivious to other men,
He seemed to fall into despair
As he conceded he’d be there

Until his years gave way to death.
Beside him old Mephibosheth
Took note of his young shepherd friend
And tried his fallen heart to mend:

“My boy take heart, the fire is warm
We’ve laid our sheep down safe from harm,
And I recall an ancient song
About our God so good and strong.

‘He comes to save’, the chorus rings
‘He stands as king above all kings.
He’ll save his people from their sin.
And Israel will be great again.’”

But Malachi could not be swayed.
“This God you praise has far off stayed
For all my years. My hope is dead
I don’t believe what father said.”

The older man had labored long
And given his heart to the song.
He, like a rock, and like a dove
Recalled the acts of Yaweh’s love.

Though with his eyes he’d never seen
That promised land with pastures green
His God had brought deliverance
From sin and from it’s consequence.

He shared of one despairing night
When God’s word broke through with its light
And set him free from filth and shame
And helped him his desires to tame.

He told of how his world was new
When he discovered God was true
And all the world a lie. “My son
Your father’s God’s the only one.”

“But God is weak and Caesar’s strong!”
Cried Malachi. “I have no song
Unless he comes to show his face
And ransom our forgotten race.”

Mephibosheth just smiled and wept
The words across his lips now crept,
“It won’t be long, the time is nigh.
Our tribe will see him, if not I.

Though our great God is slow to come
When he delivers we’ll become
The apple of his eye, his bride
And you may stand there at his side.”

“I wish I had your hope, old man.
I’m holding on with all I can,
But times are hard in Bethlehem
Impatiently I wait for him.”

“Lay down to sleep. Our friends retired.
Perhaps you’ll wake again inspired.”
But Malachi slept just an hour
Before his God in holy power

Broke in and changed eternity.
So bright the men could barely see,
A valiant warrior took his stand
And terrified the shepherd band.

And Malachi could only cry.
The angel spanning earth and sky
Proclaimed the coming of the crown:
A savior born in David’s town.

As if the angel knew his doubts
He told the baby’s whereabouts:
A stable, in a feeding trough
And wrapped in cloth so poor and rough.

“So this is how our God will save?
A baby boy will free this slave?”
Then through their fingers shepherds saw
Angelic hosts demanding awe,

And heard the sounds of heaven’s song
“The peace for which all people long
Has come at last,” their voices sang,
And through the skies the praises rang

As shepherds prostrate, jaws all gaping
Realized that this was shaping
Everything; now and forever
This king would all their shackles sever.

And so they ran to see the child
Their thoughts aflame with dreams gone wild.
The stable reached, all short of breath,
The first one there: Mephibosheth

Fell to his knees and wept aloud.
And soon surrounded by a crowd
Of shepherd men who gasped for air,
He whispered a prophetic prayer.

“O baby boy, your life is worth
More treasures than could fill the earth.
Our hope, our joy, our strength, our life
You come to free the world of strife.

Your song will make the children come.
Your words will be the death of some.
And when your days reach tragic end
Your Father’s gift of life he’ll send.

Your life will set the Spirit free
To live within a man like me,
Until you make a glorious bride
Who’ll live forever by your side.”

Then Malachi fell mesmerized,
And holding tight the babe he prized,
Knelt as his weeping soaked the sod
And sang unto his father’s God.