Poems and Short Features

The Hidden Mystery
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Seen by holy men in visions,
In types and shadows long concealed,
Portrayed in parables and symbols
The Holy Spirit now reveals.

Formed to show forth praise and glory,
Wrought in love, bought with a Price,
Called through tender mercy to be
Heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ.

A begotten, chosen generation
By the Word of Truth and Sacrifice.
A Royal Priesthood, an Holy Nation,
Peculiar treasure hid with Christ.

Selected from all Nation’s blood,
Not many noble, great or wise;
But a Royal Diadem in the hand of God,
Redeemed by the precious blood of Christ.

His Bride arrayed with jewels rare,
A Queen in gold in His own likeness,
A Virgin, chaste and wondrous fair,
Betrothed to Him in righteousness.

An hundred forty and four thousand
Kings and Priests enthroned by grace,
The promised Seed, the New Creation,
Harps of God attuned with praise.

A Little Flock, elect and precious,
Sheep that knows their Master’s voice,
Tastes of His Word, knows He is gracious,
Abides in His love and presence, rejoice.

Pictured as trees by the waters planted,
Rooted and grounded in perfect love,
Firstfruits of the Vine and as branches
Pruned by the Husbandman above.

Likened unto a Temple built with
Gold, silver and precious stones,
Fitly framed, furnished and filled with
The Glory of Him who sits on the Throne.

An House, eternal, not made with hands,
For an Holy Habitation, when complete,
The Dwelling place where God and man
May through Age everlasting meet.

—Frederick Lardent, The Seven Messengers

“Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me,”
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The rod was a com fort for David’s sheep because it was used for their protection; it was an extension of his right hand. God’s word pro vides the same com fort to us. It is extremely com fort ing to have a “thus saith the Lord” for what we believe to be true. God’s word is clear-cut, authoritative, and the most powerful weapon in dealing with error, “foolish babblings and sci ence falsely so-called” (1 Tim o thy 6:20). God’s word dispels confusion from our lives! It brings peace and confidence: “Thy rod comforts me.”

The shepherd also used the rod to examine the sheep. As sheep pass through the heep gate, the shepherd’s rod is extended across it. If he lets it fall on a sheep’s back, that sheep steps out of line for a careful examination. Because of the wool, it is difficult to detect an injury in sheep. The shepherd uses the thin side of his rod to part the wool so he can examine the sheep’s body. Such a diligent shepherd is a joy to the sheep for their problems are laid bare in his hands.

This is the type of confidence we should have in our shepherd. “Search me O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way ever lasting" (Psalm 139:23,24). If we submit to God, he will by his word search us out. He will get below the surface and expose character flaws that need healing.

The staff is a symbol of the concern and com passion a shepherd has for his sheep. It is not only gentle in appearance but also in performance. The shepherd uses his staff to draw sheep together or to catch individual sheep and draw them close for careful inspection. The staff is used to guide sheep. Its tip is laid gently along the sheep’s side and the applied pres sure indicates the way the sheep are to go. Through com fort of God’s word we “keep in touch” with our shepherd. A keen awareness of this close ness and our one ness with him should fill our hearts. The child of God should have this intimate experience of sensing the comforter by his side each step of the way.

—Richard Suraci, The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom, July/Au gust 1999, p. 11

The Coming of His Feet
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In the crimson of the morning, in the whiteness of the noon,
   In the amber glory of the day’s retreat,
In the midnight, robed in darkness, or the gleaming of the moon,
   I listen to the coming of His feet.

I heard His weary footsteps on the sands of Galilee,
   On the Temple’s marble pavement, on the street,
Worn with weight of sorrow, faltering up the slopes of Calvary,
   The sorrow of the coming of His feet.

Down the minster aisles of splendor, from betwixt the cherubim,
   Through the wondering throng, with motion strong and fleet.
Sounds His victor tread approaching, with a music far and dim—
   The music of the coming of His feet.

Sandaled not with sheen of silver, girded not with woven gold,
   Weighted not with shimmering gems and odors sweet,
But white-winged and shod with glory in the Tabor light of old—
   The glory of the coming of His feet.

He is coming, O, my spirit, with His everlasting peace,
   With His blessedness immortal and complete,
He is coming, O, my spirit, and His coming brings release,
   I listen for the coming of His feet!

—Poems of Dawn, pp. 245, 246

Spring—Life Anew
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How refreshing is the Spring, with its resurgence of life after the cold and barren Winter! Roots that have been lying dormant in the ground are awakened—called forth by their returning lord, the sun. The grasses, flowers and trees all begin to manifest the resurrection. How appropriate that Jehovah God ordained that the Passover should be in the Spring of the year. It was at this season that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Therefore, every little blade of grass that pushes its way out of its prison-house of death, every blossom that wafts its fragrance on the Spring breezes, and every tree that puts forth its new foliage, is but a mute memorial of that Resurrection and the assurance of the general resurrection of all the countless dead when, as Jesus declared, “all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth” (John 5:28,29).

—Anton C. Frey, Deep Waters and a Bubbling Brook, p. 234