[202]. A Message From A Poem – Pictures From A Counting Song - (Part 1)

[202]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – PICTURES FROM A COUNTING SONG - (PART 1)

THIS IS PART 1 OF THE POEM WITH PART 2 TO FOLLOW IN THE NEXT POSTING.

“ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE” OR “1, 2, BUCKLE MY SHOE” is a counting song dating back to late 18th century in the USA. It was heard for the first time around 1780 somewhere around Wrentham, Massachusetts. However the first published version of this traditional nursery rhyme is found in London in a children’s song book called “Songs for the Nursery” that appeared in 1805. I have taken each of the 10 lines and made a Christian application for each. One line be-comes a stanza.

This is a long poem and developed out of wanting to adapt that counting song to a Christian context. What can I say about it? I can’t say too much or it is too large to be accepted.

There are just so many scriptures that can be used here for the poem but let us look just at the first one only:-

[[There’s a children’s song that begins, “One, two, Buckle my Shoe”.

We won’t be doing that, but here is a fact that is true:

When Moses saw the blazing bush, he was on holy ground,

So God demanded his sandals removed, then holy, found.]]

{{Exodus 3:2-5 The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush, and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed, so Moses said, “I must turn aside now, and see this marvellous sight, why the bush is not burned up.” When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” and he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not come near here. Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”}}

Well, when I went to post it, the illustration was refused for being too long. therefore I have had to make it into two postings which is a bit annoying as it can lose the uniformity. There are 5 stanzas in each posting not including the Introduction.

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PICTURES FROM A COUNTING SONG

One, two, Buckle my shoe;

Three, four, Knock at the door;

Five, six, Pick up sticks;

Seven, eight, Lay them straight:

Nine, ten, A big fat hen ;

Eleven, twelve, Dig and delve;

Thirteen fourteen, Draw the curtain;

Fifteen, sixteen, Maids in the kitchen;

Seventeen, eighteen, Maids in waiting

Nineteen, twenty, My plate’s empty.”

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There’s a children’s song that begins, “One, two, Buckle my Shoe”.

We won’t be doing that, but here is a fact that is true:

When Moses saw the blazing bush, he was on holy ground,

So God demanded his sandals removed, then holy, found.

The presence of God is an awesome thing, not to debase.

Holiness is required whenever we see God’ s face

It is on holy ground that our lives must keep on dwelling.

There in the blazing bush, God’s presence is overwhelming.

To attain to holiness is certainly God’s desire,

And those who want God’s strength, to holiness they must aspire.

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We will continue now the song – “Three, four, Knock at the door.”

That reminds us of Jesus so many people ignore.

At the Laodicean church, outside the door He stood,

Because the self-righteous ones there, did not know what was good.

Christ knocked for any who would open, but their hearts were locked;

Christians by name they were, but God’s caring concerns, they mocked.

Many professing Christians are the same – proud, rich and dead.

God saw what was naked, and empty poverty instead.

Worldly Christians, wake up and repent, for Christ knocks for you.

Open to Him for fellowship, one that is rich and true.

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“Five, six, Pick up sticks,” sticks for a fire, to eat and to die.

The poor widow of Zaraphath picked up sticks. Death was nigh.

She and her son were poor, with no food left, and in dire straits.

Through Ahab’s sin, just one final meal, then for death she waits.

The God of miracles sent Elijah for her relief,

To demonstrate what could happen through a godly belief.

Christian, are you gathering sticks because you’re at wits’ end?

You think you are forsaken but on God you must depend.

Jesus Christ is faithful and true, and like the widow’s flour,

His resources never are depleted, hour after hour.

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“Seven, eight, Lay them straight,” is what the song now tells to us.

Diligence is what is needed in our work without fuss.

Lay the sticks straight, and placed in order for your Christian walk.

Our faith must be orderly, and not branched out at some fork;

Confusion has no part; deviation none; eyes ahead,

Looking to the goal, relying on Jesus to be led.

The bible lays straight our doctrine and hope, in correct lines.

Be students of scripture, and let the word control our minds.

God sent the Holy Spirit to interpret God’s true word.

Lay your paths straight, not crooked. Disaster met those who swerved.

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The next count is, “nine, ten, My fat hen,” but scripture lacks “hen”.

What is notable and fattened, is a calf, that often

Was dined on in celebrated merriment, and in praise.

A fattened calf is killed when the lost son returns and stays.

“Put on a ring and sandals; then all be merry and eat.

The son that was lost was found,” whom the father rushed to meet.

Sinners will always be welcomed by the Father in love.

Come through repentance, and connect with the ransomed above.

People are lost through sin which is separation from God,

And journeyed away so that from God’s gentle rule they trod.

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PART 2 WILL FOLLOW ON FROM THIS IN THE NEXT POST

1-5 March 2022 Ronald E Ferguson Metre = 14 throughout. Same with rhyme scheme AABB etc