“Get Over It?” (Jeremiah 15; Luke 18:9-14; 1 Samuel 21) [Sun Tzu Series 8 – 6]

Five traits there are in generals, he says;
I wonder if genetic traits here play
A role in whether one can change or not –
Can “Leopard” of the Bible change its spots?

If one can’t overcome these, Sun Tzu’s right –
They’re dangerous in one who leads the fight;
Apart from two or more flaws in one man,
Let’s take a look, and think if leader can –

Address his flaws, or is he best to go
Some other route in life, if this is so –
For much hangs in the balance in each case,
As war affects all parts of human race.

The reckless and the violent can have
A death-wish, be a rebel, scorn the salve
As one solution to raw-edge of life,
And think the only way is pick a fight.

Like Nabal in the Bible – “Boor” his name,
Belligerence and violence his game;
Or Peter in the garden – cut the ear
Off servant with his sword, said, “I’ve no fear”.

Well, Peter had a thing or two to learn
Before he’d be a leader – had to spurn
His antics, rein his temper in; it seems
He grew through that, and found some other means.

Timidity and squeamishness can seem
Like cowardice, self-preservation – means
Attachment to one’s life here on the globe,
So much that thought of death one comes to loath.

But spirit of timidity, Paul says,
Is switched in us, for strength in all our ways;
Like a Gideon, who hid when trouble came –
His brother harmed, he overcame his name.

I often wonder if in Judas’ life,
Some terror overwhelmed one childhood night,
So much “His demons” drove him to subvert
Christ’s road to Calvary, his foes alert.

Sun Tzu says capture is result of fear;
The enemy plays on this when he’s near;
He mainly wants you off the field today,
So death or capture each work in their way.

Quick temper, fuse that’s short, and lashing out,
Are problematic when a leader’s route
Takes him to meet a tease – the mix is bad –
Insulted, made a fool of, he gets mad.

King Saul was this way, once he went berserk –
Took after David – shamed, insulted – worked
To get him killed until Saul’s death at last
Perhaps his illness made that die be cast.

The Pharisees get bad press in The Book –
Reformers to the core – take second look –
Sure, rigid they became as decades passed,
But that is just the point here (second last).

If one has moral scruples out of sight,
And inner drive to be the one that’s right,
So scrupulous, untainted by the world –
Fragility’s the label that is heard.

In Temple, Jesus saw one acting out –
Self-conscious, puritanical, no doubt;
Good reputation could not be besmirched;
His self-importance shaped his life-time work.

Disgrace, humiliation, outright shame
(Real or imagined), is open opponent’s game –
Insult; calumniate him; choices cloud;
Then you can win the day – deceit’s allowed.

The final flaw’s compassion for the folks –
A fondness, love, concern, preferring blokes;
Attachment to the troops within one’s care,
Can jeopardize the lives of all men there.

That’s Jeremiah to a tee – was torn
Between the love he’d had since he was born,
And message he should speak on God’s behalf;
His troubled heart and soul were torn in half.

They pestered him; harassed his troubled mind;
They tossed him in a pit for quite some time,
Removed from people – chat God had with him,
Describes a man whose torment was within.

These problems are quite common for mankind;
But in a general, to Sun Tzu’s mind,
They’re catastrophic – men depend on clear
And certain thinking, for their lives are dear.

Lord Jesus, what I hear is, “Kingdom-life
In Me and I in you, in darkest night” –
“My word’s a lamp unto your path ahead;
A light unto your life – by Me be led.”

Thanks Lord for this.

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