Throw the Bums Out! (Poem)

‘Throw the bums out!’, an ole, familiar expression,
That's heard in sports or political discussions,
To signify someone’s gross dissatisfaction,
With a team, coach, or one seeking re-election.

But there is something I have come to recognize,

As the stories in The Bible I scrutinize.

The ‘Throw the bums out!’ notion is not ours, per se!

Let’s take a peek and see what The Spirit has to say.

First, check below to clarify who is a ‘bum’.¹

Then let’s see how this might apply to God’s Kingdom.

We see the first bums were angels who rebelled,

Thus, from God’s holy Heaven, they were expelled!

Adam and Eve failed to perform up to expectations.

From Eden, man was expelled, with angelic interdictions! ²

As sins across the land mounted to high heaven,

To only 8 souls, ‘flood-saving Grace’ was given.

Of all those Hebrew slaves who from Egypt were freed,

Many, to the promised land, Moses could not lead.

Their claims to the land of milk and honey they had to cede.

They died for their sin, and the land was given to their seed.

God’s Grace has grown considerably since then,

And now it has been extended, FREE, to all men.

From Israel and Gentiles, He’s seeking …royal regents,

Who will serve forever as His future …Eden agents.

This life is His ‘Life In the Future Exam’.

It comes with His is complete internship program.

But about this program, I note a strange phenomenon,

One that’s led me to a sad postulation.

Many who into His program He welcomes,

All too soon seem to have been …cast out as bums!

On God’s entrance exam, these folk did not fail!

Thus into His internship program they did sail.

But as the trials of life around them did swarm,

Their desire and love for Him became lukewarm.³

Lukewarmness is a step on a course,

That often leads to …outright divorce!

His pleas, ‘Return to Me!’, they heard, but did not heed.

His patient Grace to them extended did not lead,

To repentance and diligence through the program’s end.

Further away from Him their paths continued to wend.

Then He concluded,

‘I have no other option,

Than to label these folk with My ‘bums’ description!

Away with them, with necks so stiff and stout!

Angels, go forth and throw all these bums out!’ ⁴

These folk were marked. Eventually their lives were spent.

Angels always do well the jobs to which they are sent.

I pray that you, a fellow royal regent trainee,

Will not become like the bums these folk turned out to be!

Friend, God is continually refining,

The two remnant groups He is now defining.

Through tests and trials, He is ever sifting, then sorting,

Internships He’ll soon be exhorting    …or aborting.

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¹ The literal meaning of bum is a lazy or worthless person. This idiom is used metaphorically to refer to members of a group who are not performing up to expectations, e.g., ineffective politicians, members of a losing sports team, office teammates, etc. Thus, we wish to get rid of those worthless members, and replace them with new ones we hope will do better, or if necessary, leave their places vacant.

² So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the Tree of Life. (Genesis 3:24)

³ ‘…So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit/spew you out of My mouth.’ (Revelation 3:16)

⁴ Here is a clear example of God’s ‘Throw the bums out!’ policy and practice:

…And He called to the man [angel] clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; and The Lord said to him, “Go through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” To the others [angels] He said, “Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple. Then He said to them, “Defile the temple, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” And they went out and killed in the city. While they were killing them, I was left alone; and I fell on my face and cried out, and said, “Ah, Lord God! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?” Then He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity; for they say, ‘The  Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see!’ And as for Me also, My eye will neither spare, nor will I have pity, but I will recompense their deeds on their own head.” Just then, the man [angel] clothed with linen, who had the inkhorn at his side, reported back and said, “I have done as You commanded me.” (Ezekiel 9:3-11)