In A Lifetime Never Met A Clever Rival

C310 E8310
1
My cleverness no match had met
In Esau, Isaac of the past;
But now it’s life or death, and yet
I still in self would place my trust.
My hands are tied — submitting not,
I still would struggle, scheme and plot.
CMy 
cleverness no 
Fmatch 
had 
G7met 
In 
CE
sau, 
FI
saac 
G7of 
Cthe 
Gpast; 
But 
Cnow 
it's life or 
D7death, 
and 
Gyet 
I still 
Cin 
Gself 
Dwould 
Gplace 
D7my 
Gtrust. 
My 
A7hands 
are 
Dmtied— 
sub
G7mit
ting 
Cnot, 
C7still 
would 
Fstrug
gle, 
Dmscheme 
G7and 
Cplot.
2
It seems one comes to rob my home;
Afraid, yet stubborn, I persist,
I fear my final day has come—
With every ounce of strength, resist.
He comes to wrestle; I defend:
I’ll fight Him to the bitter end.
It seems one comes to rob my home;
Afraid, yet stubborn, I persist,
I fear my final day has come—
With every ounce of strength, resist.
He comes to wrestle; I defend:
I’ll fight Him to the bitter end.
3
How strange! Though every wile I’ve used,
For one whole night, yet still He stands.
I see my strength has been reduced,
And yet revenge is not His plan.
How strange! Although I can’t get free,
My courage grows exceedingly.
How strange! Though every wile I’ve used,
For one whole night, yet still He stands.
I see my strength has been reduced,
And yet revenge is not His plan.
How strange! Although I can’t get free,
My courage grows exceedingly.
4
I’ve never met with such a foe,
And even if He states His name,
Of this opponent naught I know,
But that from Him reward I’d gain.
I’d force Him blessing to bestow,
And, blessing, His surrender own.
I’ve never met with such a foe,
And even if He states His name,
Of this opponent naught I know,
But that from Him reward I’d gain.
I’d force Him blessing to bestow,
And, blessing, His surrender own.
5
’Tis dawn, yet have I won, or He?
It’s still impossible to see.
My Rival, forced, now blesses me,
To me concedes the victory .
Says “Israel” is my new name;
But when I rise, my thigh is lame.
’Tis dawn, yet have I won, or He?
It’s still impossible to see.
My Rival, forced, now blesses me,
To me concedes the victory .
Says “Israel” is my new name;
But when I rise, my thigh is lame.
6
The faintest light in darkened heart
Begins to shine — I realize:  
If I’m so strong, why grasp the heel?
If victor, why the crippled thigh?
‘Twas He who won and left this sign,
          From folly warning me thereby.
The faintest light in darkened heart
Begins to shine — I realize:  
If I’m so strong, why grasp the heel?
If victor, why the crippled thigh?
‘Twas He who won and left this sign,
          From folly warning me thereby.
7
A flood of light: This heart of mine,
As breaks the dike by swelling tide,
At once in radiance divine
Must worship, and in shame must hide.
So great my sin, I must confess:
I’m lawless, full of filthiness.
A flood of light: This heart of mine,
As breaks the dike by swelling tide,
At once in radiance divine
Must worship, and in shame must hide.
So great my sin, I must confess:
I’m lawless, full of filthiness.
8
Alas! To think: I overcame
Creator God Omnipotent!
Ridiculous! Oh, woe is me!
Death is my fitting punishment.
That these, mine own two hands, rebelled
The mighty God to stop and held!
Alas! To think: I overcame
Creator God Omnipotent!
Ridiculous! Oh, woe is me!
Death is my fitting punishment.
That these, mine own two hands, rebelled
The mighty God to stop and held!
9
Thou, God, dost shine so gloriously;
Thou, Lord of hosts, resplendent, bright,
At once, at recognizing Thee,
And realizing who Thou art,
I cry aloud, and tearfully
I must repent and bow the knee.
Thou, God, dost shine so gloriously;
Thou, Lord of hosts, resplendent, bright,
At once, at recognizing Thee,
And realizing who Thou art,
I cry aloud, and tearfully
I must repent and bow the knee.
10
How can it be that I could see
Him face to face and hand to hand?
If only earth would swallow me,
My shame to hide, my life to end.
Why did I not, at life’s first start,
Pass on, from earth in sleep depart?
How can it be that I could see
Him face to face and hand to hand?
If only earth would swallow me,
My shame to hide, my life to end.
Why did I not, at life’s first start,
Pass on, from earth in sleep depart?
11
I hate myself; my heart was dim,
For blinded were mine eyes by pride;
Now, at the thought of conquering Him,
I tremble and am terrified.
Not just my thigh, but all my strength
I’ve lost; I’m broken, paralyzed.
I hate myself; my heart was dim,
For blinded were mine eyes by pride;
Now, at the thought of conquering Him,
I tremble and am terrified.
Not just my thigh, but all my strength
I’ve lost; I’m broken, paralyzed.
12
As I look back at all my life,
I see that it’s corrupt entire.
For self, my God I sacrificed;
My foolish heart knew but desire.
What then I thought that “blessing” be
Was forcing God to grant my plea.
As I look back at all my life,
I see that it’s corrupt entire.
For self, my God I sacrificed;
My foolish heart knew but desire.
What then I thought that “blessing” be
Was forcing God to grant my plea.
13
“I wish: the heav’n must fall in line.
I plan: my Lord must coincide.
I want: my God should step aside.
I work: my God must be my guide.
When I am rushed, He must not stay,
For once, His victory to display.”
“I wish: the heav’n must fall in line.
I plan: my Lord must coincide.
I want: my God should step aside.
I work: my God must be my guide.
When I am rushed, He must not stay,
For once, His victory to display.”
14
There’s one so evil here below,
So proud, deceitful, obstinate;
Lord, that I’m Jacob Thou dost know:
One Thou should’st but detest and hate;
No hope have I but mercy Thine
Upon this wretched heart of mine.
There’s one so evil here below,
So proud, deceitful, obstinate;
Lord, that I’m Jacob Thou dost know:
One Thou should’st but detest and hate;
No hope have I but mercy Thine
Upon this wretched heart of mine.
15
I grope — at once His mercy find.
At first lame step — His grace is mine!
If I forget, my wounded thigh
Reminds: on naught can I rely.
Though Israel I’m named by Thee,
Yet Jacob ever lame shall be.
I grope — at once His mercy find.
At first lame step — His grace is mine!
If I forget, my wounded thigh
Reminds: on naught can I rely.
Though Israel I’m named by Thee,
Yet Jacob ever lame shall be.
16
O Lord, ‘twas Thou that overcame;
In Thy defeat, defeat I’d claim;
To Thee I yield my victory;
Thy weakness drops me to my knees.
In fear and trembling all my days
Thy will I’d do, Thy name I’d praise.
O Lord, ‘twas Thou that overcame;
In Thy defeat, defeat I’d claim;
To Thee I yield my victory;
Thy weakness drops me to my knees.
In fear and trembling all my days
Thy will I’d do, Thy name I’d praise.

Copyright Living Stream Ministry. Used by permission.

1
Zach Vernon

Bothell, WA

Amen