Surrender

[LYDIA WESTERN]

Surrender  
Askest Thou me, "Stretch forth thy knife"?
Slay my friend and take from me this precious life?
Laid still and bound on altar of stone,
She there, and I upon a mountain top alone.
For this dear friend I prayed,
And now my God must take away?
Stretch forth my hand and slay?
Beloved friend upon this altar laid?

Surrender, what does it mean?
A terrible, unjust thing it seems,
To human eyes who only now sees pain,
Of human hearts now rent in twain.
I cannot slay! No strength in me remains,
For here I am upon his mountain top again.
A well worn path of many years,
This track of dust and tears.
It seems I've felt that every path,
I've trod here whether near or far,
Must somehow lead back to this place.
This place of death, and now to face.

Now standing still and trembling with Thy words,
Transfixed with pain my heart astirred,
I raise my hand though trembling weak,
Trusting Love though all is bleak.
Clouds, grey and dim o'r shadow the sky.
A mountain's wind is rushing by.
The valleys all around I see.
But still my face looks up to Thee.
Thee who too died here for me.
Thou gavest all, gave all thou couldst.
Unquestioning I can trust to give this love. I should.

Unforeseen the Hand that caught,
Restrained this trembling hand that sort,
To slay this friend at Thy command,
Bewildered at Love's harsh demand
Now standing, knife still in my grip,
Hands of strength restrain each wrist,
Reach out and take a vice like hold.
Unable to move within this arms enfold.
Now looking up with tear-stained face,
Bewilderment, now confusion in its place.
Gazed up with clouded vision and saw,
Love. His face filled with delight and soft,
The gaze that met my eyes upon that mountain top.
"My child, now I know thou lovest me.
More, yes more, than ought of these.
All thy dearest must come to this place,
And to my hands surrender to take."

Every road of hope, desire, leads up to Calvary's hill.
High and lofty visions too lead up this mountain, still.
Here, all that is strongly claimed,
Is brought and on the altar lain.
Not the things we care not for,
But all the things we love, adore.
To own, surrender not; to keep,
Will only cause our hearts to weep,
Distract when disappointment,need,
Cause us to reel like boats on drunken sea.
Things of earth will move,
Our trust in earthly things do prove.
Merciful the Hand that takes away,
Then lends to us from day to day.
And meters out what's best and perfect,
The gifts we gave Him yesterday.
 

But still it hurts to lay all down,
To gaze upon a lover bound.
Not knowing if this time I must,
Goodbye this precious friend, and trust,
My God knows best,
And in Him rest.
O how hard it is to die!
In Him to dwell though crucified.
Yet clinging tight to Calvary's love.
We hear, "All is well" from heaven above.
To slay or to keep, all things work for good.
Why should I fret? Why should I weep? For look,
Love is here.

[Jerry]

Thank you for this poem. It was a blessing to me. “Trusting Love” is definitely the key to remember in our trials and in our choices to surrender all to our Saviour who showed us He was love.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.