The Follower
Where least expected God is found;
Where deemed He could not be.
To see Him, saint, but turn around,
He’s waiting there, go see.
Once Jacob lied and cheated sore
To gain a blessing true;
Then had to flee to foreign shore
From shame and danger too.
But surely God was in that place
Where Jacob ran in sin.
God’s goodness, mercy…. endless grace
Undaunted followed him.
He knew it not but there they were,
When Esau’s wrath he fled.
Until in sleep their visit stirred
Bright visions in his head.
Elijah hardly could have gained
A victory more grand;
Baal’s prophets all were by him slain….
Who then from harlot ran.
God blessed Elijah, gave him meat
Through faithless rush astray.
And guided his misguided feet,
Until back in the way.
Then put him right back in the race,
To finish out his course;
Each mercy tracing out the ways
That God His own restores.
That very mercy Jonah loathed
The Ninnevites had prized;
Loved much when to himself was showed,
But if to them, despised.
Despising thus the only thing
That made him not as they;
When fresh from trial and its sting,
For straying this same way.
But what reply from God dispels
This obstinence displayed?
A gentle question, “doest thou well?”,
Reproves the prophet’s way.
He was the man who, sent from God,
A nation just had turned.
Yet still with wayward troubles odd
For one so freshly churned.
Within the fish he saw the sin
Of his own willful deeds;
And mercy loved when showed to him,
But hard toward other’s need.
For now begrudging sinners cry
For that by grace received.
Oh meekest guide! to kindly sigh,
And lead him by the sleeve.
So if along your way, you saints
Of God, you see your heart,
Beneath it’s well-intended paint
From it’s good cause depart.
Let not the foe here slander grace,
Obscuring all it bought:
For surely God is in that place
And you outran Him not.
Let not your heart think ill of grace
As though in vain t’were bought.
It reigns in pardon, where it’s face
Restores the ordered walk.
And you will see when trial is o’er
The joys you mourned return;
The vision of God’s love restored,
And peaceful hours turn.
You thought that you had run clean past
And mercy’s borders strained;
But watch that boundless purpose grasp
In borderless refrain.
Goodness & mercy follow those
Whom they have blessed with hope;
So kindly through their journey goes
To height or down the slope.
If you’ll but turn around my friend
You’ll see them standing there.
Undaunted by the darkened glen
You thought they wouldn’t share.
They follow for to plant your feet
Back on the mountain top;
And they shall win & mercy reap
A hope that nothing stops.
Though failure mar the way of saints,
Tis glory all to grace.
To follow where their wisdom faints,
And set back in the race.
Where rose temptations mighty flood,
To sweep to dreadful shore,
Lives One Who purchased them with blood,
Who, waiting, will restore.
Oh treasure full of scenes as these,
Where scripture whispers peace!
Unto their faith on heavenly breeze,
Who hear its sweet release!
It blew to them in ages past,
It stirs unto our day…
It came to me, I’m not the last,
Hear you what it will say?
Proclaiming peace and pardoning blood
That never turns aside;
Relentless carries with it’s flood
Those purchased on its tide.
Through mountain top and valley drear,
Through fire, and through flood;
Through height & depth, through sin & fear,
Through all by Jesus’ blood.
Oh turn about you troubled saint,
Your vict’ry in pursuit
Unwearied, steeled, and never faint,
Will staring be at you.
Charles Church 7/1/2022
