Once upon a Lonely Starry Night

Once upon a Lonely Starry Night

It was a dark starry night

The man Jacob, yea swindler

That’s what his name meant

He was left alone, alone he was

Alone with God that is

The foreboding of facing Esau

Has chased the sleep away from his eyes

How could he sleep?

When he and his loved ones were at peril

His eyes were heavy and swollen

 Sleep had gone from them

His forehead was white with worry

As he carried his jaw on his hands

How would he get over this he mused

How would he come out this predicament?

Feeling undone by fate he must have been forlorn

Then came the heavenly guest

The ways of the Almighty are unfathomable

Why did he choose such a night to come?

His timing is exact

His accuracy perfect

He came laden with grace

His robes dripping with mercy

For he had seen the plight of his servant

And he had come speedily to intervene

Oh how gracious the ways of God

How kind and magnanimous towards his own

Benevolence bears with her the fragrance of grace

What is your name he asked?

As though he did not know

What else would it be, swindler of course

For the man has grasped him in desperation

He wouldn’t let go

How would he? He had nowhere to go

His life was at peril, all hope was lost

His skills would not do this time

He was desperate, he needed help

 And this was the only hope

He wouldn’t let go

Bless me he cried, bless me!

Only you can change me

Only you can help, oh bless me indeed!

But how could he bless him as he was

His garments are filthy

Till now, he had only prevailed by deceit

Of course that’s why he came, he came to bless him

He came to change him

For this cheat is a prince in the making

A prince with God he would be

Yet he was bound by sin

And grace had come to redeem him

Bless me he cried, bless me!

I am tired of my past, I am tired

Bless me my Lord or I perish

Bless me! Bless me!

I am weighed down by my past

Ple-e-e-e-e-ease, bless me!

Then GRACE pronounced

Then He spoke

Oh heaven came down and glory shone around

Yes heaven invaded the earth

And the son of Adam was crowned with glory

Glory! Glory! Glory!

Your name shall no longer be swindler

It shall be ISRAEL-Prince!

A prince, Me, a prince he cried!

“Yes, a prince of God

For you wrestled with God and prevailed,

But you must go with a limp,

For no one encounters me and remains the same

Grace and pride does not coexist

Grace always brings brokenness

Know then that it was not by your strength

That you prevailed, for it was i who came to rescue you

Son of Adam you must go with a limp”

And he pronounced the blessing

For grace always brings good news

And so it came to be that on a lonely starry night

A swindler, could not find sleep

And as he brooded over his problems

Grace waylaid, conquered and mastered him

And from then on he became a saint.

A mighty prince with God and man

How Strange the ways of grace?

Adimba Chizoba Noel 

 19/04/2012