Princes Perish

“Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.  His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.  Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God… which keepeth truth forever” (Psalm 146:3-6).  “By Me princes rule… Whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD.  But he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul” (Proverbs 8:16-36).  “I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God… and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:12-15). 

Eternity is very long;

Our life on earth is very short. 

We can’t afford to get this wrong:

To Christ alone we must resort! 

Though princes with authority

May call us to rely on them,

Not one of them can remedy

Our sin that justice must condemn. 

For even princes one day die

And must let go of power cherished.

All those who then on them rely

Shall find their promises have perished.

How good it is trust the Lord, 

For He who lends us every breath

Shall guard the truth of His reward,

Since He is not constrained by death! 

It is by God that princes rule,

For power comes from Him alone,

Yet God regards the prince a fool

Who yet ignores what He has shown.

The servant who will seek the Savior

Is surely wiser than the king

Who turns from God and spurns the favor

That Jesus Christ is offering!

How foolishly he wrongs his soul

Who will not seek the Savior’s face,

Who thinks that he is in control

Until the day of his disgrace.

The day will come when small and great,

Regardless of their former station,

Shall find at last it is too late

To seek the Lord and His salvation. 

We see that day is drawing near

When mockers learn their dreadful error:   

The One that princes would not fear,

Had died to spare them from their terror! 

O Lord, we know You don’t desire

That even one soul would be lost. 

Our souls escape the lake of fire

Because You paid our dreadful cost! 

Lord, thank You for Your Book of Life

Where names of souls You saved are written,

For as the Lamb You fought our strife

And bore our shame when You were smitten!

In light of this, Lord, we proclaim

To princes (yet by sin enslaved),

That all who call upon Your name

In truth shall surely thus be saved!