Yield to the King

The Story Behind Yield to the King

In 1831, German artist Moritz Retzsch created The Chess Players, a striking allegorical work depicting a young man seated at a chessboard opposite the Devil. An angel watches nearby as the two opponents face one another. The young man's soul appears to hang in the balance, and the chessboard becomes a symbolic battlefield between good and evil.

Years later, the artwork became connected to one of America's greatest chess masters, Paul Morphy.

According to an account published in the Columbia Chess Chronicle in 1888, Morphy encountered a version of Retzsch's work while visiting a private home in Richmond, Virginia. He became fascinated by the chess position depicted in the image and stood studying the board carefully.

Those around him saw a young man whose position appeared hopeless.

Morphy saw something different.

After examining the board, he reportedly said,

“I think that I can take the young man's game and win.”

They brought out a chessboard and recreated the position shown in the artwork. Morphy took the young man's side while others attempted to play the opposing position.

Morphy won.

The significance of that moment reaches far beyond a game of chess.

The board had not changed
The pieces had not changed
The enemy had not changed

What changed was who was playing the position

There are moments in life when we find ourselves staring at a position that appears impossible. We have considered every move, exhausted our strength, and cannot see a way forward. Fear tells us the battle is lost, and the enemy whispers that there is nowhere left to turn.

But we see only the position before us.

The King sees the entire board.

Perhaps faith is not always about discovering one more move. Perhaps there are moments when faith means surrendering the position to the One who sees what we cannot.

When you cannot see the next move
When your strength has been exhausted
When the position appears hopeless

Give the King your position

Yield to the King

Never forget, "The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”

Exodus 14:14 (KJV)

As I thought about how KING Jesus has fought for me at every turn in life, I picked up my pen and wrote the following poem.

Yield to the KING

The board appears to seal your fate
The enemy stands near
You search for moves, but see too late
And victory disappears

The pieces fall before your eyes
Your strength is nearly gone
The enemy believes his lies
That soon the game is won

But what you see is not the end
Nor what the King can see
The board you cannot comprehend
He views completely free

You need not know the perfect play
Nor see what lies ahead
Just yield the board to HIM today
And trust where HE will tread

The King can move what you cannot
HE sees beyond your sight
HE knows each scheme, each hidden plot
And turns the dark to light

So, when your strength has reached its end
And hope seems out of view
Give HIM the place you can't defend
And watch what HE can do

The enemy may claim the field
And whisper you are through
But give the King your place—and yield
The King will fight for you

Sola Gratia

Jay Adam Pearson

My Prayer

Lord Jesus, when I cannot see the next move,
teach me to trust that You see the entire board.

When I am tempted to depend upon my own strength,
remind me that the battle belongs to You.

When fear tells me the position is hopeless,
give me faith to place it into Your hands.

May I never become so determined to make my own move
that I fail to recognize Your perfect direction.

I do not ask to see every move ahead.
I ask only for the faith to trust the One who does.

Whatever position life places before me,
whatever battle I am called to face,
and whatever pieces may remain—

I pray that I will always yield my position,
my plans, my will, and my life
to my Lord and King, Jesus Christ.

May I always Yield to the King.

Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria — Jay Adam Pearson