Precipice

Isaiah 12.2 | “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song…” (ESV)

I wrote this at a very low time in my life. I’d just been laid off from my job and I felt confused and weak and stupid. I went to the Christian Musician Conference — which I thought was foolish since I didn’t have any money coming in — and let myself be immersed in music and songwriting for three days. When I came back and opened the book of Isaiah to 12:2… and the words took on a lyric quality that became a melody.

I wouldn’t say I was suicidal. But I was definitely on a precipice of sorts, and the only thing I could do was rely on the goodness and graciousness of our God. I pray that these words comfort and console anyone who finds themself on their own precipice.

PS: Do you ever think, “Doh! I wish I’d have done that!” To convey the implied hope of the song this really needs to end with a voice-only variation of the very first line, like:

“On this precipice with your finest gift… how can I throw this all away…”

But I’m waaaay too lazy to re-record this and Georgia needs to be tucked in for the night. Maybe next time?

Key of D 4/4 Ballad About 92

VERSE 1

————–D——————- D/Bm
On this precipice, with your finest gift

———-A————-G
Set to throw it all away

—————D—————————-D/Bm
Clouds of fear and doubt surround me now

———A——————G
And hide your holy face

——————–Esus4———————-Bm
But your prophet’s words reach out to me

—————-Esus4—————G
With an ancient song of peace…

CHORUS

————D ————– A —————G ————–Em
Surely God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid

—————–D——————— A—————-G
For the Lord my God is my strength, and my song

—————D————A————–G—————–Em
Surely God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid

—————D ——————- A ——————- G
For the Lord my God is my strength, and my song

Bm—F#m —Bm —-A—Bm—F#m
Hallelujah… … Hallelujah… Hallelujah

————–D————————–A —————–G
For the Lord my God is my strength and my song

(Blue  section not sung in first pass through the chorus)

VERSE 2

——————-D——————-D/B
When your world becomes a storm-tossed sea

—————A—————G
Neither hope nor land in sight

———————–D————— D/B
When you’re on the run and overcome

————–A———–G
Surrendering the fight

——————Esus4 ————————-Bm
Lift your eyes to Him let your tired heart sing

———————–Esus4 ———–G
The song that forces back the night…

CHORUS

BRIDGE
Bm———————–A ——————-G
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on … Hold on

Bm——————————–A——————-G
Hold on to the God who’s holding on to you
(repeat)

CHORUS

TAG

(after “Hallelujahs” sing)
—————–D————–A
For the Lord my God is my strength…

—————-Bm —————G
For the Lord my God is my strength…

—————-D—————–A ————–G
For the Lord my God is my strength and my song.

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