Poems of Eugene H. W. Beneze

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     Credit the author if you use any of these poems,

     and limit your use to non-commercial purposes.

     David E. Beneze, Custodian.

 

                  "Ebenezer"

I heard about a rock one day,

 A Tower strong and true;

Where one could always hide away,

  When enemies pursue.

 

 Some masterstroke had cleft this Rock,

 And opened up its side;

So one quite humble could walk in,

 And ever there abide.

 

I'd often heard about this Rock,

 But never did believe;

I fancied I had strength to spare,

 The Rock I did not need.

 

Quite soon I found that I was bound,

 Bereft of strength and health;

No one could help me in this state,

 Not even friends of wealth.

 

O some one help me find that Rock,

 The storm is pressing near;

I opened up my eyes again,

 And found the Rock was there.

 

I entered in the Rock that day,

 No more to fear and doubt;

For Jesus saved my soul from sin,

 He did not cast me out.

 

Outside it has no comeliness,

 Inside it is so rare;

'Tis Heaven to dwell with Christ below,

 But sweeter yet when there.

        Eugene H. W. Beneze

        Decatur, IL, January 10th, 1934

 

       "A Heavenly Vision"

Friends let me tell a vision,

 That came one night to me;

For God was speaking to me,

 And caused me then to see.

 

A starry dome so bright and clear,

 Was up above my head;

The sky was bright with wondrous cheer,

 There was glory to be read.

 

The stars were brightly beaming,

 In a dome of wondrous blue;

You could not count the millions,

 But Oh how true their glow.

 

The scene was truly gorgeous,

 But God had yet in store;

Something yet so marvelous,

 That my heart could stand no more.

 

For as I sat there looking,

 The stars began to burst;

With countless millions falling,

 Still they did not land on earth.

 

The color of the dome now changed,

 From grand and royal blue;

To silver gray so rare,

 With angels standing row on row.

 

Each row of angels circled round,

 The ceiling of the dome;

And thus they stood there waiting,

 Ready to take us home.

 

My God has spoken to me,

 Saying write the vision please;

So he may run that reads it,

 So sinners do take heed.

 

Please give your hearts to Jesus,

 And let Him cleanse your sin;

You know that God still loves you,

 And longs to take you in.

            Eugene H. W. Beneze

           Alton, IL, September 22nd, 1921

 

"God Knows, Sees, Hears, Answers"

                 (Isaiah 65:24)

God knows the storms that cross our path,

  Contrary winds that blow.

'Twas He who called them into being,

  The hail, the rain, the snow.

 

God sees the struggles that we make

  To reach that distant goal.

Who else would place these barriers

  To thus enrich the soul?

 

God hears our cries of agony

  When pained or sore distressed.

He is the Balm of Gilead,

  He is our righteousness.

 

God answers prayer, O humble one,

  So you have naught to fear.

"Before you call, my answer comes,

  And while you speak, I hear."

            Eugene H. W. Beneze

            December 22, 1944 at Argenta, IL

 

 

        "Consider Thyself"

            (Galatians 6:1)

 Consider thyself, O friend of mine,

  Before you start to judge

Some other person who gets down

  Into the mire and sludge.

 

Perhaps their trials are greater far

  Than any you could stand.

Do not despise one if he fails

  To conquer Satan’s band.

 

Consider thyself before you kick,

  You too may fall that way.

You may be tempted ere you speak

  And fall the same as they.

 

Restore thy brother if he falls,

  With spirit kind, and meek:

Who knows? You may some day be down.

  And he for you will seek.

 

Lift up your sister if she’s down

  Be tender as you can.

Her soul’s as precious in God’s sight

  As any righteous man.

 

Consider thyself, self-righteous one,

  Don’t scold and criticize.

You do not know just how you stand

  When viewed by other eyes.

             Eugene H. W. Beneze

            April 30, 1930 at Decatur, IL

 

        "If We Could See"

If we could see the way God looks,

 Into the souls of men;

And see the jewels sparkling there,

 We'd win them if we can.

 

They may seem rough, and dissolute,

 While sloughing in their sin:

But many are the hearts of gold,

 Reposing deep within.

 

So many drugged, and drunken too,

 There, living oh so vile:

If they could but the Savior meet,

 He'd change their frowns to smiles.

 

Enslaved by Satan, these are chained,

 By habits that repulse:

They can be made much better men,

 For Jesus brings results.

 

The Spirit of God is seeking them,

 Should not we seek them too:

And fan in them the heavenly flame,

 That will help them live anew.

 

Give unto them the Word of God,

 He only gives release:

That can destroy the grip of sin,

 And give them heavenly peace.

 

Let's look, and see the way God sees,

 The souls He has redeemed:

Most folks are longing to be saved,

 To live new life in Him.

            Eugene H. W. Beneze

            October 18, 1972 at Colorado Springs, CO

 

 

       "The Old Year Dies"

 The old year dies, and with it go,

 Some scenes that I hold dear:

Especially the thought about

 My Jesus being near.

 

The nights that I got on my knees,

 To pray for friends I knew:

That God would keep them in the way,

 That they to Him be true.

 

The gatherings of friends I knew,

 Who brought to me some cheer:

When I inclined to be too sad,

 About my poor career.

 

No grand success can I chalk down,

 For the year that speeds away:

But still I have a quiet hope,

 There will come a better day.

 

The old year dies, but one is born,

 That could cause me to sing:

Especially if the Savior comes,

 Who is my coming King.

            Eugene H. W. Beneze

            December 31, 1974, at Decatur, IL

 

      "Perhaps Today"

When Jesus rode the clouds to glory,

 His disciples sought a way;

To keep alive His soon returning,

 So they said, "Perhaps today."

 

When darkness reigned through middle ages,

 From sinful powers that sought to slay;

Disciples sought in woods and caverns,

 With courage said, "perhaps today."

 

Revival fires burned fresh and brightly,

 When printed Bibles came to stay;

And His children so enraptured,

 Said, "Perhaps He'll come today."

 

Now the Spirit has been given,

 Filled His temples made of clay;

Speaking under fresh anointing,

 Saying He could come today.

 

Earthly thrones await destruction,

 From the elements at bay;

Saints, look up, the clouds are gathering,

 And repeat, "Perhaps today."

 

Perhaps today He'll be returning,

 As His people watch and pray;

For He said, "I'm surely coming,"

 And it could be, perhaps, today.

            Eugene H.W. Beneze

            June 1, 1962 

 

             "My Jesus"

He's the Lion of the Tribe of Judah

He is also the Lamb of God;

Jehovah-jireh to Abram,

He covers our sin with His blood.       Gen. 22:14

 

To Moses the bush that was burning,

The banner to Aaron and Hur;

Jehovah-nissi in Battle,

He stands a Mighty Victor.                 Ex. 17:8-15

 

Jehovah-rapha to Israel,

In the wilderness journey each day.    

He is the Lord that healeth

Those people walking His way.           Ex. 15:26

 

Jehovah-shalom to the trusting

To those accepting His Peace

Confessing their sins and failings

Accepting from Him a release.             Judges 6:24

 

Jehovah-ra-ah for protection

The Lord my Shepherd so kind;

Who feedeth my soul in green pastures,

Who leadeth the Halt and the Blind.     Psalm 23:1

 

Jehovah-tsidkenu He giveth

His Holiness daily to me;

He is The Lord our Righteousness

His perfection is all I can see.              Jeremiah 23:6

 

Jehovah-shammah is present

Wherever I happen to go;

He leadeth, He guideth, He giveth

His Grace I always would show.         Ezekiel 48:35

 

El Shaddai's Only Begotten

His Word now clothed in flesh;

The Savior to all of God's people

Trust Him to your very last breath.     Gen. 17:1, 23:8, Ex. 6:3

            Eugene H. W. Beneze, 1972

 

             "Soul Travail"

Has your soul ever been in travail?

 Do you know what it means to be lost?

Forever barred out of God's heaven,

 So great and forbidding the cost.

 

Has the doom of the damned ever gripped you

 Until you cried out in despair?

Mighty God please show them your mercy.

 Before my loved ones go there.

 

Have you ever partook of their misery,

 That souls who reject Christ must have?

Ask Jesus to show you the terror,

 Lost souls must face at the grave.

 

These souls that have laughed at God's pardon,

 Making fun of His mercy so free;

Forever they've entered the prison,

 No mercy, or peace will they see.

 

Are you willing to give up your comfort,

 So that you may now intercede?

To pray for the lost, and the dying,

 Who may be unconscious of need.

 

Like the waters of the great Niagara,

 So swiftly approaching the falls;

Only God in His mercy can save them,

 Are you willing on Jesus to call?

 

In your soul is there any compassion,

 For the folks who around you will fall;

Who are heading for endless perdition,

 Unable to cry out at all?

 

Oh brother, cry out in deep anguish,

 For the souls who are shackled by sin;

With groanings that cannot be uttered,

 Whom God's Spirit is trying to win.

 

Some souls must suffer in travail,

 To successfully bring to new birth;

The souls not surrendered to Jesus,

 Before they pass from the earth.

 

Has your soul ever been in travail?

 Let the Spirit of God teach you how;

If ever you are going to do it,

 The time to get started in now.

            Eugene H. W. Beneze

            Sullivan, IL, February 24th, 1967