Mark Bishop - The Devil's Playing Chess Lyrics
Lyrics
Well the preacher's shaking hands and everybody's going home.
He sees a young man on the back pew and he's sittin' there alone.
The preacher sees the desperation edged upon the young man's face.
He says "Lord give me wisdom in the words that I should say."
The man says "Preacher I'm a sinner. Got a lot that I regret."
"There are sins that I've committed I'd just as soon forget.
My whole life has been a failure. I've let down my family.
I would pray but I don't think that God wants much to do with me."
So the young man tells his story for an hour, maybe more.
And everything he hears, well that ol' preacher's heard before.
He says "Son it's all real simple. You're not the first to fail life's test.
See you've been playin' checkers, but that ole devil's playin' chess."
Refrain:
We need the Lord, everyday to win the battle.
Without Him it's a game that we can't win.
For when you play against the devil you're in trouble,
That's the way it is and the way it's always been.
Somehow he knows and he'll hit you where you're weakest;
No wonder this whole world's in such a mess.
It's time to change your strategy for living,
See you've been playing checkers but the devil's playing chess.
Well the young man finds the altar and the tears begin to flow.
He prays and calls out to the Lord and none of it's for show.
And through the stained glass windows there's a beam of glowing light.
The preacher hears him say "Forgive me Lord" and he knows he made it right.
Soon the young man's on his way and he shakes the preacher's hand.
Says "After all these years of sinning, well I believe I understand."
And as he shuts the door behind him, well that ol' preacher rares up straight.
Locks the door and says "Hey devil, well I believe that that's checkmate."(Refrain)
Video
The Devil's Playing Chess
Meaning & Inspiration
Mark Bishop's "The Devil's Playing Chess," released on May 20, 2014, as part of the album *This Is What It's All About*, offers a profound and relatable exploration of spiritual struggle and redemption, framed through the poignant imagery of a game of strategy. The song opens with a familiar scene: the closing moments of a church service, where the preacher encounters a young man burdened by regret and a sense of failure. This encounter immediately establishes the song's core concern: the human condition grappling with sin and its consequences, and the desire for divine forgiveness. The young man's confession, detailing a life marred by mistakes and a deep-seated belief that he is beyond God's reach, resonates with anyone who has felt the weight of their past. His admission, "I would pray but I don't think that God wants much to do with me," directly echoes the despair expressed in Psalm 51:17, where the psalmist cries, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
The pivotal moment arrives when the preacher offers a revelation that forms the song's central metaphor: "See you've been playing checkers, but that old devil's playing chess." This analogy beautifully illustrates the disparity in spiritual warfare. Checkers, while requiring some foresight, is a relatively straightforward game of predictable moves. Chess, however, is a game of immense complexity, where every piece has distinct capabilities, and a single, well-placed move can have devastating consequences. The preacher’s statement implies that the enemy of our souls operates with a far more intricate and malicious strategy than we often perceive. This aligns with scripture's description of the adversary's cunning. As 1 Peter 5:8 warns, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." The song emphasizes that this spiritual battle isn't a simple exchange; it's a sophisticated and often hidden conflict where the devil exploits our weaknesses.
The refrain powerfully encapsulates this message, urging listeners to recognize their dependence on the Lord to navigate these spiritual conflicts. "We need the Lord, everyday to win the battle. Without Him it's a game that we can't win." This call for constant reliance on God is a cornerstone of Christian teaching, as evidenced in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." The lyrics further underscore the devil's insidious nature: "Somehow he knows and he'll hit you where you're weakest." This speaks to the spiritual discernment that scripture advocates for, and the reality that our vulnerabilities are precisely where the enemy seeks to strike. The world's current state, described as "in such a mess," is presented not as random misfortune, but as a consequence of this ongoing, unequal game. The call to "change your strategy for living" is an invitation to adopt a God-centered approach, acknowledging that the methods of the world are insufficient against an enemy who plays a more strategic game.
The song's resolution brings a powerful sense of hope and transformation. The young man's genuine repentance at the altar, marked by tears and earnest prayer, signifies a turning point. The imagery of a "beam of glowing light" through the stained-glass windows offers a visual representation of divine grace descending upon a contrite heart, a reminder of God's promise in John 6:37, "Whoever comes to me I will never drive away." His declaration, "Forgive me Lord," and the preacher's assurance that "he made it right," confirm the salvific power of confession and belief. The concluding lines, where the preacher, after the young man departs, declares, "Hey devil, well I believe that that's checkmate," provide a triumphant conclusion. This final image suggests that by embracing faith, acknowledging spiritual warfare, and seeking God's help, one can achieve ultimate victory. The act of "checkmate" isn't merely winning a game; it represents a decisive, unassailable victory over the forces of darkness, made possible through Christ. "The Devil's Playing Chess" is a song that doesn't just tell a story; it offers a spiritual roadmap, urging listeners to recognize the depth of their struggle and the unfailing power available through faith in God to secure eternal victory.