That " hitherto " is the word of a mighty faith. It includes as parts of one whole the disaster no less than the victory. The Lord was helping Israel no less by sorrow and oppression than by joy and deliverance. The defeat which guided them back to Him was tender kindness and precious help. He helps us by griefs and losses, by disappointments and defeats ; for whatever brings us closer to Him, and makes us feel that all our bliss and well- being lie in knowing and loving Him, is helpful beyond all other aid, and strength-giving above all other gifts.
I see the wrong that round me lies,
I feel the guilt within ; I hear, with groan and travail-cries,
The world confess its sin.
Yet, in the maddening maze of things.
And tossed by storm and flood, To one fixed trust my spirit clings;
I know that G-od is good !
Not mine to look where cherubim
And seraphs may not see, But nothing can be good in Him
Which evil is in me.
The wrong that pains my soul below
I dare not throne above: I know not of His hate, — I know
His goodness and His love,
I dimly guess froin blessings known
Of greater out of sight, And, with the chastened Psalmist, own
His judgments too are right.^ 1 J. G. Whittier.
278 THE STONE OF HELP
I.
The Help of the Lord. " Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
1. We need the help of the Lord. — Samuel seems to suggest that the Israelites had done their part. They had fulfilled the national expectation that every man should do his duty. Yet the achievement and glory of the deliverance which the Israelites had experienced, and the mercy which they had received, he ascribes entirely to Jehovah. It was His right arm that had gotten them the victory. He thundered from the heavens, sent panic into the hosts of the Philistines, and made them an easy prey to the Israelites.
Every man who understands his own heart, and who knows his own weakness, will readily assent to the proposition that we daily need in the soul the help of God in Christ. What light and warmth are to the animal world, what a mother is to her young child, God is to our religious life. Our spiritual life is born of God, and we need His grace to overcome the sin that is within, and the temptation that is without. To stand up against all forms of social evil uninjured in soul is to stand in the strength of One who only can " make us dwell in safety."
^ The stone was a Te Deum : it bore no man's name, not even Samuel'^ ; it said, " We praise thee, 0 God." Throughout Europe there is no lack of monuments, streets, and bridges which are named after battles ; but only some of the inscriptions on them give God the glory. Even Lord Macaulay's lines are not to be commended which he puts into the mouth of the Huguenots about the battle of Ivry —
Now glory to the Lord of Hosts, from whom all glories are! And glory to our sovereign liege. King Henry of Navarre !
Surely the Huguenot prince had no glory at all, by reason of the glory that excelleth.^
2. The help of the Lord is always equal to our need. — In the old world, kings and warriors acknowledged the impossibility of standing up against those whom God helps. Moses was more
* 0. Jordan.
I SAMUEL VII. 12 279
than eqnal to the King of Egypt because God was with him. And the Christian man can say to-day, without fear of failure, " He that is for us is more than all the forces that are against us."
Tired! Well, what of that? Didst fancy life was spent on beds of ease, Fluttering the rose-leaves scattered by the breeze ? Come ! rouse thee, work while it is call'd to-day ! Coward, arise — go forth upon the way !
Lonely! And what of that? Some must be lonely; 'tis not given to all To feel a heart responsive rise and fall, To blend another life into its own; Work may be done in loneliness; work on.
Dark! Well, what of that? Didst fondly dream the sun would never set ? Dost fear to lose thy way ? Take courage yet. Learn thou to walk by faith and not by sight, Thy steps will guided be, and guided right.
Hard ! Well, what of that ? Didst fancy life one summer holiday With lessons none to learn, and naught but play? Go, get thee to thy task ; conquer or die ! It must be learned, — learn it, then, patiently.
No help! Nay, 'tis not so; Though human help be far, thy God is nigh. Who feeds the ravens hears His children cry. He's near thee wheresoe'er thy footsteps roam, And He will guide thee, light thee, help thee home.
3. God's help is conditioned on our co-operation in faith and love. — " He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him." Jesus answered and said, " If a man love me, he will keep my word : and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."