Morning, July 6
Go To Evening Reading
“Whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from
fear of evil.”
Proverbs 1:33
Divine love is rendered conspicuous when it shines in the midst of
judgments. Fair is that lone star which smiles through the rifts of
the thunder clouds; bright is the oasis which blooms in the wilderness
of sand; so fair and so bright is love in the midst of wrath. When
the Israelites provoked the Most High by their continued idolatry,
he punished them by withholding both dew and rain, so that their land
was visited by a sore famine; but while he did this, he took care
that his own chosen ones should be secure. If all other brooks are
dry, yet shall there be one reserved for Elijah; and when that fails,
God shall still preserve for him a place of sustenance; nay, not only
so, the Lord had not simply one “Elijah,” but he had a remnant according to the election of grace, who were
hidden by fifties in a cave, and though the whole land was subject
to famine, yet these fifties in the cave were fed, and fed from Ahab’s table too by His faithful, God-fearing steward, Obadiah. Let us
from this draw the inference, that come what may, God’s people are safe. Let convulsions shake the solid earth, let the
skies themselves be rent in twain, yet amid the wreck of worlds the
believer shall be as secure as in the calmest hour of rest. If God
cannot save his people under heaven, he will save them in heaven. If the world becomes too hot to hold them, then heaven shall
be the place of their reception and their safety. Be ye then confident,
when ye hear of wars, and rumours of wars. Let no agitation distress
you, but be quiet from fear of evil. Whatsoever cometh upon the earth,
you, beneath the broad wings of Jehovah, shall be secure. Stay yourself
upon his promise; rest in his faithfulness, and bid defiance to the
blackest future, for there is nothing in it direful for you. Your
sole concern should be to show forth to the world the blessedness
of hearkening to the voice of wisdom.