LOOKING forward to the great day of the Lord, the prophet declares, "I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down." Jer. 4:23-26. When is this to take place? - "At the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger." Never but once since God spake the world into existence has it been utterly desolated. At the flood the earth was drowned. The foundations of the deep were broken up, and desolation reigned. Of this time the apostle says, "Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished." 2 Peter 3:6. But he who spake to the earth in the beginning, when it was void and without form, and brought it into an organized state, will speak again, and it will be again without form and void. When he drowned it, he left the few that trusted him upon the face of the deep until he brought it forth again. But when he again destroys it, he will remove his people to the mansions prepared for them. Then will the earth be like a desolate wilderness. The trees will be uprooted, cities and villages destroyed by great earthquakes, great rugged rocks are thrown out of the sea, or hurled from the mountains, leaving vast caverns to mark the spot where once was order and beauty. Instead of light, darkness reigns. The "strong man" has marred the work of God by sin, and has boasted that he will possess it forever as his kingdom. The long-suffering of God has waited for six thousand years, but now he ariseth and girdeth himself for the battle. The faithful High priest now does his last work in the heavenly sanctuary.
He has uttered the decree, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still." He who has borne the sins of his people so long, now throws down the censer, and casts aside the priestly robe, ready to cast the sins he has so long borne back upon the head of the antitypical scapegoat, Satan. He who has brought sin into the world must bear it in the wilderness. The strong man must be bound and his house spoiled.
Satan Bound.
"And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him." Rev. 20:2, 3.
"Bottomless pit" in this passage is synonymous with the expression "without form and void" in Gen. 1:2. This earth in its desolate condition becomes the home of Satan for one thousand years. He cannot tempt the righteous, for they are with Jesus in the New Jerusalem. He cannot deceive the wicked, for they are all dead. Thus he is bound. He cannot appear at the gates of the city of God, for he is shut up and a seal is set upon his prison house. When he had Christ in his prison house, he had a seal set upon him that no man might steal his body. Now Jesus, who has come to destroy the mighty one, casts him into his own prison house and sets a seal that no power but his own can break. He must remain a prisoner for one thousand years. Here he will have the privilege of counseling with those angels that joined him in his rebellion, and were cast out of heaven. They are wholly cut off from the work of deception and ruin, which for so many centuries has been their delight.
To this time the prophet looked and exclaimed, "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! . . . Thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. . . . I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?" Isa. 14:12-17.
For six thousand years Satan's power "made the earth to tremble." He it is that brought death into the world, and was glad when he could hold God's creatures in his prison house. For six thousand years his prison house has received God's people, and it was his will to hold them forever, but Christ has broken his bonds, unlocked the prison house, and set the captives free. Even the wicked are beyond his power. "The kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, everyone in his own house [the grave]. But thou art cast out of the grave like an abominable branch. . . . Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou598hast destroyed thy land and slain thy people." Isa. 14: 18-20.
During the thousand years Satan will bear the sins of the righteous in the wilderness. Here he will suffer intense anguish and suffering, on account of being deprived of his power and activity. It will be wandering, wandering, with nothing to think of but the terrible wickedness of the past and the awful doom of the future.
THE BINDING OF SATAN.
By George E. Price
BY GEORGE E. PRICE.
[Rev. 20: 1-5, "Great Controversy," pp. 659, 660.]
AND has it come to this—the Lord of Light
Fixed to this desolate and ruined world!
Around me wheel the stars; the orb of day
Seems with his wonted luster still to shine;
And yet I'm pinioned here who used to be
The monarch of all these my eyes behold!
'Twould seem as if God's power were supreme.
My rule in heaven when lost I still retained
Unfettered freedom through the realm of space,
And finally usurped supreme command
Of this, the home of man. I have beheld
The word of God fulfilling all these years,
Yet I have found delight in playing here
This awful game before the saints of God,
Although I knew I thus fulfilled His word.
As each turn came it seemed the only thing
That I could do and carry out my plans;
And could I let Him see, and all the worlds,
That I was baffled in the course I took?
I know, of course, all has been true thus far,
But does that prove that all the rest will come?
How can this being cease? How can I die?
Mortals have perished, crumbled into dust,
Yes, and I've seen them come to life again
And taken up to reign with Him on high.
He says His power raised them. This I doubt.
Why, here are bones of some who chose to die
Rather than yield to low, debasing vice,
And are these left, while others worse than they
Are taken up to reign with Him above?
These all will live some day. A thousand years
It says. Well, yes, perhaps; but what their end?
Has ever yet an angel suffered death?
And do they not come forth much like to us?
Surely, some law of being this bespeaks. . . .
Ah! here's old Rome; and here are Marcus' bones,
And this is Caesar. He will be the man,
When all these millions rise, to lead them on
Against our foes. Oh, how I wish 'twere here!
I long to try the final chance of arms
And stake the universe on one last fight.
Yes, here's that arch that tells of Milvian Bridge
And how I thus controlled the world again.
Ah, 'twas a proud, grand day when I beheld
The church thus leave her Lord for temporal power
And follow at my bidding to put down
The few who still were faithful to his law.
Yes, how I flung the taunt in Gabriel's face,
Yea, fling it yet! I ruled mankind at will!
That scheme would always thus seduce the church!
Yes, here's Bartholdi's statue in the sea
Where that great earthquake hurled it from its base.
Here was the last of earth's great drama played;
And did I not rule here? Did not the church,
In this most glorious and enlightened land,
Enforce her precepts at the pain of death?
Yea, I can fling the taunt to highest heaven
That I have ruled the world and ruled the church,
And made them all bow down and worship me!
Well, that is past. Yes, but I'll bide my time,
If I must die, those angels now in heaven,
Who occupy the places that we held,
Shall see that I'm a warrior ere I die.
But 'tis a hard, hard lot. Why was I made?—
But was I made at all? Who knows my birth?
And what can prove I will not always be?
But still, 'tis ever downward in my case.
I first could fight with heaven's King alone,
Then Christ was victor, when of woman born,
And now an angel, miserable and weak,
Confines me to this planetary void!
Oh, curse the day in which sin entered heaven!
Nay, why was it permitted to come in?
He left us free to choose the good or ill.
I did not choose to bring in all this woe;
I only chose to vindicate my rights.
'Tis true that this is different from His way:
And His is righteousness and mine is sin!
His law is love, and leaves all nature free;
My law is force, and makes all creatures bound.
So it would seem; but where the sin in this?
Sin is in being different from His way,
The being, not the doing, is the sin.
'Twas suffered thus to be that all the worlds
May know what sin is by its dire results.
Away! Away! 'Tis awful thus to think,
And ponder over what has brought me here.
I brought myself here, and I'm lord of all.
No one can drive me hence, or break my power.
Lo, there's Columbia's towers in ruins!
This was the last great triumph of it all.
Columbia's towers the world's perfection show,
And show how even this obeyed my power.
The proudest decade of the proudest age!
And this grand celebration was the means
Through which I gathered all beneath my sway.
The church once more had drunk the fatal cup
That was presented first through Constantine,
And once more trod Christ's precepts in the dust.
Once more, and yet more truly, I beheld
Myself received as lord of all mankind,
When, lo, the doom blast of His coming came!
'Tis true the company preserved for this
Were proof against my arts as ne'er before;
But was there e'er such triumph as this showed?
How proudly I can fling the taunt again,
And higher yet in face of heaven's King,
That I have ruled the world from first to last!
But, then again, it comes up as before,
That even this was foretold in His word.
And will not that last scene as surely come?
Ah, well, it may! What silly fools men were
To throw away such offers to forgive!
Would I had now such promise! Yet, no, no,
It ne'er could be but by a subject will,
And should this mind, that has wrought out such
schemes
Of craft and cunning 'gainst Omnipotence
Until his victory can scarce appear,
Shall this mind bow in base humility?
Yet he did empty all his Godhead out,
And was made man, that he might thus redeem.
'Tis passing strange, I cannot understand.
And yet I once did know the perfect joy,
The peace and happiness that Heaven gives.
Oh! how can I escape these torturing thoughts;
I ne'er have thought on this since Adam fell.
No time for such amid the ceaseless round
Of desperate war against the will of God.
But now, what shall I do? Oh, what a scene!
How paltry were all ruins of the earth,
Compared with this, the ruin of it all!
A world in ruins, and a race extinct!
Oh, what a picture for a universe!
Nay, nay, I'll join my legions and will plan,
To find some occupation for my mind.
THE SABBATH A SEAL TO GOD’S LAW.
By William Covert
BY ELDER WILLIAM COVERT.
THE United States soldier who has borne arms in the service of his country, need not be told the signification of the two letters which marked his accouterments. He knew that the U. S. which he wore clearly defined the power that he represented. He will continue to remember the American Eagle, the shield, the Seal of Arms. He does not forget the feelings which bounded up in the loyal heart when he marched after the banner of his country. The stars and stripes meant something to him then.
Now, if earthly powers have their banners, their badges, their signs, and their seals, and these are worn by those who are employed in their service, will it not be a pleasing thought for them to know that He who rules the universe has prepared a significant emblem of his power by which those who serve him can show themselves loyal to his throne? It is significant that just as soon as he had created the world he ordained, dedicated, and sanctified the Sabbath day to be the sign and seal of his power.
“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Gen. 2:3.
The fact that the one who worships truly, worships Him who made heaven and earth and all things therein, is constantly kept before the mind of him who studies the Scriptures. We give a few references.
“The Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king. . . . The gods that have not made the heavens and earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by his power.” Jer. 10:10-12.
The conclusion drawn from the two scriptures above quoted is that no power save the God that made the world can make a sabbath for the world. The Sabbath for the world must be the rest from creation of the God that created the world. Therefore to attempt to make a sabbath apart from the Sabbath of the Lord is to set up an idol to worship instead of worshiping the God that made the heavens and the earth.
“For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.” Ps. 96:5. “Worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14:7. “God that made the world and all things therein . . . is Lord of heaven and earth.” Acts 17:24.
The God in these scriptures described, is the only power to be worshiped. That person who sacredly regards the Sabbath which God made and blessed thereby shows his loyalty and reverence for the Creator of all things.
In harmony with these propositions the Lord through his prophet inspired the following words: “Hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.” “I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.” Eze. 20:20, 12.
The commandment recognized the same truth in regard to the significance of the Sabbath. It tells who the author of the law is, what his power is, and how far his jurisdiction extends. He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He made all in six days. He rested from the work of creation on the seventh day. Because he did this, he blessed the rest day and set it apart for man. It was therefore to be a badge of the authority of the power that did all this.
He also makes it to be a seal of the law that embodies it. No other point in the whole law defines who the author is. The Lord says, “It [the Sabbath] is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” Ex. 31:17.
The declaration in the above text is equivalent to saying that God made the Sabbath to be a sign, or seal, to be worn by his people, as an emblem of their loyalty to him. It is a sign that marks them as the worshipers of Him who made heaven and earth.
It constantly points to Him who made man in the beginning and sanctifies him in redemption. If the Sabbath commandment were taken from the law, the seal of that law would be gone. Then the authority by which it was enacted and by which it was to be administered would be nullified.
As far as the law itself is concerned, if the Sabbath commandment were not in it, it might be claimed by the worshipers of the sun to have emanated from their God. If any other than the seventh day were inserted in the commandment it would tell a falsehood instead of the truth. It is therefore no wonder then that Satan tries to have the Sabbath changed, or else stricken from the law altogether.
If he could succeed in having the badge of Baalism inserted in the law in place of the badge and seal of God’s authority, having it take the place of the Sabbath that God placed in the law, and could then have the change respected, who then would thereby be worshiped?
The reputed change of the Sabbath, from the day that God sanctified and blest to the day that was dedicated through the influence of Baalism to the worship of the sun, is an effort on the part of the enemy of all righteousness to have himself worshiped instead of the God that made the world. His success for the present is measured by what is seen among the inhabitants of the earth, yet the change is not real. God’s law is neither changed nor abrogated, and until Satan can annul or change the statutes of Jehovah the Sabbath will not be changed.
Yet as some honestly think it has been done and are therefore acting as though it were accomplished, it becomes necessary to set them right.
It is for the purpose of helping those disciples of Christ who are trying to obey the law while they are wearing the enemy’s badge, that the following admonition was written: “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” Isa. 8:16. The speaker is Christ, because Paul applies verse 18 to the Saviour. See Heb. 2:3. The speaker in both verses is the same. The expression “my disciples” must therefore refer to those who are learning from Christ. The connection and especially the subject discussed in verses 19, 20, shows that the instruction to bind up the testimony and seal the law among Christians applies especially at this time. It is when many professed Christians are seeking after those who have familiar spirits, and at the same time are rejecting the law.
Nevertheless there are those who are ready to wear the seal of loyalty to God as soon as they can be made to see that Sunday is the adopted badge of another power. With this class the testimony may be bound up and the law sealed. Their hearts are loyal and they want the true ensign of the God that they worship.
The original word for seal has the sense of finishing and sealing up authoritatively. See the following: “And she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal.” 1 Kings 21:8. “Because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.” Neh. 9:38. “Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.” Esther 8:8.
God has written his own law and combined his seal in the writing, and no power in the universe less than himself can reverse it. He has told what that seal is, and why it was chosen among all the other commandments to be his seal.
The thing to be bound up or gathered together is the testimony, the evidence, which seals the engagement. The sealing of the law among the disciples of Christ will bind up the testimony for them, so that it will not condemn them in the judgment. Christ must present the testimony for them in the judgment. Paul testifies that the law does not justify; but he says that it is used as a witness in favor of those who have been justified by faith in Christ. Rom. 3:20-22. The righteousness which is to pass the justified through the judgment is in Christ. Christ fulfills all the requirements of the law. Those who surrender all to Christ that they may harmonize with all the requirements of the law in him, will be so related to the judgment that the law will witness to their righteousness. With the seal and ensign of God they can properly be said to be keepers of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Such will have a strait testimony in the judgment. Every one of the ten witnesses will testify to their loyalty, and in the name of their God they can set up their banners. Ps. 20:5.
But what can a witness whose testimony is always truth, do for him who has a crooked case to present in court? Let loyalty to the kingdom of God be seen upon the banner of all who ask the Lord to defend their case in the judgment.
The Glitter of the World
By Scougal
WHEN once the soul, by contemplation, is raised to any right appreciation of the divine perfections and foretastes of celestial bliss, the glitter of the world will no more dazzle his eyes than the faint luster of a glowworm will trouble the eagle after it hath been beholding the sun.—Scougal.
Diligence in Life’s Little Duties
By Henry More
WITH meekness, humility, and diligence apply yourself to the duties of your condition. They are the seemingly little things which make no noise that do the business.—Henry More.
OUR ETERNAL DESTINY DECIDED BY OUR COURSE HERE.
By Mrs. E. G. White
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
WE have but one probation in which to form character, and our destiny depends upon the manner of character we form. Those who on earth have formed characters that through the grace of Christ bear the heavenly mould, will be ripened through the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit for the eternal reward. They become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. It is a realization of the fact that our characters are Christlike, that calls forth the song of praise and thanksgiving to God and to the Lamb. Those who appreciate the goodness, mercy, and love of Christ, and by beholding him become changed into his image, will be partakers of eternal life. The attributes of their character are like those of Christ, and they cannot fail of the rest that remains for the people of God.
But those who have developed a character after the Satanic order would not be at home in heaven. The sinful, selfish, passionate accuser and criticiser would be miserable in heaven; and even in the counsels of the court of God, because of his lack of wisdom, he would reveal his uncourteous, unsympathizing, harsh disposition. If he were placed upon the very loftiest pinnacle, and held supremacy in angelic councils, he would still want to be in a higher position, and even covet the throne of God. There would be no happiness for such a man in heaven. He could not practice evil thinking, evil speaking, be boisterous, critical, and condemnatory, amid the peaceful hosts of the redeemed. Could such a one enter heaven, he would find that he had brought his untamable, unmanageable self along, and heaven itself could not afford him relief from his innate disposition. Heaven begins in the soul, and as heavenly-mindedness increases, Christ is more and more appreciated, and finally becomes the Chiefest among ten thousand, the One altogether lovely. But as Satan is allowed to control the mind, his attributes become a part of the character of the one whom he controls, and the sinner exercises himself unto more and more ungodliness.
If we would see heaven, we must have heaven below. We must have a heaven to go to heaven in. We must have heaven in our families, through Christ continually approaching unto God. Christ is the great center of attraction, and the child of God hid in Christ, meets with God, and is lost in the divine being. Prayer is the life of the soul; it is feeding on Christ; it is turning our faces fully toward the Sun of Righteousness. As we turn our faces toward Him, He turns his face toward us. He longs to give us divine grace; and as we draw nigh to God with full assurance of faith, our spiritual conceptions are quickened. We do not then walk in blindness, bemoaning our spiritual barrenness; for by diligent, prayerful searching of the word of God, we apply his rich promises unto our souls. Angels draw close to our side, and the enemy with his manifold devices is driven back.
Prayer is the strength of the soul, and yet this exercise has been sadly neglected. By simple, earnest, contrite prayer, heavenly mindedness is greatly increased. No other means of grace can be substituted and healthiness of the soul be preserved. Prayer brings the soul into immediate contact with the well-spring of life, and strengthens the spiritual sinew and muscle of our religious experience; for we live by faith, seeing Him who is invisible. Neglect the exercise of prayer, or engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as it is deemed convenient, and you lose your connection with God. The Christian life becomes dry, and the spiritual faculties have no vitality. The religious experience lacks health and vigor. There is a growing tendency to substitute the writings and sayings of men for the word of God.
It is because of a neglect of prayer and of searching the Bible that the multitudes accept men-made theories, vain philosophies, or the flashing speculations of the human mind. God never designed that the soul should be nourished with the traditions and speculations of human invention. The imagination must plume for a higher flight than human ability can originate; for the mind must ascend to the Source of all wisdom. Souls all about us are starving for the bread of life, famishing for the living water, clear as crystal, that flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb. But the bread of life is denied these poor souls, and even from the pulpits discourses on science and vain philosophy are substituted for the word of God. It is the word of God that is as pure provender, thoroughly winnowed from all the chaff of human uncertainties and suppositions.
It is the grace of God alone which can vitalize and refresh the soul. The precious sure word of prophecy reveals to him who is a searcher for truth, the riches of the grace of Christ. The word of God is a spiritual granary from whence the soul may receive that which will nourish its life. In perusing the word of God we find doctrines, precepts, promises, admonitions, exhortations, and words of encouragement, that will meet the case of emergency in every human mind. Here the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works; for "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."
"But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. . . . Keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called, which some professing have erred concerning the faith."
"Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith, so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and a faith unfeigned; from which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm."
"And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness."
This instruction is vital, and may be considered with profit. We are to rely upon the word of God, and not upon the assertion or speculation of human philosophy. The soul is to be nourished by the pure, unadulterated word of God; and by persevering search the Bible student will find a "feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined." Then the language of the heart will be, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart."
DAVID AND THE KING OF GATH.
By Stephen Nelson Haskell
BY ELDER S. N. HASKELL.
"AND David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hands. And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath." 1 Sam. 27:1, 2. David had become discouraged, though he should not have been. Had not God promised that he should be king of Israel? Had he not been anointed king? But he had seen the treachery of Saul repeatedly, and often had nearly fallen into his hands, but God had delivered him. This should have encouraged him to still have trusted in God, that he would do it to the end. But David felt that it was of no use to continue as he was going on. When he had previously fled from Saul he had gone to the king of Gath. But at this time he was afraid of Achish, and played the madman before him, and the king said, "Have I need of madmen, that ye have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?" 1 Sam. 21:12-15. But now he goes in a different manner than before. He had now despaired of any reconciliation with Saul; and it did seem that he would fall a victim to the king of Israel. He therefore goes again to him whom God had devoted to destruction—one of Israel's bitterest enemies. So with six hundred men under his charge he passed over to the king of Gath.
This move was not in the counsel of God. Even while Saul was seeking David's life, God was working to establish the throne of David.600He was working by his providence to give David the hearts of Israel. Many souls throw themselves into the hands of Satan, because they cannot wait God's time, when God is working for them as rapidly as circumstances will permit. But they do not see how he is working, therefore they cannot trust. God compels none, but deals with all in tender mercy. He offers all the same opportunity of repentance. He works out his plans, although to human eyes they may be veiled in mystery. Finite wisdom cannot comprehend the ways of God. "God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform." David looked to outward appearances and not to the promises of God. He doubted that he would ever come to the throne.
God took over four thousand years to convince unfallen beings of the full nature of the rebellion in heaven that was inaugurated by Satan. It will take seven thousand years to convince the universe that the government of God is just and that Satan should be finally destroyed. But when thus settled it will be settled forever and ever. The law of God will be in the hearts of all his created intelligences. God's government will be vindicated, and rebellion will be forever wiped out of the universe of God. Man is on trial. Eternal principles are involved in every trial that comes upon us, and happy are those who without a murmur can implicitly trust the promises of God.
This very nation to which David had fled was among the worst enemies to Israel and would be to the last. The whole movement was a scheme of Satan to involve David when he would be established king over Israel. He had forsaken his post without a command from the Lord. He did not inquire of the Lord when he was about to take this step, as he had formerly done when driven from place to place by Saul. If he had done this, he never would have gone to the enemies of God for protection. God was dishonored by this step. The Philistines feared David more than they feared Saul and his armies. This move encouraged these relentless foes to oppress Israel. Israel received the impression that he had gone to worship other gods. But this was not true. His motives were misjudged. It was his unwise course that caused them to do it. How much this had to do with the delay of his being king over the twelve tribes during the coming seven years the record does not inform us. But David had not forsaken his God. He did not want to dwell in the royal city, but desired the country place, where he and his friends could worship God unmolested.
Many persons have shown their weakness and tarnished their Christian experience by some foul blot because in the hour of trial they could not await God's time, and even if recovered from the snare of Satan they delayed the blessings which God had in reserve for them. "It is good to trust in the Lord," and put not "trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help." Better to say with Job, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him."
But God did not leave David in the snare Satan had set for him. The time came when David found himself in a great strait. He could not make war upon one from whom he had sought and received protection, without bringing upon himself eternal infamy. The time finally came when Achish and Saul were to go to battle against each other. Should David refuse to fight for him who had given him shelter in time of adversity in his dominion, it would bring disgrace upon his name in the sight of all nations, and a dishonor to the principles he professed. Neither could he fight his own people, over whom the Lord had anointed him king. This would be destruction to him, soul and body. His own feelings at this time can better be imagined than described. He was involved, as thousands of souls are when entrapped by Satan. His own planning and scheming were useless. He now reached a point where his military tactics failed. While he chose the living and true God as his God and would worship him, the crisis came:—
"Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek; and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel. And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands; but David and his men passed on in the rearward with Achish. Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which has been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day? And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him, and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men? Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?" 1 Sam. 29:1-5. David was compelled to return.
But while absent his wives and children were taken captives, and those strong warriors "lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep." Even David's chosen few turned upon him as the cause of their calamities. "David seemed to be cut off from every human support, all that he held dear upon earth had been swept from him. Saul had driven him from his country; the Philistines had driven him from the camp; the Amalekites had plundered his city; his wives and children had been made prisoners; his own familiar friends had banded against him and threatened him even with death."
He now reviewed his past life. He saw his mistake and "encouraged himself in the Lord." Calling for the priest, he inquired of the Lord, and was heard, and deliverance was again promised.
But who was it that stirred up the lords of the Philistines to send David back from the army, from the perilous position in which he had placed himself? It certainly was not Satan, for that was not his business; that would be working directly against himself. No, it was the angels of God who were at work to open a door of escape for God's servant. Their eyes had been upon David in all of his ways. They saw the desire of his heart to worship God and him alone. They well knew all the influences that had brought him in the position where he was. This in a most striking manner reveals to us the character of the God that we serve. He does not turn and retaliate when his chosen see their folly and would return to him. He is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever.
It is sin that has plunged the human race into their hopeless condition. It is Christ that has opened a way of escape. It is nothing that we can do to lift ourselves out of our lost condition. We are utterly helpless as to strength and wisdom to help ourselves. Then where is our hope?—In our Lord Jesus Christ and in him alone. Two things are essential on our part. First, we must have a willingness and desire to be helped. Second, we must coöperate with the Lord in the open door he has prepared for our deliverance. The pardon has been purchased, freely purchased. The price has been paid. "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." He freely offers his pardon and his grace. It, like the atmosphere we breathe, encircles the earth. His eye is watching every hand of faith which is uplifted for deliverance. To realize our utter helplessness is the first step in our accepting the pardon offered. But, oh, what love, what amazing love! Contemplating the goodness of God in making such provision, should melt the stoutest heart. It should soften the most stubborn spirit. But this is God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out." Every circumstance recorded in the Scripture, every line of inspiration, contains treasures of gems, precious gems of knowledge, in showing the character of God, and should it be more critically studied we would see in God more to admire in his dealing with the human family.
A SONG OF LOVE.
By Robertson Trowbridge
BY ROBERTSON TROWBRIDGE.
THE love of the Great for the Less
Is the Sun's free way;
The love of the Like for the Like
Is the day's glad love of the Day.
But atom and mote can tell
Of a nobler love,
In glory and beauty beyond,
In blessedness far above.
'Tis the love of the Less for the Great,
The yearning desire
Of the Poor to attain the Complete,
Of the Low to embrace the Higher;
The longing and love of the year
For the Spring unborn;
The love of the Brook for the Sea,
The love of the Night for the Morn.
—Selected.
BOYCOTTING THE FAIR.
By Editor
UNDER the above heading the Gospel News has the following, which, though the Fair has been closed, reveals a Christian spirit, something not manifested on the part of many, on this subject:—
There should be no uncertain sound about the question of boycotting the Exposition. However we may be disappointed as Christians and believers in the gates being closed on Sunday, we have no right to encourage any such practice as the boycott. It is a word Christians ought never to use. We cannot afford to. It is not in our line. If we do not think we can conscientiously attend the Fair because it is opened on Sunday, we have a perfect right not to do so; or if, on the contrary, we think we can conscientiously attend it, we have a right to do that, if we do not attend it on Sunday. If we were to draw the line as closely as we are tempted to in regard to the Sunday opening, we should not be able to do our ordinary business, with any degree of consistency. We could not use the street cars on the six days of the week, because they run on Sunday, nor could we use the railroad trains, for the very same reason. With all our anxiety and earnestness for the Sunday closing of the gates, we must be Christlike and charitable. While we denounce the ways and plan of those who have done so much to break down the sabbath, we must still love them as Christ does.
"BEAT A CHARGE."
WHEN Napoleon ordered his drummer boy to beat a retreat, he received the reply: "Oh, sire! Desaix never taught me that; but I can beat a charge—I can beat a charge that would make the dead fall into line!"
We want less talk about "retrenching," "discouragement," "failure," and more of something that is like the drummer boy's "charge," that will stir every heart, making the dead within the church and the dead without fall into line.—Selected.