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The unremitting vigilance of the enemy pursuing the man of God
Posted : 29 Jun, 2013 02:12 AM
Psalm 119:114 You are my hiding place, and my shield; I hope in Your word.
We have seen the unremitting vigilance of the enemy
pursuing the man of God in his secret retirement with painful
distraction. See how he runs to his hiding-place. Here is our
main principle of safety-not our striving or our watchfulness,
but our faith. Flee instantly to Jesus. He is the sinner's hiding place, "the man,"-that wondrous man, "in whom dwelt all the
fullness of the Godhead bodily." Yes, Jesus exposed Himself
to the fury of "the tempest," that He might become a hiding place, for us. The broken law pursued with its relentless
curse-'The sinner ought to die'-But You are my hiding-place,
who has "redeemed me from the curse of the law, being made
a curse for me." "The fiery darts" pour in on every side: but the
recollection of past security awakens my song of
acknowledgment-"You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm,
a shadow from the heat, when the blast of 'the terrible ones is
as a storm against the wall." Our hiding-place covers us from
the power of the world. "In Me"- says our Savior-"you shall
have peace. Be of good cheer! I have overcome the world."
Helpless to resist the great enemy, our Lord brings us to His
wounded side, and hides us there. We "overcome him by the
blood of the Lamb." To all accusations from every quarter, our
challenge is ready-"Who shall lay anything to the charge of
God's elect?" From the fear of death, our hiding-place still
covers us. "Jesus through death has destroyed him that had
the power of death." Against the sting of this last enemy, a
song of thanksgiving is put into our mouth-"O death! where is
your sting? O grave! where is your victory? Thanks be to God,
which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Thus is "the smoking flax," which the malice of Satan strives
to extinguish, not "quenched;" nor is "the bruised reed," which
seems beyond the hope of restoration, "broken."
But the completeness of our security is graphically portrayed You are my hiding-place, to cover from danger,-my shield,
also to protect me in it. Either I shall be kept from trouble, that
it shall not come; or in trouble, that it shall not hurt me. The
hiding-place alone would be imperfect security, as being
limited to one place. But my shield is movable, wherever be
the point of danger or assault. I can "quench the dart" that is
aimed at my soul.
But a hiding-place implies also secrecy. And truly the
believer's is "a hidden life," beyond the comprehension of the
world. He mixes with them in the common communion of life.
But while seen of man, he is dwelling "in the secret of the
Lord's tabernacle," safe in the midst of surrounding danger,
guarded by invincible strength. Often, indeed, must the world
be surprised at his constancy, amid all their varied efforts to
shake his steadfastness. They know not "the secret of the Lord, which is with them that fear Him." And never could he
have had a just conception of the all-sufficiency of his God,
until he finds it above him, around him, underneath him, in all
the fullness of everlasting love-his hiding-place, and his
shield. Thus in the heart of the enemy's country "he dwells on
high, and his place of defense is the munitions of rocks."
But are we acquainted with this hiding-place? How have we
discovered it? Are we found in it, and careful to abide in it?
Within its walls "that wicked one touches us not." Yet never
shall we venture outside the walls unprotected, but his assault
will give us some painful remembrance of our unwatchfulness.
And then do we prize our shield, and run behind it for constant
security. Remember, every other hiding-place "the waters will
overflow." Every other shield is a powerless defense. Surely
then the word which has discovered this security to us, is a
firm warrant for our hope. And, therefore, every sinner,
enclosed in the covert of love, will be ready to declare-I hope
in Your word.
by
Charles Bridges
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