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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