That A Fresh Unction From The HOLY ONE May Make Me Spiritually Wise And Strong.

Our Arabian wilderness!
(Alexander Smellie, "The Hour of Silence" 1899)

"But when GOD, who set me apart
from birth and called me by HIS grace,
was pleased to reveal HIS SON in me . . .
I did not consult any man, nor did I go up
to Jerusalem to see those who were
apostles before I was, but I went 
immediately into Arabia."
Galatians 1:15-17

Paul went away from all human contact

for several years, in order to spend time

alone with GOD in the Arabian wilderness.

The newborn soul needs solitude,

that, apart from the strife of tongues 

and the din of the world, it may meditate

on those marvelous things which GOD

has done for it.

That it may frame a larger, deeper, more

adequate conception of what salvation

really is. That its gratitude may become

more precise and more profound.

That, with nothing and no one to

distract, it may dedicate itself

quietly and fully to its LORD.

The Bible teacher needs solitude,

that he may apprehend the breadth

and length and depth and height

of that great, majestic, illimitable

book he is to proclaim.

That he may seize hold

of the truth of GOD--

and that the truth of GOD

may seize hold of him.

That the truths of Scripture may

become, more than ever, his own

possession and exceeding joy.

And then, out of the abundance

of his heart, his mouth will speak.

Every saint needs solitude,

that he may shake off the dust 

and grime of worldliness and sin.

That, waiting on the LORD, he may

renew his strength.

That a fresh unction from the HOLY ONE

may make him spiritually wise and strong.

In Arabia, as he came forth from

the cloud, the face of Moses shone.

In Arabia, the soul of Paul duly took

and strongly kept the print of Heaven.

Ah, there are none of us who can venture

to dispense with our Arabian wilderness!

Is it my custom and my delight to go 

by myself to a quiet place, and rest 

awhile with JESUS? (Mark 6:31)

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