Who can this be but JESUS?
(Alexander Smellie, "The Secret Place" 1907)
"A Man will be like . . .
a shelter from the wind,
a refuge from the storm,
streams of water in the desert, and
the shade of a great rock in a parched land!"
Isaiah 32:2
The beautiful words of the prophet
JESUS stretched wide HIS blessed
The Bible has ceased to be vexatious
Every passing act is dignified now,
(Alexander Smellie, "The Secret Place" 1907)
"A Man will be like . . .
a shelter from the wind,
a refuge from the storm,
streams of water in the desert, and
the shade of a great rock in a parched land!"
Isaiah 32:2
The beautiful words of the prophet
find their supreme fulfillment in JESUS--
the Man who is both my Brother, and
the SON of the Most High GOD.
JESUS is my Sin-Bearer, and
JESUS is my Sin-Bearer, and
therefore I discover in HIM a shelter
from the wind and storm. Between
me and the the fiery hurricane of
GOD'S wrath, about to overtake
me because of my sin--
HE has placed HIMSELF!
The storm of divine wrath broke
on HIM, instead of on me!
HE felt all its scorching and devastating
power. And so, when I take refuge
in what HE has done and in who HE is--
HE screens me from its fury!
JESUS stretched wide HIS blessed
arms on the Cross; in HIS holy
bosom, HE received all the spears
of divine wrath which should pierced
my heart forever in Hell!
JESUS is my Friend, and therefore
JESUS is my Friend, and therefore
I discover in HIM streams of water
in the desert. Not content with
redeeming me from death, HE satisfies
all the thirst of my heart--
the thirst which the world's best
things can neither satisfy nor quench.
Yesterday, it was the hot, burnt,
agonizing desert; today I am
among "the silver mountains,
where the nectar fountains spring."
The Bible has ceased to be vexatious
and dull; it brims over with light and
help and joy. Prayer is a task no longer--
but a well of refreshment. HE gives me
fuller grace, life more abundant, deeper
holiness, and soul-satisfaction. I hunger
no more, neither thirst any more.
And JESUS is my Master, and therefore
And JESUS is my Master, and therefore
I discover in HIM the shade of a great
rock in a parched land. The monotony,
the miserable sameness, of my life--
how is it cured? It is cured when HE
begins to reign over me.
Before HE came, it was sand, sand,
sand, as far as the eye could travel--
yellow sand below, and blazing sun above!
But since HE came, there is something
else, a mighty rock rising in the midst
of my parched land; and, nestling
under its shade . . .
the grass is green,
and the flowers are bright,
and the wilderness is
and the flowers are bright,
and the wilderness is
wilderness no more.
Every passing act is dignified now,
because it is done for CHRIST.
Every trifle is sacred, because
HIS Heaven bends over me,
and HIS eternity awaits me.
I have escaped from the monotony,
the tediousness, the dull routine of life.
HE crowns me with HIS loving-kindness
and tender mercy!
~ ~ ~ ~
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