sary for life's most pressing prob lems. Do you ever feel that your prayers avail very little? James gives us a clue as to why this is. He ex plains, "Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." In the 73rd Psalm, Asaph is greatly concerned over the age-old problem that is so evident. The un godly seem to prosper while the righteous suffer. How does one begin to understand this? It is a complete paradox that just does not seem to make sense. It is about half-way through his soliloquy here in the 73rd Psalm that he comes to a profound realization, "Until I went into the sanctuary of the Lord, then understood I their latter end." The truth is that the only un derstanding we are going to have concerning this perplexity, or any of the other problems of life, is in the sanctuary of the Lord, which is His eternal Word, the Bible. If we want to find strength, peace, satis faction and contentment — and who does not—we must learn that this is available only through Scrip ture and the power of God. Now, the word "inquire" is a fascinating one. It literally means to make a reconnaissance. In fact, this is the way the French translate it. It represents a meditative inves tigation of the Word of God so that the Word of God investigates us. This is the only Book in all the world with which this is possible. Do you not enjoy hearing the prayers of faithful saints? It is en couraging to share what is upon their hearts. We can learn through them that there is victory available through our Lord Jesus Christ. Even so, it is a good idea to study Da vid's heart desires.
As David continues his thoughts before the Lord, verse five testi fies, "For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavillion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock." David admits that difficult times will be coming. He is a real ist. We have to be, too, "in the time of trouble." Whether things are going well for you now, you can be assured that there is an hour coming when things will be difficult. David is not concerned because he has the blessed assur ance that testifies, "He shall hide me." Keep in mind that God does not promise to deliver us from all problems, or even to keep us out of trouble. He does not say He will take us away from the nagging dif ficulties. The promise is that He will "hide" us. That is sufficient, is it not? The word "hide" means to se cret away, with the ultimate pur pose of defending and protecting. Have you ever thought of the matchless security and provisions we find in the pavillions of the Word of God? As an example, let me suggest the beautiful pavillion of Romans 8:28. Come inside and find your strength renewed. In the time of the loss of a loved one, amid financial reversals, when dis couragements in the home or bus iness prevail, as physical ailments overtake you, in the forsaking by a friend, in all of these circum stances and more, you can find abundant hiding, defense and pro tection here. "For we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His pur pose." Then, too, what a strong pavil-
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