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ness to God he was thrown into a den of hungry lions, he pillowed his head upon their shaggy manes and slept the sleep of the just. Why was he found unscathed and serene in the morning? To the king’s anxious inquiry he replied, “ My God hath sent His angel and hath shut the lions’ mouths that they have not hurt me.” vs. 22. Perhaps Paul had a somewhat similar experience, 2 Tim. 4:17. What Christian can deny that the angel of the Lord encampeth round about those who fear Him and delivereth them? Though the child of God may have an experience like that of his Saviour in Mark 1:13, the good Shepherd is able to protect His flock from the denizens of the desert and the jungle. WEDNESDAY, February 22. 2 Chron. 32:1-8. Hezekiah’s Heavenly Defenders. When the hosts of Sennacherib in vaded Palestine and invested the cities of Judah, king Hezekiah had a vision similar to that given to Elisha and his servant when surrounded by the armies of Syria. He did not fold his hands and leave everything to his heavenly helpers. He made every possible prep aration to withstand a siege and re pulse the enemy but his trust was not in his own resources but in the power of God. It is not to be wondered at that “ the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah.” His faith and courage formed a bulwark of defence against which no enemy could prevail. The conviction that his cause is right and that God is with him makes a combatant invincible. “ If God be for us who can be against us?” Hezekiah might well be reckoned among the un named heroes of Hebrews 11. Are we •in that line of descent? THURSDAY, February 23. Gen. 82:1- 5. Mahanaim. The caravan of Jacob was ■on its way to meet the company of Esau. Jacob was sick, with fear at the possi ble outcome of the meeting. In this crisis he lifted up his eyes and found to his surprise that he was not travel ling alone. It was one of the great discoveries of his life when he saw the celestial escort which God had sent for his comfort and protection. Thereafter Mahanaim was as memorable in his ex-
book of Judges by means of which God wrought deliverance. A left-handed man, ch. 3:21. An ox-goad, 3:31. A woman, 4:4. A tent-peg 4:21. A piece of a millstone, 9:53. Pitchers and trumpets, 7:20. The jaw-bone of an ass, 15:16. With these might be placed that little captive Jewish maid who was the instrument of bringing such blessing to Naaman. The great Welsh revival of a few years ago started with the testimony of a young girl in prayer meeting who only said, “O, how I love Jesus” and then sat down. The work of grace which followed is considered to be the most wonderful and far-reach ing of this generation. A little spark can start a big Are. Despise not the day of small things. MONDAY, February 20. 2 Kings 6: 8-17. Elisha’s Heavenly Defenders. There are four different parties indi cated in vs. 16, “ us,” “ them,” “ they that be with us” and “ they that be with them.” Two of these parties are visi ble and earthly.. Two are invisible and heavenly, cf. Eph. 6:12, marg. The prophet declares that his re-enforce- ments out-numbered those of the Syr ians and that this fact should allay the fears of his servant. Let us not forget that we live in two worlds, and that the spiritual and unseen is just as real as the material and the seen. More over there is a moral alignment in the unseen world and the beings there are identified by their attitude to good and evil and by their location among the contending forces. It is also possible that earthly conflicts involving a moral issue are the reflection and result if not the continuance of spiritual and heaven ly battles, cf. Rev. 12:7. It is re-as suring to those who have taken sides with God in the present age to know that their heavenly allies are in the ma jority. This makes the issue not doubt ful. TUESDAY, February 21. Dan. 6:16- 23. Daniel’s Heavenly Defenders. Many times was Daniel visited by messengers from heaven. Sometimes they were sent to explain the import of his dreams and visions of the night, Dan. 9:20-22. When for his faithful
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