"The Bible tells o f the exceeding cunning and subtlety o f Satan. And this subtlety will,
Resignation I place an offering at Thy shrine, From taint and blemish clear, Simple and pure in its design, O f all that I hold dear. I yield Thee back thy gifts again, Thy gifts which most I prize; Desirous only to retain The notice of thine eyes. But if by thine adored decree That blessing be denied, Resigned, and unreluctant, see My every wish subside. Thy will in all things I approve, Exalted or cast down; Thy will in every state I love, And even in thy frown.
man of sin a member of the race from which prophecy said the Mes- siah-king would come. 4) “Neither shall he regard . . . the desire of women.” This expres sion has been variously interpreted as describing his cruelty or his licentiousness. However, it seems best to me to interpret it in line with the Messianic hope. What was the desire of the Jewish woman? Was it not her supreme desire that she might be selected to become the mother of the Messiah who was to be bom? The mothers of Israel de sired this birth; but this desire will be utterly disregarded by this “wil ful king,” in that he will not show himself to Israel in that fashion. 5) He shall “honour the God of forces.” His supreme honor and at tention are to be given to the God of forces, or “ fortresses,” as the American Standard Version renders it. Let me quote to you again Daniel 11:38,39 from this translation: “ But in his place shall he honour the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones and pleasant things. And he shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god: whosoever acknowl- edgeth him he will increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price.” The God of force indeed! How familiar this sounds to our ears to day! My dear friends, surely it is not necessary for me to call to your at tention the startling significance of all this. A score of years ago this would not have meant much to us. But today we have been reading about this very thing from the newspapers; and we have heard these same phrases spoken over the radio. Surely the time of our deliv erance draws near!
6) “A god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour.” This god “whom his fathers knew not” he will honor greatly with silver and gold, and with precious stones and pleasant things. There need not be any question concerning the person’s identity here. You will re member that in Isaiah 14:14, where the sin of Satan is set forth, he is recorded as having said, “ I will be like the most High.” Why was not Lucifer, who became Satan, content with the position that God had given to him? It was because he de sired to receive for himself the wor ship and homage that were being given to God. I tell you, my friends, the su preme and consuming ambition of Satan is to be worshiped. And through the antichrist he will real ize his ambition, in that the one whom the world worships will turn over that worship and adulation to him. In that day there will be devil-worship on a w o r l d - w i d e scale. 7) He will offer counterfeit re wards. You know that salvation is an absolutely free gift of God. You may work for rewards in the Chris tian life; and every service done in the name of our blessed Lord, even to the giving of “ a cup of cold water,” will surely not lose its re ward. This matter of rewards will be dealt with at the coming “ judg ment seat of Christ.” In that day Paul will receive his reward of which he speaks in 2 Timothy 4r8. And in that day we shall receive ours. But what I want to tell you is that Satan, through his tool, the antichrist, will also be passing out rewards. Those who do his will shall be acknowledged and given honor and power. Moreover, they shall be put in advanced places of rulership. And the land shall be divided “ for gain,” or “ for a price.” The “ land” in this case, as is usual
—- Madame Guyon
A longing soul As pants the hart for cooling streams When heated in the chase, So longs my soul, O God, for Thee, And Thy refreshing grace. For Thee, my God, the living God, My thirsty soul doth pine; O when shall I behold Thy Face, Thou Majesty Divine! Why restless, why cast down, my soul ? Trust God; and He’ll employ His aid for thee, and change these sighs To thankful hymns of joy. Why restless, why cast down, my soul ? Hope still; and thou shalt sing The praise of Him who is thy God, Thy health’s eternal Spring. y^E . Hatch IV lepbibosheth "H e did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.” — 2 Sam. 9:13 On lifeless limbs, why should he waste A moment, sorrowing, W ho every day sat down before The table of the king? He could not leap and run and dance; But daily he could eat In fellowship with royalty, Though crippled in his feet. Oh, rather would my heart forgo All health and strength afford, Than live to walk earth’s careless way— And miss Thy table, Lord. — Helen Frazee-Bower
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