June 11

1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.

2 And a man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

3 And the eyes of them that see shall not be

dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.

4 The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.

5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.

6 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry; and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fall.

7 The instruments also of the churl are evil:

he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.

8 But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall be stand.

Christ is the "hiding place from the wind," the "covert from the tempest;" the "GREAT ROCK" in a weary land. This is one of the most beautiful and comprehensive presentations of Christ to be found in the Scriptures. He hides them in the cleft of the rock till danger be past. He shelters them as a hen does her brood, when the tempest rages. He defends them when assailed by temptation, and covers their defenceless heads in the day of battle. Fleeing to this Refuge, they find ample protection, and are made to rejoice in hope of the glory of God. No "wind" can blight them there; no "tempest" disturb the serenity of their souls. Almighty love is their refuge; incarnate mercy is their solace, life and repose.

"The liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall be stand" (verse 8).

"In spite of all the fortune, of all the might, of all the malice in the world, the liberal man will ever be rich, for God's providence is his estate; God's wisdom and power are his defence; God's love and favor are his reward; God's word is his assurance; who hath said it, that 'He which giveth to the poor shall not lack,' no vicissitude therefore of things can surprise Him, or find Him unfurnished, no disaster can impoverish Him, no adversity can overwhelm Him; He hath a certain reserve against all times and occasions; he that 'deviseth liberal things, by liberal things shall be stand.'"—Barrow.

Closet Promise.—Thou art my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.—Psalm xxxii. 7.

Is that word for me? Indeed it is. No one has a better right to claim it in Christ Jesus. All that was implied in it as it came from the heart of the Psalmist is mine.