January 27

1 I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. 2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. 4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me; refuge tailed me; no man cared for my soul.

5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. 6 Attend unto my cry: for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecution; for they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

David was in one of his many lurking-places, either Engedi, Adullam, or some other lone cavern wherein he could conceal himself from Saul and his blood-hounds. "The gloom of the cave is over this psalm, and yet, as if standing at the mouth of it, the prophet-poet sees a bright light a little beyond."

"The bravest spirit is sometimes sorely put to it. A heavy fog settles down upon the mind, and the man seems drowned, and smothered in it; covered with a cloud, crushed with a load, confused with difficulties, conquered by impossibilities. David was a hero, and yet his spirit sank: he could smite a giant down, but he could not keep himself up. He did not know his own path, nor feel able to bear his own burden. Observe his comfort: he looked away from his own condition to the ever-observant, allknowing God; and solaced himself with the fact that all was known to his heavenly Friend. Truly it is well for us to know that God knows what we do not know. We lose our heads, but God never closes His eyes: our judgments lose their balance, but the eternal mind is always clear."—C. H. Spurgcon.

"The committing of our cause to God is at once our duty, our safety, and our ease."—Abraham Wright.

Closet Promise.—I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him will I trust.—Psalm xci. 2.

It is best to live day by day, believing that as our day so shall our strength be. The grace that helped us over past difficulties will be with us to help us over those to come. Let us give up worrying and take to trusting: So shall we enter into possession of that peace of God which passeth understanding.

"O holy trust! O endless sense of rest! Take the beloved John To lay his head upon the Saviour's breast, And thus to journey on."