January 3

1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.

2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.

3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him.

4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:

5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

6 ¶ Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.

7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest waft the daughter of Babylon.

8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts: After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye

9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.

10 ¶ Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.

11 And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.

12 And the LORD shall inherit Judah his partion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again

13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

In this chapter we have two precious promises, which are often quoted, and which, like all the other promises of our God, are "yea and amen in Christ Jesus."

1. "For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her" (ver. 5). Is the Church, in this wilderness-state, exposed to the ravages of the enemy? Then will God be unto her "a wall," and that "of fire," which (like travellers in the desert who encircle themselves with fire against the attacks of wild beasts by night) will keep her secure from all approaches. Nay, more; not protection only, an inner circle around her, however near an enemy might press in upon her, but destructive to her enemies. Does the Church, in her poor circumstances, need comfort within? Then will God in Christ be "the glory in the midst of her." Look up, then, my soul, what hast thou to fear? What though rains beat without, and poverty be felt within; He that is "the wall of fire" can never be extinguished, and He that is "the glory in the midst" will still shine upon thee, and fully satisfy all thy need.

2. "He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye" (ver. 8). If you can conceive how tender you are of your eye, and how careful of the safety of your eyesight, you may judge of the care and protection He affords His people, how tender He is of their welfare, and how quickly He feels any injury done them.

Closet Promise.—Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.—1 Pet. v. 7.

If I could only surely know That all these things that are me so Were noticed by my Lord! The pang that cuts me like a knife, The noise, the weariness, the strife— What peace it would afford!

I wonder if He really shares In all these little human cares, This mighty King of kings! If He who guides through boundless space Each blazing planet in its place, Can have the condescending grace To mind these petty things.

It seems to me, if sure of this, Blent with each ill would come such bliss That I might covet pain, And deem whatever brought to me The loving thought of Deity, And sense of Christ's sweet sympathy, Not loss, but richest gain

Dear Lord, my heart shall no more doubt That Thou dost compass me about With sympathy divine; The love for me once crucified Is not the love to leave my side, But warmth ever to divide Each smallest care of mine.—Selected.