November 20

13 ¶ Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains; for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me

15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually before me.

17 Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.

18 ¶ Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold, all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with

an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.

19 For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.

20 The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too straight for me; give place to me that I may dwell.

21 Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?

22 Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring the sons in their arms, and the daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders

23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their parents thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and kick up the dust of thy feet, and thou shalt know that I owe the LORD, for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me

24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?

25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the cap-

tives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children

26 And I will fecu them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD owe thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

The language of verse 14 is that of complaint, and expresses the deep feeling of the people of God amidst many calamities, afflictions, and trials.

In verse 15 is God's answer. "Look at that woman with her smiling babe at her breast; see how fond she is of it, how delighted with it; it is part of herself; its innocent look and helpless cry call forth her tenderest affection and regard. Can she forget it? Can she refuse to show compassion to it? Will she neglect to administer to its wants, and to preserve from danger the dear and tender son of her womb? Is it possible?" Here is an image in nature which strikes one with the most tender affection, to set forth the love and care of the Lord to His people.

But strong and striking as it is, it fails. There have been those who have not had compassion upon their offspring. Therefore, knowing the fears and surmises of our nature, the Father of love and the Friend of sinners, as it were, corrects Himself, "Yea, they may forget"—the comparison fails. Yet, will I not forget thee. Oh, may faith fasten and live upon this precious word. May love be excited and joy increased by it. "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands."

Closet Promise.—He that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall He guide them.—Isa. xlix. 10.

"Just as God leads I am content; I rest me calmly in His hands; That which He has decreed and sent, That which His will for me commands, I would that He should all fulfill, That I should do His gracious will In living or in dying.

"Just as God leads I will resign; I trust me to my Father's will; When reason's rays deceptive shine, His counsel would I yet fulfill—

That which His love ordained as right, Before He brought me to the light— My all to Him resigning.

"Just as God leads me I abide; In faith, in hope, in suffering true, His strength is ever by my side: Can aught my hold on Him undo? I hold me firm in patience, knowing That God my life is still bestowing, The best in kindness sending."