December 7

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God, in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and

under his wings shall thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night: not for the arrow that fieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shall thou behold and see the reward of the wicked

9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation:

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angel's charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the him and adder: the young hon and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

"In the whole collection there is not a more cheering Psalm; its tone is elevated and sustained throughout, faith is at its best, and speaks nobly. A German physician was wont to speak of it as the best preservative in times of cholera, and in truth it is a heavenly medicine against plague and pest. He who can live in its spirit will be fearless, even if once again London should become a lazar-house, and the grave be gorged with carcasses."—C. H. Spurgeon.

"We read of a stag that roamed about in the greatest security, by reason of its having a label on its neck, 'Touch me not, I belong to Cæsar;' thus the true servants of God are always safe, even among lions, bears, serpents, fire, water, thunder, and tempests; for all creatures know and reverence the shadow of God."—Bellarmine.

"Under the Shadow of the Almighty" "This is an expression which implies great nearness. We must walk very close to a companion, if we would have his shadow fall on us. Can we imagine any expression more perfect in describing the constant presence of God with his chosen ones, than this—they shall 'abide under His shadow?' . . . . There is a condition and a promise attached to it. The condition is, that 'we dwell in the secret place,'—the promise, that if we do so we 'shall abide under the shadow.' It is of importance to view it thus. For when we remember the blessing is a promised blessing—we are led to feel it is a gift—a thing therefore to be prayed for in faith, as well as sought for by God's appointed means. Ah! the hopes that this awakens! My wandering, wavering, unstable heart, that of itself cannot keep to one course two days together, is to seek its perseverance from God, and not in its own strength. He will hold it to Him if it be but seeking for steadfastness. It is not we who cling to Him. It is He who keeps near to us."—Mary B. M. Duncan.

Closet Promise.—The shadow of a great rock in a weary land.—Isa. xxxii. 2.

O Shadow is a sultry land!

We gather to Thy breast,

Whose love, enfolding like the night, Brings quietude and rest,

Glimpse of the fairer life to be,

In foretaste here possessed.

—C. M. Packard.