April 6

1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon; they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confess the feeble knees.

4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come

with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unsorped.

6 Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing, for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called. The way of holiness; the nucleus shall not pass over it, but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous

beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away

"Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees" (ver. 3). Do we not find plenty of these around us? Those very near us often need strengthening; are we right if they have practically to look farther for the help which might be ours to give?

"How shall we set about it? First, by prayer, as Aaron and Hur held up the hands of Moses. 'Helping together by prayer.' This reaches all. Who knows how much of the weakness of hands, which distresses or even annoys us, may be laid at our door because we talked about it instead of praying about it? Very likely, names will occur to us now; then take those names at once to the Mighty One, and ask Him to strengthen those weak hands and confirm those feeble knees.

"Secondly, by personal contact. I suppose we never come in contact with one who is really strong in the Lord without being strengthened, whether we feel it or not. But we should not be content with the unconscious influence which it is our singular privilege to radiate. 'Jonathan arose, and went to David in the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.' Arising always implies a little effort. Then make it!"—F. R. Havergal.

Closet Promise.—And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away—Isa. xxxv. 10.

"'Tis but a little while, Jesus hath said; This shall my way beguile, And gladness shed; Then Thos. Thyself will come, Jesus, to take me home; So let it be!

"Home! where my dear ones dwell, Come on before! Bless Home! where all is well For evermore! Home of the angels bright, Home of the saints of light, Home of my God!"