June 20

"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path." Psalm exiii. 5.

THE complete adaptation of the promises of God's word to the varied wants and exigences of man, may be considered as an unanswerable argument for its Divine authenticity and sufficiency. The Bible teaches us our duty in prosperity, and directs us to the only true source of comfort in adversity. David felt its power, rejoiced in its discoveries, and experienced its sweetness. We have here

A DISTRESSING PERIOD. "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me." Whence do our mournful thoughts arise? We may divide them into two classes:—

Temporal. Sometimes God sees fit to visit his people with bodily maladies; many suffer in this way. Then there are the trials and vexations of the world, the blasting of high expectations, and the failure of long-concerted plans. On the sea of human life, there is many a raging billow and foaming wave; here and there are to be seen the wreck of many a fair hope, and sometimes the waters seem ready to engulf us, and our spirits are overwhelmed. The other source to which we refer is

Spiritual. That which regards the condition of the soul. How often is the spirit overwhelmed on a review of our misimprovement of religious opportunities, the little benefit we have derived from the abundance of means we have enjoyed, our scanty knowledge, weak faith, cold affections, languid hope, shallow experience, poor attainments, dormant zeal, and many imperfections! But here is

A CONSOLATORY REFLECTION. "Then thou knewest my path." Thus Job, when in trial, said, "He knoweth the way that I take." The comfort is drawn, not from God's mere knowledge of our path, but his readiness at all times to help us. See Deuteronomy 2:7; Psalms 31:7.

He knows the difficulties of our path, and will help us. Earthly friends may be acquainted with our peculiar trial, while they are unable to afford us relief; but his knowledge is always combined with power, so that he can, and with love, so that he will, help us.

He knows the temptations of our path, and will succor us. We are tempted to forget God, and to forsake his way; but what a consolation is it to our minds that he knoweth our path!

He knows the dangers of our path, and will defend us. There is no enemy he is unacquainted with. He knows the malignity, power, subtlety, and craft of all our foes, and will deliver us from every evil work and device.

He knows the perplexities of our path, and will guide us. Sometimes our way is dark and cloudy, and we know not what step to take next: what a mercy that our way is not hidden from him! He will guide us in darkness, unto death, through the dreary vale, to glory everlasting; where we shall know that he has led us by a right way to the city of habitation.