EVERY now and again we may read of remarkable escapes from death. Sometimes it is a child preserved from a runaway horse; at another time it is a farmer saved from an infuriated bull, or a sailor rescued from drowning, or an engineer from death in a railway accident, or a miner delivered from injury in a colliery explosion.
Events such as these come home to us, and our sympathies are touched, and we feel very thankful that the individual was saved. Warm-hearted little children are often so eager to learn the outcome of an accident they may hear about, that before the narrative is finished they will burst out with the inquiry, “Was he saved?”
Now there is a true history of a youth who was protected from death and injury on several occasions in a most wonderful manner. His father was a farmer, and as he had several sons, and was not very well off, the boys had to help. The youngest was a gentle boy, and so he was given the sheep to look after. He was very fond of music, and it seems that he would sing and play his own accompaniment while the sheep would be resting on the hot days.
One day the sheep were near a spot that gave cover to a hiding enemy, and before the young shepherd was aware of what was happening, a lion sprang out of its hiding-place, seized a little lamb and was making off with it; but the brave youth heard and saw the disturbance, and rushing forward saved the lamb and killed the lion.
Another day a bear came along and gripped hold of a lamb, and would have eaten it; but the kind young shepherd was instantly after it, released the lamb and killed the cruel bear.
‘When the shepherd grew to be a man, he wrote a beautiful hymn telling of some of his experiences, and he wrote “the young lions do lack and suffer hunger” (Psa. 34:1010The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. (Psalm 34:10)), for he remembered how he saved his little lamb from being their dinner.
He explains how he was enabled to do it. He says, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (verse 4). Do you notice that word “fears?” David had sometimes felt afraid; but whenever he did feel a bit afraid, he prayed to God, and God really did hear him, and deliver him, and therefore he could advise others to do the same.
Just listen a moment to the call of David: “Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” (verse 11). It is as though he said, “Come! come close up to me, dear children, while I teach you to love and reverence the God who heard and saved me.” Read the next verses, and see what he says. He tells you the things that God loves, and bids you “seek peace.” Peace with God is only obtained through the Lord Jesus and His atoning work.
ML-10/03/1920