“Whom the Lord does love He chastens,”
One of Scripture’s precious truths;
And we call to mind the testing
Of those much-tried Hebrew youths,
Who, within a fiery furnace,
For their faithfulness appear;
But whose chastening was tempered
By the Presence that was near.
For the burning fiery furnace
Not alone by them was trod;
Oh, they had the blessed company
Of that One—the Son of God;
What a joy amidst their trial!
How it must have calmed their fear
In the hour of their affliction,
Just to know that He was near!
So, as we go o’er life’s pathway,
Trials and sorrows we must meet;
But they will not overpower us
If we are at Jesus’ feet,
Within hearing of His whisper
That will fall upon our ear
In the roughest, darkest places,
“Trust and fear not; I am near.”
Oh, the lonely hours we pass through,
E’en those nearest cannot share;
We to Him our hearts unburden,
Take our grief to Him in prayer;
Then it is He loves to hear us,
Loves to comfort and to cheer;
Into joy He turns our sorrow,
By His whisper, “I am near.”
Of His love He does assure us,
Shows us that the trial was meant
But to draw us closer to Him,
And in tender love was sent,
That we might rely more fully
On His love while we are here,
And be ever conscious listeners
For His whisper, “I am near.”
And be ever waiting, watchful
For His coming in the air,
When us to Himself He’ll gather,
Aye to dwell with Him up there!
Then in every waking moment,
May this thought our spirits cheer—
He is coming, coming for us,
And, blest hope, His coming’s near.
M.E.B.