“As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people from henceforth even forever.” (Psa. 125:2).
There is scarcely a Christian who would not say he believed God was able to preserve His people, to keep them in the daily way, and also in dangerous and difficult paths where faithfulness to Him might lead them. How little evidence of trust in God is, however, to be seen in many of us!
The following brief account of one who put God first, to whom His protection was a reality, and who experienced it in a remarkable way, may by God’s blessing encourage the hearts of some of His children to trust Him more.
A wealthy man was brought to a knowledge of his lost condition as a sinner, and learned the love and grace of God in Jesus Christ the Saviour. He was brought out of utter spiritual darkness into the bright and changeless light of God’s favor, and his whole life was changed outwardly as well as inwardly.
It must have been a remarkable sight to see the fine, tall man presiding at the long table around which his servants assembled, and, like the father of a large family, sharing with them the simple fare, while he sought to put before them the Bread of Life. He labored earnestly for souls, and many were blessed, and led out of fearful darkness to trust simply in the Saviour’s finished work. God worked through His servant, and, as ever, where God was working, Satan’s activity was to be seen.
Mr. S. was made to feel he had enemies, first, by many petty injuries and annoyances, and then in a more serious way. One day, while he was walking in the fields, three men sprang from behind a hedge, and fired. Mr. S. fell, with the contents of a blunderbuss lodged in the lower part of his body. For some time there seemed no hope of recovery; and the authorities, anxious to convict the men, who had been caught, brought them, as he lay in bed, that he might identify them. He looked them in the face, knew them, and they knew it, but not a word would he say to convict them. Had not the Master he loved, and sought to follow, said,
“Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matt. 5:39). And again it is written, “Who when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not.” (1 Peter 2:23).
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Rom. 12:19).
Contrary to all expectation he recovered, and resumed his former life and labors for the souls of others.
The efforts of his enemies were redoubled. Again he was fired at. This time the assailant was concealed, but aimed well, straight at his heart. The shot entered the Bible he carried in his left breast-pocket, and when the bullet was removed, at the bottom of a deep, round hole, these words could be read, “Holy Father, keep.” Could not the Father to whose care the Lord Jesus entrusted His own, whom He was leaving behind on the earth, could He not keep them?
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” (Isa. 26:3).
But yet once more those who greatly hated Mr. S., as one whose life and words tended to overthrow their power, stirred up some of the lowest and most hardened of those who knew, by experience, something of his heart and devoted ways.
It was late one stormy, wintry night when a servant came to the study where Mr. S. was quietly reading by his fireside, and said that two men had come to beg him to go at once to see a dying woman at some distance.
“Saddle my horse, John,” said Mr. S.
The servant, closing the door, said, “Sir, don’t go; say you’ll come tomorrow.”
“Saddle my horse, John.”
The faithful servant, who was much attached to his master, now became urgent.
“Don’t go, sir, I know them; I know they mean harm; you’ll never come back alive, sir, if you go.”
“Saddle my horse, John.”
And soon Mr. S. was riding through the storm and darkness with a man on each side of him, guiding his horse over rough country, till at last they turned in a thick wood, where the darkness grew more intense. Soon a light gleamed before them, and they reached a mud cabin where the men said the sick person was. Mr. S. dismounted, and entering, found himself surrounded by armed ruffians, who sprang to their feet as if to attack him, when he, calmly folding his arms, said, “Stand back, and listen to me. Here I am, but not in your power, I am in my Father’s keeping. All you can do to me is to send me to His presence, but the same act that sends me into heaven, sends you to hell.” He added a few words about the love of God, ready to save even the vilest. One by one the men crept out of the hut, and he was left standing alone.
He found his horse tied to a tree, mounted, and rode back safely, to the thankful astonishment of the anxious John.
Some time later this faithful servant was shot down by his master’s side, while Mr. S. lived to be over eighty, and would go about, a feeble old man at last, ever ready to tell of the love he knew so well.
“Blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee.” (Psa. 84:12).