THE journey is almost over — the wilderness well nigh passed — the need of the rock gone by. And on the very borders of the land we find to Israel are given “springing wells” and a song. They entered the wilderness with a song — “The Lord hath triumphed gloriously,” but its echoes soon died away amidst the murmurs and provocations of the journey. At the end, they have another song, as the princes and nobles digged with their staves — confession of their pilgrimage. Yes, another and a pilgrim song, not loud, with timbrel and dance — not of the great things done at the Red Sea — “Is it not said in the book of the wars of the Lord what He did in the Red Sea?” — but a humbler refrain: “Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it.”
“A little while our Lord shall come.” “Home! home of light and glory,” we too sing.
Ah! God has a history of our wilderness campaigns. All the victories His saints have achieved over sin and Satan; every struggle and tear in secret, unknown to any but God; trials of faith and patience, found unto praise, and Honor, and glory at the appearing of Christ. All the victories of God’s saints are display ed in His chronicles, in marvelous grace He giving them credit for what His sustaining power has wrought: “What He did in the brooks of Arnon” ... “there was not one city too strong for us: the Lord our God delivered all unto us.” (Num. 21:1414Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the Lord, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon, (Numbers 21:14).; Deut. 2:3636From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the Lord our God delivered all unto us: (Deuteronomy 2:36).)
Meanwhile we have the springing well; and the “song,” spite of groans, tears, sorrow, and failure, is still ours to sing, as we near the end of the journey. The excitement and exultation of the first song may have passed away, as does the blossom from the tree, but precious fruits of the Spirit — love, joy, peace— remain to ripen in the sunlight of His love and presence.
“If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink... and the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” J. B. M.