There were some ten or twelve little chicks, and their mother hen, scattered about a garden in which I was walling one lovely summer’s morning. They were all very busy picking away among plants and bushes, gathering up the little seeds and worms and insects which they seem to like so much. The chickens were so occupied with their food that they seldom looked about, but I noticed that the hen several times left off pecking, and looked up into the air, and then all around her—she was on the lookout, lest any dangerous bird or animal might come to harm her little brood.
Well was it for the chickens that the mother bird cared for them—well was it that she thought of them, when they did not think of anything but the grubs and worms—for very soon I saw that the little chickens were in great danger—they did not know it—but they were in danger of being killed. An old cat had watched these little things, and very slowly and stealthily was coming closer and closer to the place where they were so enjoying themselves—hiding behind the cabbages and bushes so that they should not see her —and only waiting until close enough to spring upon and seize one of the poor little things, and carry it away, and tear it in pieces.
Do you know, my little reader, that you are in great danger? —for there is one after you who is very powerful and cunning and crafty, and who walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. If you turn to your Bible, you will find in 1 Peter 5:88Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8) who this terrible one is, —Satan, the devil.
But the old hen was, as I have told you, on the look-out, and she saw the danger her little ones were in, and began cackling very loudly to the chickens, and they heard her voice calling them to come—and they all left their food which they seemed to be enjoying so much, and, lifting their little wings, ran off very much frightened to the hen, whose strong wings were held out for them; and very soon all the little chicks were cozily and safely sheltered by the mother bird, and the old cat had to go away disappointed, for she dared not touch the hen.
This all reminded me of a little picture drawn in words, which you will see in Matthew 23:3737O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37). There you will find the Lord Jesus, who came into the world to do the will of God His Father, and to save sinners, speaking about the people of Jerusalem; and He says, “How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”
Poor, foolish people—they were in awful danger, and there was One, the Lord of Glory, calling them to come to Him, He who had all power and could save them, but they would not come. And He called them many times— “often,” but they paid no heed to His call, they went on with their business and their pleasure, and cared nothing for the Lord Jesus, who in love and pity had come among them to “gather them to Him, but they would not come to Him,” and very soon He ceased calling, and the enemy came and destroyed them and their city.
Today He is calling us to come to Him. He knows our danger and lovingly warns, and will lovingly welcome us if we come at once.
ML 02/15/1931