This is not a very gratifying endorsement of Elijah. Doubtless the man’s heart swelled with eagerness to start a great reformation; his mind expanded with dreams of world-empire. To flee now, when the audacious approach to the king has been made, is to contradict all accepted methods of operation.

Nothing now but solitude? But God knows His plans and Elijah, his servant. There is wholesome truth here. To trust where we cannot trace is to give our God the full sovereignty that He longs for. The most formidable barrier in His dealings with His children is their self-will. “Let him do what is good in his eyes” (1 Samuel 3:18) is not resignation but triumphant faith, if we trust.

And so by the Kerith Ravine the lonely man abides. It is lost time in the judgment of the flesh-depending critics; here is a thread in the fabric of society capable of great accomplishment, doing nothing. But they who argue so fail to see what God is to do. If we weigh things in the scales of human reasoning, we shall always deal with economics and expediency; but no time is lost if God can have His way. The real truth is, that He is to come into the life of His servant to better qualify him for a more vital revelation of Himself, for with God “the worker is more than the work.”

There may be many dear saints of God who doubt their saintship because their activities have been taken from them. Circumstances have closed in upon them; doors have been shut in their faces; funds for the prosecution of their work have ceased. It may be that, physically exhausted, they lie on their beds wondering why He can consent to so unreasonable a situation. Be assured of one thing: Elijah is not to remain in obscurity and inactivity for all time. Our error lies in mentally fixing our future according to present conditions. Let us arouse ourselves from this deadly coma. There is always the afterward of His gracious promising. KENNETH MACKENZIE

He knows, and loves, and cares!

“My immediate response was not to consult any human being,” says Paul (Galatians 1:16), and he went away into a desert place. A desert place . . . and rest!

If I see God in everything, He will calm and color everyth ing I see!

Perhaps the circumstances causing my sorrows will not be removed and my situation will remain the same, but if Christ is brought into my grief and gloom as my Lord and Master , He will “surround me with songs of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7). To see Him and to be sure that His wisdom and power never fail and His love never changes, to know that even His most distressing dealings with me are for my deepest spiritual gain, is to be able to say in the midst of bereavement, sorrow , pain, and loss, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21).

Seeing God in everything is the only thing that will make me loving and patient with people who annoy and trouble me. Then I will see others as the instruments God uses to accomplish His tender and wise purpose for me, and I will even find myself inwardly thanking them for the blessing they have become to me. Nothing but seeing God will completely put an end to all complaining and thoughts of rebellion. H ANNAH WHITALL SMITH

“Give me a new idea,” I said,

While thinking on a sleepless bed;

“A new idea that’ll bring to earth

A balm for souls of priceless worth;

That’ll give men thoughts of things above,

And teach them how to serve and love,

That’ll banish every selfish thought,

And rid men of the sins they’ve fought.”

The new thought came, just how , I’ll tell:

’Twas when on bended knee I fell,

And sought fr om Him who knows full well

The way our sorr ow to expel.

See God in all things, gr eat and small,

And give Him praise whate’er befall,

In life or death, in pain or woe,

See God, and over come your foe.

I saw Him in the morning light,

He made the day shine clear and bright;

I saw Him in the noontide hour ,

And gained fr om Him r efreshing shower .

At evening, when worn and sad,

He gave me help, and made me glad.

At midnight, when on tossing bed

My weary soul to sleep He led.

I saw Him when gr eat losses came,

And found He loved me just the same.

When heavy loads I had to bear ,

I found He lightened every car e.

By sickness, sorr ow, sore distr ess,

He calmed my mind and gave me r est.

He’s filled my heart with joyous praise

Since I gave Him the upwar d gaze.

’Twas new to me, yet old to some,

This thought that to me has become

A revelation of the way

We all should live thr oughout the day;

For as each day unfolds its light,

We’ll walk by faith and not by sight.

Life will, indeed, a blessing bring,

If we see God in everything.

A. E. F INN

Is not the plowing merely a preparation for the seed-sowing to follow and after that, for the wheat which is to feed many?

When the plowshare goes through human hearts, surely it is for something! Someday we shall see when the ripe ears of corn appear that the plowshare had to come for a season.

We thought it would kill us! And no plowshare goes through the earth but some life is destroyed, but only that something better than that life may come.

Be still, poor heart! God is effectual in working. “Let him do what is good in his eyes” (1 Samuel 3:18).

God will not let my field lie fallow.

The plowshare is sharp, the feet of the oxen are heavy.

They hurt.

But I cannot stay God from His plowing.

He will not let my field lie fallow.

KARLE WILSON BAKER

I have seen a farmer drive his plowshare through the velvet greensward, and it looked like a harsh and cruel process; but the farmer’s eye foresaw the springing blades of wheat, and knew that within a few months that torn soil would laugh with a golden harvest.

Deep soul-plowing brings rich fruits of the Spirit. There are bitter mercies as well as sweet mercies; but they are all mercies, whether given in honey or given in wormwood. T. L. CUYLER

The iron plowshare goes over the field of the heart until the nighttime... down the deep furrows the angels come and sow.

I know, O Lord , that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

O Lord , thou art our father, we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

It is the Lord : let him do what seemeth him good.

Righteous art thou, O Lord , when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments.

He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.

Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.

Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Aaron held his peace.

It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good.

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

It is the Lord : let him do what seemeth him good.—Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.—The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord .—What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?

Jesus wept.—A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.

Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.—Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.—In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.