prophets and kings-第25节
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bondage of unbelief。 Could we at such times discern with spiritual insight the meaning of God's providences we should see angels seeking to save us from ourselves； striving to plant our feet upon a foundation more firm than the everlasting hills； and new faith； new life； would spring into being。
The faithful Job； in the day of his affliction and darkness； declared：
〃Let the day perish wherein I was born。〃 〃O that my grief were throughly weighed； And my calamity laid in the balances together！〃
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〃O that I might have my request； And that God would grant me the thing that I long for！ Even that it would please God to destroy me； That He would let loose His hand； and cut me off！ Then should I yet have comfort。〃
〃I will not refrain my mouth； I will speak in the anguish of my spirit； I will complain in the bitterness of my soul。〃
〃My soul chooseth 。 。 。 death rather than my life。 I loathe it； I would not live alway： Let me alone； For my days are vanity。〃 Job 3：3； 6：2； 8…10； 7：11； 15； 16。
But though weary of life； Job was not allowed to die。 To him were pointed out the possibilities of the future； and there was given him the message of hope：
〃Thou shalt be steadfast； and shalt not fear： Because thou shalt forget thy misery； And remember it as waters that pass away： And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday； Thou shalt shine forth； thou shalt be as the morning。 And thou shalt be secure； Because there is hope。 。 。 。 Thou shalt lie down； And none shall make thee afraid； Yea； many shall make suit unto thee。 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail； And they shall not escape； And their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost。〃 Job 11：15…20。
From the depths of discouragement and despondency Job rose to the heights of implicit trust in the mercy and the saving power of God。 Triumphantly he declared：
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〃Though He slay me； yet will I trust in Him： 。 。 。 He also shall be my salvation。〃 〃I know that my Redeemer liveth； And that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth： And though after my skin worms destroy this body； Yet in my flesh shall I see God： Whom I shall see for myself； And mine eyes shall behold； and not another。〃 Job 13：15； 16； 19：25…27。
〃The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind〃 （Job 38：1）； and revealed to His servant the might of His power。 When Job caught a glimpse of his Creator； he abhorred himself and repented in dust and ashes。 Then the Lord was able to bless him abundantly and to make his last years the best of his life。
Hope and courage are essential to perfect service for God。 These are the fruit of faith。 Despondency is sinful and unreasonable。 God is able and willing 〃more abundantly〃 （Hebrews 6：17） to bestow upon His servants the strength they need for test and trial。 The plans of the enemies of His work may seem to be well laid and firmly established； but God can overthrow the strongest of these。 And this He does in His own time and way； when He sees that the faith of His servants has been sufficiently tested。
For the disheartened there is a sure remedyfaith； prayer； work。 Faith and activity will impart assurance and satisfaction that will increase day by day。 Are you tempted to give way to feelings of anxious foreboding or utter despondency？ In the darkest days； when appearances seem most forbidding； fear not。 Have faith in God。 He knows your need。 He has all power。 His infinite love and compassion never weary。 Fear not that He will fail of fulfilling His promise。 He is eternal truth。 Never will He change the covenant He has made with those who love Him。 And He will bestow upon His faithful servants the measure of efficiency that their need demands。 The apostle Paul has testified： 〃He said unto me； My grace is sufficient for thee： for My strength is made perfect in weakness。 。 。 。 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities； in reproaches； in necessities； in persecutions； in distresses for Christ's sake： for when I am weak； then am I strong。〃 2 Corinthians 12：9； 10。
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Did God forsake Elijah in his hour of trial？ Oh； no！ He loved His servant no less when Elijah felt himself forsaken of God and man than when； in answer to his prayer； fire flashed from heaven and illuminated the mountaintop。 And now； as Elijah slept； a soft touch and a pleasant voice awoke him。 He started up in terror； as if to flee； fearing that the enemy had discovered him。 But the pitying face bending over him was not the face of an enemy； but of a friend。 God had sent an angel from heaven with food for His servant。 〃Arise and eat；〃 the angel said。 〃And he looked； and； behold； there was a cake baken on the coals； and a cruse of water at his head。〃
After Elijah had partaken of the refreshment prepared for him； he slept again。 A second time the angel came。 Touching the exhausted man； he said with pitying tenderness； 〃Arise and eat； because the journey is too great for thee。〃 〃And he arose； and did eat and drink；〃 and in the strength of that food he was able to journey 〃forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God；〃 where he found refuge in a cave。
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Chapter 13
〃What Doest Thou Here？〃
Elijah's retreat on Mount Horeb； though hidden from man； was known to God； and the weary and discouraged prophet was not left to struggle alone with the powers of darkness that were pressing upon him。 At the entrance to the cave wherein Elijah had taken refuge； God met with him； through a mighty angel sent to inquire into his needs and to make plain the divine purpose for Israel。
Not until Elijah had learned to trust wholly in God could he complete his work for those who had been seduced into Baal worship。 The signal triumph on the heights of Carmel had opened the way for still greater victories； yet from the wonderful opportunities opening before him； Elijah had been turned away by the threat of Jezebel。 The man of God must be made to understand the weakness of his present position as compared with the vantage ground the Lord would have him occupy。
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God met His tried servant with the inquiry； 〃What doest thou here； Elijah？ I sent you to the brook Cherith and afterward to the widow of Sarepta。 I commissioned you to return to Israel and to stand before the idolatrous priests on Carmel； and I girded you with strength to guide the chariot of the king to the gate of Jezreel。 But who sent you on this hasty flight into the wilderness？ What errand have you here？
In bitterness of soul Elijah mourned out his complaint： 〃I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts： for the children of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant； thrown down Thine altars； and slain Thy prophets with the sword； and I； even I only； am left； and they seek my life； to take it away。〃
Calling upon the prophet to leave the cave； the angel bade him stand before the Lord on the mount； and listen to His word。 〃And； behold； the Lord passed by； and a great and strong wind rent the mountains； and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord； but the Lord was not in the wind： and after the wind an earthquake； but the Lord was not in the earthquake： and after the earthquake a fire； but the Lord was not in the fire： and after the fire a still small voice。 And it was so； when Elijah heard it； that he wrapped his face in his mantle； and went out； and stood in the entering in of the cave。〃
Not in mighty manifestations of divine power； but by 〃a still small voice；〃 did God choose to reveal Himself to His servant。 He desired to teach Elijah that it is not always the work that makes the greatest demonstration that is most successful in accomplishing His purpose。 While Elijah waited
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for the revelation of the Lord； a tempest rolled； the lightnings flashed； and a devouring fire swept by； but God was not in all this。 Then there came a still； small voice； and the prophet covered his head before the presence of the Lord。 His petulance was silenced； his spirit softened and subdued。 He now knew that a quiet trust； a firm reliance on God； would ever find for him a present help in time of need。
It is not always the most learned presentation of God's truth that convicts and converts the soul。 Not by eloquence or logic are men's hearts reached； but by the sweet influences of the Holy Spirit； which operate quietly yet surely in transforming and developing character。 It is the still； small voice of the Spirit of God that has power to change the heart。
〃What doest thou here； Elijah？〃 the voice inquired； and again the prophet answer
