Blessed be the Lord, who daily beareth our burden" (Ps. 68:19, R. V.). The Authorized Version renders this verse, "Who daily loadeth us with benefits." Both are true; and as we apprehend the former, we are made to acknowledge the latter. But there is a special sweetness and tenderness in the words, "who daily beareth our burden." We have trusted the Lord as our Sin-Bearer, "who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree" (i Peter 2:24). We have proved His risen power in lifting the burden of guilt from our heavy-laden souls; but do we realize that He wants us to trust Him as simply and prove Him as fully to be our Burden-Rearer ?

"Who daily beareth our burdens." This is a ministry of love which is constantly going on, and is therefore open to our continual enjoyment. The Lord does not tarry until our burden becomes so heavy that we fall beneath its weight; He feels all the little weights of worry as they accumulate upon our minds. The difficulties and anxieties which are interlaced with each day's routine make up the burden of the day; and it is this that Jesus bears. Would it not sweeten life if we were more mindful of this ? He not only knows, but feels, how unfit we are to carry the cares of this life, for He is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities" (Heb. 4:15). Therefore, in the power of divine compassion which not only sympathizes but succors, He stoops to take the weight of all our interests upon His shoulders.

He daily beareth our burden, and yet He bids us cast our burden upon Him. Why ? Because we are no better of having a Burden-bearer walking by our side if we hug a bundle of worry to our breasts. The Lord Jesus bids us keep rolling life's burden upon Him, so that we may walk as those who are "free indeed." "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee" (Ps. 55:22). Here is a divine precept linked to an exceeding great and precious promise. We must be careful, however, not to set aside such precepts and promises as applying only to circumstances of dire distress. How much we shall lose if we shelve in our memories such a promise as this, only to make use of it in cases of emergency! Our great Burden-Bearer would have us roll upon Him all the little things that perplex or ruffle us, and mar our enjoyment of His peace. What a privilege it is to welcome our Lord Jesus into all the lights and shadows of our everyday life! If we avail ourselves of this privilege, we shall become blessedly conscious of the fact that He "daily beareth our burden." Our eyes will be opened to see many tokens of His loving-kindness which we would not otherwise have noticed, and the thorny paths of life will blossom with answers to prayer. Shall we not allow Him to lead us into this joy ? A life of prayer is a life of praise; for prayer and praise are twin sisters, and both are ours through the precious name of Jesus. "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13). "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (Heb. 13:15).
J. M. G.