(Psalm 27)

That the Lord is enough for His own comes into prominence in this heart-breathing psalm. Whatever the cir-stances around, whatever the condition within, His sufficiency is shown and proved. If we have Him we have all.

Thus the opening of the soul-utterance is "Jehovah!" He is the same, the Unchangeable One, and He abides,

"Changeless through all the changing years."

"JEHOVAH!" The heart turns from all that it is, and from all which surrounds it, to Himself, to find in Him its shelter and its solace.

"JEHOVAH! My light and my salvation." In the midst of darkness the light has shone. He has revealed Himself, and has revealed Himself as being on my side.

"He has caused His face to shine for our salvation (Ps. 80:3). God is known for us in these glad Christian times, in Christ. He has spoken to our hearts in Him. "Jesus," Jehovah-Saviour, "Emmanuel," "God with us," has declared Himself fully. And He is on our part. So that we may cry triumphantly, "If God be for us who can be against us?" Fulness of blessing is here. If God be known "the light apprehended is the dawn of an endless day, the power of an eternal life begun," as has been said. And, having Him as our refuge

SALVATION

is known. "Salvation is of the Lord." "The Lord is my salvation." And so we make our boast in Him:"Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid?" '

Thus it was that in a similar strain the sweet singer of Israel sang, "Jehovah is my Shepherd. I shall want for nothing." Having Him I have all. The past, the present, and the future are alike with Him, and He is for me, and competent for every emergency or distress.

Beyond that which David could know we know now, for Christ has come and suffered. Full deliverance is ours. We fear not the judgment which we deserved on account of our sins. It has been borne by our Saviour. In His own body on the tree He has endured the wrath and condemnation. We fear not now the discovery of the evil of our old nature. We have learned that it has been condemned in the death of the Lord Jesus, that He was "made sin for us," "who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." And now we are "in Him" for present blessed acceptance and completeness, and He is our

STRONGHOLD.

In Him we are safe from all attacks of every enemy. Our life is hid with Christ in God. We are held in the hand of infinite power and love, and none can pluck us from its grasp. The godly one can stand fearless.

"Jehovah, my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Jehovah, the strength (the stronghold) of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Blessed confidence in the presence of every enemy!

Knowing Jehovah and His almighty power and might the heart is set at rest. A host may encamp against him, threatening his welfare. Then the attack may be made and the battle wage hot and fierce. He is confident and unshaken in the midst of all. He seeks not flight as the adversaries hurl themselves against the stronghold. Another

SEARCH

altogether is his:"One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple." He desires and He determines. He desires to know more and more of the Lord Himself, and he sets himself diligently to accomplish that end.

And should we not with purpose of heart address ourselves to this? The Spirit of God begets in us the desire. But there is danger with us of allowing "the lust of other things," to deflect us from our aim. We need this spiritual decision, so that refusing all that would turn us aside we may press on. This fortitude is seen in Paul:"One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark" (Phil. 3:13). Like the psalmist the apostle was a man of one idea. The "one thing" of David's desire was for the present. The "one thing" of Paul's pursuit was in view of the future, to reach that to which he had been called-the glory with Christ above. The

SANCTUARY

of His presence now, and in fulness by and by.

"That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." His longing of heart was to abide in the sense of the presence of the Lord. We know that this is the desire of our Lord for us, as He says, "Abide in Me, and I in you." He would have us dwelling in His love as He dwelt in His Father's love. "Keep yourselves in the love of God," is Jude's exhortation. As we abide in the warmth of divine affections we shall be kept from the snare of the fowler, and be fruitful in the service and praise of God.

"To behold the beauty of the Lord." To contemplate Him in His graciousness and glory, to consider His excellencies in the midst of His own delights, to learn more and more of Himself and of His pleasure, enquiring in His temple, where every whit says "Glory!" Beholding and enquiring there we shall be formed and fashioned after His mind. And thus as Moses' face shone ("sent forth beams, by reason of his talking with Him"), the beauty of the Lord will be upon us. Unknown to ourselves we shall be transfigured, "changed into the same image from glory to glory."

It is not this which is lacking with us? Living in the presence of men we may be distressed and distracted, but in the Sanctuary we see everything from another standpoint, and view everything in its true relation. "In Thy light we shall see light," and there alone.

Resulting from the dwelling, beholding, and enquiring in the Sanctuary is the relief from pressure in time of trouble and trial. The

SECRET PLACE

is known. The knowledge of His Almightiness to succor and to shield, is enjoyed, and the soul is kept in peace, the mind being stayed on Him who fails not. The believer dwells in the secret place of the Most High, and abides under the shadow of the Almighty. His feet are planted on the rock of God's unchanging faithfulness. The heart is freed from every fear, and becomes responsive in testimony and worship.

SACRIFICES

of shouts of joy are offered from the overflowing heart rejoicing in the abundance of His favor, and he sings praises to Jehovah. Knowing His interest and care and sufficiency, the heart is kept in quietness, and is calm amidst tumultuous motion, resting sweetly, sure of security in Him, and thus is free to tell itself out in offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Christ Jesus. Heaven's joys begin on earth. The service of the Lord, which is "perfect freedom," becomes our delight.

"Yet Thou so pleased
Canst raise Thy creature
To what height Thou wilt
Of union or communion."

And there,

"They eat and drink
And in communion sweet
Quaff immortality and joy."

So says Milton.

May it be ours to enjoy our portion now in ever-increasing measure. Inglis Fleming