My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26
IN seasons of heavy trial the darkness may indeed so deepen upon the soul, as in our dear Lord’s case, as almost to shut out the stars of hope; yet if, like the Lord, we hold on to the omnipotent arm of Jehovah and meekly say, “Never-the-less, not my will, but Thine be done,” His grace will always be sufficient; and with the Psalmist we can say, “Though my flesh and my heart fail, yet God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever”; and, with the Lord, our hearts will respond–“The cup which My Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” R. 1802, c.2, top.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
THE sheep of the little flock fear no evil because of the Lord’s favor, because He is with them, on their side, and has shown His favor in the redemption price already paid. He is with them, too, in His Word of promise–His assurance that death shall not mean extinction….What wonder that these can walk through the valley of the shadow of death singing and making melody in thier hearts….As the Shepherd’s crook was used to assist the sheep out of difficulties, to defend it from its too powerful enemies and to chasten it when inattentive, and as all of these uses of the rod were for the sheep’s interest and welfare, so with the Lord’s little flock and their Shepherd and His rod of help….The true sheep learn to love the providences of the Shepherd and are comforted by them. R. 3269, c.2, p.3-4.
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Psalm 23:5
WHAT a variety of these tables there are and how different are the viands, doctrinally. The food on most of them seems to have been spoiled in the preparation. Some of it is sad, some of it is sour, and much of it is musty. For the most part of it originated in the “dark ages,” and the dear friends who sit at these tables find that they have little appetite for such food….We would attract their attention to the generous, bountiful supply of Divine truth which the Lord Himself is dispensing to the household of faith, “things new and old” but all of them pure, sweet, delicious, and grand. This table is open to all those who love the Lord with all their heart, mind, soul and strength–better than they love houses or lands, parents or children, husband or wife, lodge or society, sectarian system or self. R. 3270, c.1, p.2.