Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-09-13
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OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH.

By Rev. William Freas, ].

God is our refuge and strength, a
very present help in trouble.-Psalms
as Il.
The world has been likened to the
sea, ever agitated; liable to storms
and tempests wherein many are en-
quilted and lost. The Christian mar
liner is sailing upon this sea. lie must
cross it before ever he can reach the
haven of rest. AS long as it is smooth
sailing we can smile and be happy, but
let the tempest in it's fury burst upon
us and we must use all our strength,
u courage, our knowledge, our skill
If we arc to come III of 1t safely.
The text speaks of a refuge, and
where there is a refuge there must be
danger. The Christian is in constant
danger from himself and others. The
devil is a danger that is ever near us.
We must needs watch and pray that
we enter not into temptation. Danger
comes to us also from our own evil
natures. We have in us the tendency
to do evil rather than good. 1t is hard
to overcome ourselves. Yet that is
~ NClS Lilly we lluSl w., hcIN JUL
selves and take up our cross and fol-
low Him. Danger is the lot of Gods
people. They have enlisted under His
banners and must incur the risk of
battle. If. we would wear the crown
we must fight the battle of God. Every
in physical danger, and yet we 60. SO
let us go about the business of our
Fathers kingdom despite the danger,
facing it in His name.
Our text also implies weakness, for
where there is need Of strength there
must be weakness; weakness felt by
the most pious and devout. There has
been no one who at some time has not
felt it. Does not God make this His
opportunity to teach us to depend upon
Him? Does He not thus show us u
helplessnesS and draw us to the great
fountain head of strength? When we
have some great duty to perform we
feel this weakness. We say, oh, but
We can't do that. We are too weak.
We feel III weakness when some
sacrifice is to be made, when God calls
upon us to give up one we love or
there is some great temptation to be
resisted. 1t is, however, in the mo
dent that we are in need Of strength.
1t is then that we are really weak.
God is our refuge IN danger. When
the child is in danger he fees to father
Or mother for safety, firmly believing
that there he is safe. Oh, the implicit
could only feel toward God as the
child feels toward his parent. In
grief, in sorrow, in suffering, we can
find a sure refuge in God.
God is also our strength In weak
ness. He fortiies the mind. He gives
energy and strength to the soul. In
Him we can do all things. The Apostle
Paul exclaims: '"When 1 am weak
then am 1 strong Paul would glory
in his weakness, for it was then that
the strength of God would shine forth
in him. If ever there was a man, ac-
cording to the judgment of this world,
that man was Paul. Yet he sees in
ululSell only WcdkIleSS anu IIle
strength of Christ. What a rebuke to
the self-satisfied.
God is our help in trouble. If there
Is one thing hal God is above all else
that thing is love. We seek the refuge
in dagger, we use His strength in
weakness. but we feel the heart throbs
of God Himself when He helps US in
trouble. 1t is a pouring out of his
love to sinful and suffering man.
What a comfort in sorrow is the pres
ence of the man of sorrows! Oh, what
q d~eliverance from trouble is worked
put for us by the help of all the ages.
He sanctifies to us our trouble. He
draws us nearer to Him thus. 1t is
not a far off hope, but it is a very
present one. You who are Borrowing
at the going home of a loved one, He
waits to help you. You who are
worried by daily cares, He would
share your burden. You who are
laden with sins, He would forgive you.
Oh, fly to Him, who is indeed a very
present help in trouble, u refuge and
our strength!
n ApprNESc