Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-29
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

ed their pilgrim way up to the Feast
at Jerusalem, they sang the songs of
the heart which we have in the Book
Of Psalms, under the SUBSCRIPTIONS, "a
Song of Ascents.' These profound
utterances, which used to ring to the
bright Judean skies, have ever since
been echoing in the hearts of men and
women the world around. Especially
dear and familiar is the Psalm which
the young peoples societies are TO
study this week:
II will lift up mine eyes unto the
mountains;
From whence shall my help come?
My help cometh from Jehovah,
Who made heaven and earth.
"He will not suffer thy foot to be
moved;
He that keepeth thee will not slumber,
Behold, he that keeDeth Israel will
neither slumber nor sleep.
Jehovah is thy keeper:
Jehovah is thy shade upon thy right
hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day,
Nor the moon by night.
Jehovah will keep thee from all evil;
He will keep thy soul.
Jehovah will keep thy going out and
thy coming in. :,
From this time forth and for ever
more"
1t is not mans weakness, but mans
strength, that, In all final issues, he is
dependent upon a Higher Power than
himself.
The old translation OF this beautiful
psalm made the singer look to the
hills for help: Il will lift up mine
eyes unto the hills, from whence
cometh my help" The revision ren-
ders it better, for the hearts help
comes from a higher source than the
hills: From whence cometh M
help? Ny help cometh from Jehovah"
than the sources Of their beneficent
springs, Is the help of the Lord Him
self. The mountains are round about
Jerusalem; but to the myriads of peo-
pie who have never seen mountain
this figure does not appeal; they do
know, however, the power and pre-
ciousness of the all.enfolding protec-
ton Of the Almighty.
The best of earthly help fails The
strongest of men know what it is to
feel their supports tottering beneath
them. VAIN Is the help of mani" at
some time or other cries everybody.
Happy is he who in this extremity
learns that there is sleepless watch
er, an omnipotent guardian and an un-
failing friend.
Life is perplexing. There are occa-
sions when it battles everybody. To
many it Is lane between two rows
of grinning sphinxes. All of us need
assistance from without ourselves in
mastering the mystery of life. Who
SO well able to help as He who plan
ned our lives, and of whom the
Psalmist cried, my times are in thy
hand?" For the child of God existence
Is not a mere surprising sequence IF
unrelated and fortuitous happen.
ings;" it is plan of a loving, divine
Father whose thoughts toward us are
all merciful
There is sweet sleep and rest for
the believer in the assurance that the
sleepless eye Of the heavenly Father
keeps watch over him.
The sentinel figure was in the Psalm
lists mind when he penned the linns
concerning the Guardian of Israel who
never sleeps. Everybody is familiar
with the work of the sentry, who
watches the camp night and day, that
no enemy may approach. / The regi-
ment and army give no thought to
their own safety; they sleep in peace,
because of the vigilance of the guards
who are ever on post. So the peace
of God sentinels the heart of the
Christian. He should be free from
care and fear because of the unsleep-
ing watcher.
That God cares is the greatest rem.
edy for many's cares.