Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-04-29
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning May 8, 1905.
Ey REV. S. H. DOYLE.

Topic.-Songs of the hearty. The sil-
yer lining OF dark clouds.-Ps. Kill, As.
(Consecration meeting)
The Forty-second Psalm was written
by David. 1t was written at one of the
times when his soul was deeply de-
pressed over his absence from Jerusa-
lem and the house of God. The date is
probably the year of his fight from
Jerusalem. at the time of Absalon's re-
bellion, when he spent several months
across the Jordan. principally at Ma
hanain. Between the Forty-secoud
and Forty-third Psalms there is an in
innate relationship. the latter being in
q sense an added stanza to the former.
In them we indeed see dark clouds in
the life of David and also the silver
lining to the clouds. They are chiefly
an outpouring of sorrow and com
plant. but still they are instructive. in
asmuch as they teach the lesson that
in the deepest gulf of sorrow 1.-THE dark
cloudsl the soul may still turn to God
and rest itself in hope on Him 1.-THE
silver liningl.
The dark clouds in the life of David
at this time were many. His favorite
son had rebeled against him. His
most trusted friends had proved false
to him AS fugitive he had fed from
his home: but. worst of ALL his soul
from the house of God. God seemed to
him to be associated only with the
tabernacle, and absent from 1t he felt
that he was absent from God. my
soul is cast down within me" seems TO
have been the burden of his sorrow,
and frequently he cries. 'Why art thou
cast down, o my soul, and why art
thou disquieted within me-" Dark
clouds, indeed, and yet not unfamiliar
to the modern Christian. Temporal ad-
versities and spiritual depression are
not unusual. The wicked prosper. the
righteous fail, and our souls are dis
quieted within us because we cannot
solve the mystery. We are bereaved
and afflicted. We ask God why and
get no answer, and we are spiritually
depressed. Sin obtains the mastery of
US, and. alienated from God. we feel as
II God had altogether forsaken us, and
we. too, cry out. MY soul is cast down
within mer'
David's clouds had a silver lining
hope in God. Hope thou in Cod was
his own answer to the cry of his soul.
"Why art thou cast down. o my sorJ.
and why art thou disquieted within
me? Hope thou in God, for | shall
Jet praise Him who is the light Of my
countenanee and my God" Hope in
God is the silver lining to every dark
cloud In human life. Deep mysteries
surround us. Insolvable problems pre-
sent themselves continually to us. The
pathway of life at times is hard and
rough. But to the man who hopes in
God there is always a silver lining to
the cloud. He may seem to have for
saken us. but it is never so, He
watches the sparrow when it fails.
Can He therefore forget His own?
Never. Through the darkness Re only
leads us to ful.er vision Of Himself.
Ye fearful saints. fresh courage take
The clouds We SO much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head
BrBLE READINGS.
Gen. xiv, 14-16; Job V, 17-19; lisa
xiii, 1-3; Matt xi, $3.50; Ps. wi, 9-13;
cvi, 424S; Acts xvii, 20; Rom viii, IS;
Matt. xviii. 10. 20; Rev. il. 10