The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-08-17

IL ~ The land lay In ruins. The
M - walled cities and strongholds
NJ had been ieveled with the
- y ground. and there was no
protection for the returning exiles
from their enemies.
What then was the stronghold to
which the prophet urged them to fee?
Was II Jerusalem7 No, only heaps OF
rubbish showed where the mighty
walls had been. Israel understood
what was meant. Had not God been
the stronghold OF their people since
the time of Abraham? Had not David
sung: God is our refuge and strength.
very present help in trouble" Even
so all Gods people have found Him
the supreme stronghold In time of dan
ger and trouble.
In the Old Testament God Is repre-
sented In every character OF protec-
tion and defense, from the beautiful
pastoral character OF the twenty-third
psalm. to the words Of Moses song
that thunder out, THE Lord is man
OF War: the Lord is His name" In
times of danger, Israel had often for
gotten the Lord and sought other help.
ers and found them wanting. They
had looked toward Egypt and found It
broken reed; they had made allegi'
ance with the heather to their sorrow.
SO now the command of the prophet
rings out, Flee to your Stronghold. ye
prisoners of hope"
prisoners of Hope" That Is q
beautiful phrase which has passed into
our language. and 1t has wonderful
depth OF meaning Hope is anticipa
tion with possibility Of realization
| Hope strikes pleasant chords for the
| future. II is everyone's sunshine on
dark days: It is the rainbow after
storm, the silver lining to the passing
cloud, star set in the armament OF
our liv.J to brighten, tighten and cheer
US.
Beacon Light 10 Hope.
A man who is held by the hope that
is IN him. hope that rules him, that
urges him on, that Is the everpresent
goal for which he strives as a prisoner
of hope 1t is the beacon light that
leads him on. II governs the upward
tendency Of his manhood. Abraham's
faith and hope made him a friend oi
God. and the father OF the faithful
Because of the hope that was set be
; ;crs him he went out from his own
land, no. knowing whittier he went
. He lookeI for o City that hath foun
dations whoSe builder and maker II
God" His hope was In the God who
had promised thrt In him should al
nations Of the earth be blessed. .
Moses, because OF the hope that wa
set before him, refused to be called the
son Of Pharaoh's daughter and tool
bis place with the oppressed people ol
God He led them through the great
and terrible wilderness with the hope
OF the promised land ever before him
The prophets, because OF the hope
that was set before them, the hope ol
a happier and godlier peopls--with
, stood tyrants. rebuked unrighteous
ness in high places. suffered indigni
, ties, persecution and death. and lef
the record that they were prisoners o.
hope and that their only stronghold
was their God.
st. Paul goes 80 rar as TO say. I'VE
are saved Ly hope" That hope wal
set before him when he became ,
follower OF Christ and IT, held hin
, prisoner to the end of life. He SUI
I fered hardship and persecution. In hi
prison cell In Rome his body was helt
by the. chains that bound him, but hii
soul was the prisoner OF the hope
that was set before him. Il long Il
depart and be with Jesus" he says
The Star OF his life was drawing hin
onward and upward
Jesus Supreme Hope.
Allow me with all reverence to COM
to the supreme Illustration. The writ
/ er of the Epistle to the Hebrews cell
! us that Jesus. for the Joy and the hop
I that was set before Him endured tn
cross, despising the shame. and is Sc
) down at the right hand of the thron
/ OF God" He also was prisoner o
: hope. Was He prisoner of the Re
man guard in the garden Of Gethse
/ name? No. "Thinkest thou that
! cannot now pray W Hy Foehci' an
, He shall presently give me more thai
, 12 legions of angels?" Was He
! prisoner OF plate when He stood Il
the judgment hall? Jesus said to hin
Thou couldest have no power at al
against me. except 1t were given the
from above" Jesus was led by III
great hope OF a renewed and redeeme
humanity
, You who have lost loved ones b
|, death, what is your consolation? Tha
Life continues though the body decays
,, that you shall meet again where ther
: Is no more sorrow, nor crying. NO
pain, for the former things hav
. passed away. Therefore" says s
, Paul, sorrow not as others whic
have no hope" And again he say
y k..