The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-20
A Message of Comfort
 To a SorroWi1g People
By REV. LEN G. BRoUGHToN. D. n
FROM PSALMS 91


 On this day when the world is under the great cloud and the human heart aches with sorrow, and when the shift ing scenes of passing days are filled with disappointments which sometimes seem more than we are able to endure, the 9lst Psalm should be read and studied with new comfort, especially by those who, through Christ's atoning cross have fellowship with the Father God. It is particularly for this reason that I pre- sent these few thoughts on the message of this great Psalm. By doing so l hope to bring, on this Lords Day of closed church privileges, some ray of comfort and strength to those who for any reason feel an aching void within which nothing seems to supply.
 RARE PROMISES
 It will be seen that the Psalm from beginning to end is made up of rich and rare promises. Indeed, because it is a Psalm of so many promises, it may be called the pearl Psalm with which the love.
 REFUGEE AND FORTRESS
 l. There is Fortification-"Th art my refuge and fortress" A great king with a great people talking about a refugei Does it snand cowardly? Not when we know God Others had idols. but Davids refuge was the Lord AL mighty. How many of us appropriate God as our refuge?
 But God was not only refuge; He was refuge and fortress. How strong this should make us feel
 I shall never forget the new grip this thought got on me when our ship pulled into Gibraltar harbor.
 It was Easter Sunday. As we came to the mouth of the harbor we cast an chor, lifted the English flag and waited for H,nglands mighty fort. the mightiest in all the world, to signal permission for us to pull into the dock. I though; of Davids expression. Thou art my rock and my fortress He could not make it stronger. A fort would be strong but a fortress is two or more forts. believe David saw the whole of the Trin- ity encircling the soul abiding in the shadow of the Almighty. An abiding place and a place of defense! God not only furnishes the soul beset with dan gers, place of hiding, but also drives back the enemy if he attempts to come nigh One of the most interesting pic lures in the Vatican gallery is shep herd with a drawn spear driving back a lion, While a lamb lies close at his feet. The thought is this: A lamb is attacked by a lion, and flees to the shep herd, who is not only his refuge but his defense How much like a besieged sou who flees to Christ! "No power shaI pluck them out of my hands DELIvERANCE
 2. Deliverance-"H shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and the noisesome pestilence." It is good to know that God will take care of us when we are abiding in the shadow of the Al mighty.
 There is story told of a man who was being tried for treason after the war between the states. They were about to convict him, when there was brought in an old slave who had lived with him for many years, and had beer his closest companion in many respects The old slave was put in the witness box, and the attorney began to ply him with questions Finally, the old slave had lived with my master like I have | you wouldn't talk like that" And 1t IS the man who lives closest to God who is his daily companion, who knows God When I hear men speaking lightly oi God and His rule, and profanely of Ills will and reign, feel like replying 1T the words of that old slave, If you hae | lived with Him as l have poor speci' men that I am, you wouldn't talk like that: you would know Him." It is only the man who lives witf Him. and talks with Him. and hears Hin