THE VALLEY OF ELAH. 63 the lilies, how they grow," &c. In the lily we have growth in loveliness, in the cedar growth in lastingness, in the olive growth in fruitfulness." "It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing." (Isa. xxxv. 2.) "Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us." (Ps. xc. 17.) "The house was filled with the odour of the ointment." (John xii. 3.) "While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof." (Song of Sol. i. 12.) There are running streams in the valley to refresh the thirsty ones. "Through the deep valley pours the exulting stream." There are patches of green grass where the weary ones love to rest. No pastures like the valleys. (Deut. viii. 7; 1 Chron. xxvii. 29; Ps. lxv. 12, 13.) There is stillness, peace, and calm in the valley. "Calm mid the rush of life, Storm-voices tuned to breathe Low benedictions. E'en though to me denied Joy's effervescence, Stillness of joy in Thee Grant with Thy presence! So dark and cloudy days, Best shall show forth Thy praise: Father, thus lead me." MISS E. S. ELLIOTT. Our Father teaches us that it is best to get low down, because then we are in the place of blessing. "He giveth grace to the humble." "His sweet dews and showers of grace slide off the mountains of pride, and fall on the low valleys of humble hearts, and make them pleasant and fertile." "How sweet is humility, that lily of the valley which blossoms only in the Christian heart." We need the dark days in the valley, so that we may grow downward. We put the hyacinths in the dark, that their roots may strike down. Trees grow in winter as well as summer, but it is in the winter when the unseen growth takes place; the roots grow and spread, and then in summer there is the upward growth of shoots, leaf, fruit. Farmers often like a very cold winter; it does good to the ground, cleans it, kills weeds, and destroys insects. God sometimes sends a wintry season that we may the better bring forth summer fruit. Perhaps we have watched a sunset on the hills. The shadows steal over the valley, and yet the hilltop is bathed in sunshine. We may see this in spiritual life. There are two in a family-one is on the hilltop, with the other it may be all valley experience. We know not why, but God is the God of the valleys, and we will seek to glorify Him. Confidence in God proves itself in the valley; it THE VALLEY OF ELAH. 65 grows in the conflict. David, in the valley of Elah, was most bold when the giant came on to attack him. God often brings us down into the valley, so that we may be able to sympathize with, and minister to others in the valley. Sympathy is fellow-feeling. It is love, but with experience added to it. Tried faith brings experience; experience added to love gives sympathy. The valley is part of the education in the School of Grace; not in the lower form-that is active work. There are two marks or signs of those in the infants' class; their sins are forgiven, and they know the Father. (1 John ii. 12, 13.) These are the marks of all in the lowest class in the School of Grace. As we are longer in this School, as we are more with our Master and Teacher, we get to know Him better, and we are ready for more experimental teaching. We learn that the Christian life consists in doing His will; knowing and trusting Him, we shall not be afraid of what He will ask us to do. In the higher forms we learn more of the valley experience; more of communion, suffering, trial. "God's afflictions are spiritual promotions." "The path of sorrow, and that path alone, COWPER. E Dear believer, your life may be very different to what you would have chosen, but it is your service for God. You can glorify Him as much on your bed of sickness and pain, in your sorrow, as the busy, active worker in health and strength. Your life, with its sorrows and crosses, may be speaking to others unknown to you. "The river would be voiceless but for the rocks that interrupt its progress, and the streamlet owes its music to the pebbles which oppose its flow. So the current of life must needs be broken by sorrows and crosses, not only that we may learn that this is not our resting-place, but that we may be more frequent, more fervent, more faithful in our prayers, looking for and hasting the coming of the day of God." Let us learn then in the valley of Elah that God often leads us downward, in order that we may be more fitted to climb upward. "Help with Thy grace, through life's short day, Our upward and our downward way." WORDSWORTH. May we glorify God in this valley, for it is the only road to the hilltop. "What, are the shadows around us still floating? Sunshine is glowing all brightly above; Heed not the height of the hills we are climbing, From them we gaze on the land that we love." |