Day changes to night, and as the twilight deepens, the stars come out in their myriads, v. 26. To the poetic eye of the watcher, they appear as a vast flock following the shepherd, who calls each by its name. Not one falls out of its place, or is lacking. Will Jehovah do so much for stars and nought for men? Will he not have a name for each? Will he not guard and guide each? If he has sustained the orbs of light in their mighty rounds, will he fail the poor soul that clings to his feet?

They that wait on God change their strength. In their earliest days they rely on the energy and vigor of youth, on their blameless, unstained character, in the consciousness of their glorious manhood; but as years pass, they come to count all these as refuse in comparison with Jesus Christ the Lord, Phil. 3:8. Notice the order in v. 31! At first sight we should have expected that it would advance from walking to running, and so to flying. But that order is reversed. It is more difficult to walk than to mount! Every cyclist will tell you that the hardest task is to keep your cycle at walking pace.

Isaiah 41:1-16. The conception of this passage is superb. Jehovah is represented as summoning the earth to determine whether he or some idol of the heathen is the true God, v. 7. Also see v. 23. The test proposed is a simple one! Which ean most precisely predict the future? Not, as in Elijah’s ease, is the appeal made to fire, but to the fitting of prophecy with historical fulfillment. See vs, 22, 23.

While this great arbitration is in process, God turns with tender assurances to his own people. They were at this time captives in Babylon. They were poor and needy. They were surrounded by strong and crafty foes,

against whom they were as powerless as a worm. But no height, however precipitous, or depth, however profound, could separate them from his love. Heart and flesh might fail, but he would strengthen; difficulties might appear insurmountable, but he would help. He does more. He takes his people, weak as worms, and makes them, if they but yield to him, sharp threshing instruments having teeth before which the powers of evil become as chaff. O man, listen to God saying, I will make.