Holiness Bible Readings

By Samuel Alexander Danford

Chapter 14

HE LORD IS THY KEEPER -- Psalms 121:5.

What does He keep? The soul committed to Him. 1 Peter 4:19. Your hearts and minds, Philippians 4:7. The feet of His saints. I Samuel 2:9. That which I have committed to Him. 2 Timothy 1:12. Does not this Include everything?

From what does He keep? From evil. John 17:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:3. From temptation. Revelation S:10. From failing. Jude 24. From strife of tongues Psalms 31:20.

How does He keep? "By the power of God." 1 Peter 1:5. "All power is given Me in heaven and in earth." Matthew 28:18. Keeps "through His own name." John 17:11. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and are safe" (margin, age set aloft). Proverbs 18:10. Keeps "as a shepherd doth his flock." Jeremiah 31:10. (With watchfulness). "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall ANY pluck them, out of My hand." John 10:27, 28. (How safe!) Keeps "as the apple of His eye." Deuteronomy 31:10. Could any words more fully express ,the tenderness of the "keeping"? "Keep ME as the apple of Thine eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy Wings." Psalms 17:8.

Where does He keep? "In His pavilion." Psalms 31:19, 20; 27:5. What is a pavilion? It is the tent of the commander-in-chief of an army. It is erected in the midst of an army for his protection. How secure a person would feel "hid" and "kept" there by the commander! Would he not rejoice in the consciousness of his being "ABLE to keep? Is not Jesus Christ God's pavilion? "Your life is hid with Christ In God." Colossians. 3:3. Yes; surely Jesus Christ is in the "midst" from first to last." In the burning bush. Exodus 3:4. In the camp of Israel's army. Numbers 21:17. In the fiery furnace. Daniel 3:26. In the Church. Psalms 46:5. Churches. Revelation 1:13. In the Trinity -- Father, Son and Holy Ghost. With His disciples. John 20:19. Where two or three meet in His name. Matthew 18:20. On the cross. John 19:18. On the throne. Revelation 7:17.

Whom does He keep? All those who will trust Him to do it. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is STAYED on Thee; BECAUSE he TRUSTETH in Thee." Isaiah 26:3. "Be careful for nothing ("Cast all your care upon Him." 1 Peter 5:7) . . . and the peace of God that passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus." Philippians. 4:7. "Kept by the power of God, through faith." 1 Peter 1:5.

Shall we let Him keep us? "He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true." John 3:33. Yes; my heart is filled with praise because I have received His testimony, and do find, and declare, "God is true." He not only keeps me resting in His love, but keeps "that which" I have committed to Him. "I know whom I have believed." He lets me bring everything to Him, and I let Him keep all. Oh, how blessedly He keeps in trial's! Yes; there I find the promise fulfilled, "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also WILL DO IT" (1 Thessalonians 5:24), and hear Him say when the "thorn" presses deep into my head, "My grace is sufficient for THEY.: for my strength Is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9.

He is able, He is willing, He does keep. Blessed be His name forevermore.

"Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe from corroding care;
Safe from the world's temptations,
Sin cannot harm me there.

"Free from the blight of sorrow,
Free from my doubts and fears;
Only a few more trials,
Only a few more tears."