refuge. The man who had unwittingly slain another could find refuge
in a shepherd's tent from the avenger of blood. The fugitive was
permitted to stay a given length of time within the shepherd's care,
during which time he was as safe from the pursuer as though he were in
the actual city of refuge. The pursuer might be raging with fury outside
of the door of the tent, but the fugitive could eat with perfect safety
and peace in the presence of his enemy. How like Christ in His relation
to the believer!

One day Charles Wesley stood looking out of a partly open window at the
fierce storm howling without, when a young robin, quickly passing some
other birds, flew to his breast, seeking shelter from its foes. It was
then he wrote that wonderful hymn, the opening words of which are:

Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly!

Is not this a picture of this verse of the Psalm? "And a man (Jesus
Christ) shall be for a hiding place and a refuge from the storm." Are we
not safe in Him from all our foes? "There is therefore now no
condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus."

We are told that in David's day it was the custom of conquering kings
and princes to bring the royal captives of the contending defeated army
into a large banqueting house. To each pillar in the house a prisoner of
royal blood or a commanding officer was chained. The banquet tables were
heavily laden with good things of which the victors partook. Feasting
and jollification were indulged in, and joy and gladness were manifest
in the presence of defeated and chained enemies. Are we not made "always
to triumph" over all our foes in Christ? Are we not made "more than
conquerors" in Him who hath "led captivity captive"? "Ye shall eat your
meat in quietness, and nothing shall make you afraid."

Or, again, it may be that reference is made in this verse to the grazing
of sheep in fields full of snakeholes or of poisonous plants. A sheep
raiser in Texas once told the writer that he lost a great many sheep
because snakes would come up through holes in the ground and bite the
sheep as they grazed, poisoning them. After losing many of the flock he
finally discovered a remedy. A mixture of some kind was poured down the
holes, which killed the snakes, and after that the sheep were able to
graze in peace and safety. Hath not Christ abolished death for the
believer? Has He not deprived death of its sting and stripped the grave
of its victim? Hath He