Evening, November 20, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“The shephanim [Rock Badgers] are not mighty people, yet they make their houses in the rocks.” — Proverbs 30:26

Conscious of their own natural defenselessness, the shephanim resort to burrows in the rocks, and are secure from their enemies. My heart, be willing to gather a lesson from these frail folks. You are as weak and as exposed to peril as the timid rock badgers; be as wise to seek a shelter. My best security is within the fortification of an immutable Jehovah, where his unalterable promises stand like giant walls of rock. It will be well with you, my heart, if you can always hide yourself in the ramparts of his glorious attributes, all of which are guarantees of safety for those who put their trust in him. I have so done — blessed be the name of the Lord —  and have found myself like David in Adullam, safe from the cruelty of my enemy. I do not need to find out the blessedness of the man who puts his trust in the Lord, for long ago, when Satan and my sins pursued me, I fled to the cleft of the rock Christ Jesus, and in his torn side I found a delightful resting place. My heart, run anew to him tonight, whatever your present grief may be; Jesus feels for you; Jesus consoles you; Jesus will help you. No monarch in his impregnable fortress is more secure than the shephanim in his rocky burrow. The master of ten thousand chariots is not one bit better protected than the little dweller in the mountain’s cleft. In Jesus the weak are strong, and the defenseless safe; they could not be stronger if they were giants, or more safe if they were in heaven. Faith gives to men on earth the protection of the God of heaven. More they cannot need, and need not wish. The shephanim cannot build a castle, but they avail themselves of what is there already: I cannot make myself a refuge, but Jesus has provided it, his Father has given it, his Spirit has revealed it, and lo, again tonight I enter it, and am safe from every foe.