" Therefore hear now this , thou afflicted , and drunken , but not with wine : Thus saith thy Lord the Lord , and thy God that pleadeth the cause of His people , Behold , I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling , even the dregs of the cup of My fury ; thou shalt no more drink it again : but I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee ; which have said to thy soul , Bow down , that we may go over : and thou hast laid thy body as the ground , and as the street , to them that went over ." Verses 21-23 . The eye of God , looking down the ages , was fixed upon the crisis which His people are to meet , when earthly powers shall be arrayed against them . Like the captive exile , they will be in fear of death by starvation or by violence . But the Holy One who divided the Red Sea before Israel , will manifest His mighty power and turn their captivity . " They shall be Mine , saith the Lord of hosts , in that day when I make up My jewels ; and I will spare them , as a man spareth his own son that serveth him ." Malachi 3:17 . If the blood of Christ ' s faithful witnesses were shed at this time , it would not , like the blood of the martyrs , be as seed sown to yield a harvest for God .
Their fidelity would not be a testimony to convince others of the truth ; for the obdurate heart has beaten back the waves of mercy until they return no more . If the righteous were now left to fall a prey to their enemies , it would be a triumph for the prince of darkness . Says the psalmist : " In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion : in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me ." Psalm 27:5 . Christ has spoken : " Come , My people , enter thou into thy chambers , and shut thy doors about thee : hide thyself as it were for a little moment , until the indignation be overpast . For , behold , the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity ." Isaiah 26:20 , 21 . Glorious will be the deliverance of those who have patiently waited for His coming and whose names are written in the book of life .
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