HE SHALL PRESERVE THY SOUL.

 
 

He shall preserve thy soul.
Psalm 121:7

 
NO being in creation needs such close
  and constant keeping as a saint.
 
If God was not our keeper,
  we could never arrive safe in heaven.
 
Our foes are so powerful;
  our mortal maladies so numerous;
  our danger so great;
  our depravity so deep.
 
O to keep this fact daily before the mind,
  that we may evermore cry unto the Lord to keep us!
 
He has promised to do so,
  but he will have us plead with him,
  and daily cry unto him.
 
We are never out of danger,
  while we are out of heaven.
 
If we are healthy this morning,
  we may be diseased before night.
 
If we are sound in the faith today,
  we may be led away by some pernicious error tomorrow.
 
If we are walking at liberty now,
  we may be entangled again with
    the yoke of bondage before long.
 
How kind, how gracious then,
  for our Lord to undertake to keep, and
  promise to preserve our souls.
 
He can, he has promised;
  if he we call upon him, he will.
 
Let us therefore, this day,
  feel that we are in danger,
  that we need an omnipotent preserver,
  that the Lord preserves through fellowship with himself,
  and let us endeavour to walk closely with God.
 
This will deepen our spirituality.
 

The word of God continues sure,

On which our hope is cast;

Thou shall my tempted soul secure

Till every storm is past.

 

James Smith 1849