"The Secret Place"

by Belton, C. | Category: For Young Believers | May 1954

(THOUGHTS ON PSALM 91.)

Oh ! for that secret place where I may lie

Serene beneath Thy shadow, 0 Most High!

Where, conscious of almighty power near,

I restful may abide, immune from fear.

Thy shelt'ring pinions o'er me spread; Thine arm

A bulwark of defence from ev'ry harm.

Hast Thou declared such blessedness may be;

Yet hid "the secret's" entering-place from me?

Hast set such sweets before my longing sight;

Yet barred from me this haven of delight?

Thou hast illumed my soul, that once did grope

In stygean darkness, far from Thee and hope:

And light upon earth's pathway Thou hast shed,

Revealing foes, and dangers, great and dread:

Dost Thou those terrors still to me disclose,

And tell me there is a place of safe repose

Yet leave no guidance to that spot for me?

LOVE INFINITE! Ah! this can never be!

Thou hast redeemed my soul at wondrous cost,

And promised me I never can be lost:

Canst Thou have left me in this world to roam

Until such time Thou bring'st me to Thy home?

Here to encounter ev'ry passing hour

Malevolent assaults by that dread power,

Whose sinister design's to overthrow

My weakly self Thou suff'rest me to know?

Hast Thou laid bare my crafty foe's intents

And wiles of his malignant instruments;

Yet mocked my frailty; dangling 'fore my face

The inaccessible-This "secret place " ?

No! No! Thou hast a place where I may be

Entrenched securely 'gainst mine enemy:

A FORT impregnable Thou hast revealed,

And, blessed truth, its portal's not concealed.

This world that 'neath the power of evil lies,

Soothed by the opiates its god supplies,

Presents no safety: it can but relay

Those anaesthetics he provides to-day;

To numb the heaven-born senses that disclose

The numbers, power; and craft of hidden foes;

And blunt the fact that enemies at hand

Call me in constant vigilance to stand.

Or, if Thy Spirit should some glimpse unveil

Of demon hosts all ready to assail,

Would make appear invincible their might,

And whisper, "Why maintain such hopeless fight?

Give up the weary conflict, and thy foes

Will too relax, and leave thee to repose

Upon my bosom. There untroubled live

Amid those joys this present age can give;

And slumber all unconscious, if thou wilt,

Of future recompense, for fancied guilt."

My God, I thank Thee Thou hast giv'n to me,

In all these things, the wily mind to see

Of its unpitying god, who would impel

Its pleasure-loving victims down to hell.

Shall I, then, to so false a refuge fly

When THOU hast full security near-by?

"The secret place "-where shall I find it-where ?

'Tis only when I come to God in prayer.

There, far apart from this world's maddening race,

Alone, yet not alone, I seek His face

Lay bare my weakness-plead my poor defence

Confess the powers against me too immense,

And calmly rest on His Omnipotence.

There seek to grasp by faith the fact that He,

THE GREAT INVINCIBLE, draws near to me!

To chide my fearfulness? or to upbraid

Me for the feeble efforts I have made

Against my foes' assaults or subtle wiles

Their threat'ning scowls or suave, alluring smiles ?

No! but to rid my trembling soul of fear;

Assuring me "Thou'rt safe for I am near!

Confide in Me. The Tempter's hidden snare,

Or fiery dart thy soul will never scare.

Here shelter from the foul, insidious blight

Of superstitious cult that shuns the light

Dark Error, creeping plague-like in the night.

And daring Unbelief, that lifts its head

In scorn against the Truth from heaven shed

That by the lust of knowledge seeks to swell

The ranks that, full of pride it sweeps to hell.

Fear not! though myriad victims fall around

In ME, 0 trembler, thou hast refuge found."

With lurking foes, and dangers looming large,

He tells me angels have me in their charge;

Who supervise my ways, lest I should trip,

Unwary, o'er some stumbling-block and slip.

Mine impotence is here endued with power

To foil the one who "seeketh to devour"

Who rages lion-like, or snakish lies,

My unsuspecting footsteps to surprise.

His constant vigilance o'er me He keeps.

I know the Eye that watches, never sleeps.

Drawn by His love, mine own on Him is set;

And He, unchangeable, can ne'er forget.

With me in trouble-answering to my call,

'Tis His salvation saves from many a fall.

"Beneath His shadow," here afresh my heart

Is strengthened by His word that nought can part

Me from my God; for He assurance gives,

"THOU NE'ER CANST DIE, BECAUSE THY SAVIOUR LIVES!"

Belton, C. | May 1954
For Young Believers

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