按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of the shadow of death。 And he beheld them coming forth from their graves；
crowned with glory； honor； and immortality。 He saw the redeemed rejoicing in
the unfading glories of the earth made new。 Gazing upon the scene； he
exclaimed； 〃Who can count the dust of Jacob； and the number of the fourth
part of Israel？〃 And as he saw the crown of glory on every brow； the joy
beaming from every countenance； and looked forward to that endless life of
unalloyed happiness； he uttered the solemn prayer； 〃Let me die the death of
the righteous； and let my last end be like his！〃
448
If Balaam had had a disposition to accept the light that God had given； he
would now have made true his words； he would at once have severed all
connection with Moab。 He would no longer have presumed upon the mercy of
God； but would have returned to Him with deep repentance。 But Balaam loved
the wages of unrighteousness； and these he was determined to secure。
Balak had confidently expected a curse that would fall like a withering
blight upon Israel； and at the words of the prophet he passionately
exclaimed； 〃What hast thou done unto me？ I took thee to curse mine enemies；
and； behold； thou hast blessed them altogether。〃 Balaam； seeking to make a
virtue of necessity； professed to have spoken from a conscientious regard
for the will of God the words that had been forced from his lips by divine
power。 His answer was； 〃Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord
hath put in my mouth？〃
Balak could not even now relinquish his purpose。 He decided that the
imposing spectacle presented by the vast encampment of the Hebrews had so
intimidated Balaam that he dared not practice his divinations against them。
The king determined to take the prophet to some point where only a small
part of the host might be seen。 If Balaam could be induced to curse them in
detached parties； the whole camp would soon be devoted to destruction。 On
the top of an elevation called Pisgah another trial was made。 Again seven
altars were erected； whereon were placed the same offerings as at the first。
The king and his princes remained by the sacrifices； while Balaam retired to
meet with God。 Again the prophet was entrusted with a divine message； which
he was powerless to alter or withhold。
When he appeared to the anxious； expectant company the question was put to
him； 〃What hath the Lord spoken？〃 The answer； as before； struck terror to
the heart of king and princes：
〃God is not a man； that He should lie；
Neither the son of man； that He should repent：
Hath He said； and shall He not do it？
Or hath He spoken； and shall He not make it good？
Behold； I have received commandment to bless：
And He hath blessed； and I cannot reverse it。
He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob；
Neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel：
The Lord his God is with him；
And the shout of a king is among them。〃
449
Awed by these revelations； Balaam exclaimed； 〃Surely there is no enchantment
against Jacob； neither is there any divination against Israel。〃 The great
magician had tried his power of enchantment； in accordance with the desire
of the Moabites； but concerning this very occasion it should be said of
Israel； 〃What hath God wrought！〃 While they were under the divine
protection； no people or nation； though aided by all the power of Satan；
should be able to prevail against them。 All the world should wonder at the
marvelous work of God in behalf of His people that a man determined to
pursue a sinful course should be so controlled by divine power as to utter；
instead of imprecations； the richest and most precious promises； in the
language of sublime and impassioned poetry。 And the favor of God at this
time manifested toward Israel was to be an assurance of His protecting care
for His obedient； faithful children in all ages。 When Satan should inspire
evil men to misrepresent； harass； and destroy God's people； this very
occurrence would be brought to their remembrance； and would strengthen their
courage and their faith in God。
The king of Moab； disheartened and distressed； exclaimed； 〃Neither curse
them at all； nor bless them at all。〃 Yet a faint hope still lingered in his
heart； and he determined to make another trial。 He now conducted Balaam to
Mount Peor； where was a temple devoted to the licentious worship of Baal；
their god。 Here the same number of altars were erected as before； and the
same number of sacrifices were offered； but Balaam went not alone； as at
other times； to learn God's will。 He made no pretense of sorcery； but
standing beside the altars； he looked abroad upon the tents of Israel。 Again
the Spirit of God rested upon him； and the divine message came from his
lips：
〃How goodly are thy tents； O Jacob； And thy tabernacles； O Israel！ As the
valleys are they spread forth； as gardens by the river's side； As the trees
of lignaloes which the Lord hath planted； and as cedar
trees beside the waters。 He shall pour the water out of his buckets； and his
seed shall be in
many waters； And his King shall be higher than Agag； and his kingdom shall
be
exalted。 。 。 。 He couched； he lay down as a lion； and as a great lion： who
shall
stir him up？ Blessed is he that blesseth thee； and cursed is he that curseth
thee。〃
450
The prosperity of God's people is here represented by some of the most
beautiful figures to be found in nature。 The prophet likens Israel to
fertile valleys covered with abundant harvests； to flourishing gardens
watered by never…failing springs； to the fragrant sandal tree and the
stately cedar。 The figure last mentioned is one of the most strikingly
beautiful and appropriate to be found in the inspired word。 The cedar of
Lebanon was honored by all the people of the East。 The class of trees to
which it belongs is found wherever man has gone throughout the earth。 From
the arctic regions to the tropic zone they flourish； rejoicing in the heat；
yet braving the cold； springing in rich luxuriance by the riverside； yet
towering aloft upon the parched and thirsty waste。 They plant their roots
deep among the rocks of the mountains and boldly stand in defiance of the
tempest。 Their leaves are fresh and green when all else has perished at the
breath of winter。 Above all other trees the cedar of Lebanon is
distinguished for its strength； its firmness； its undecaying vigor； and this
is used as a symbol of those whose life is 〃hid with Christ in God。〃
Colossians 3：3。 Says the Scripture； 〃The righteous 。 。 。 shall grow like a
cedar。〃 Psalm 92：12。 The divine hand has exalted the cedar as king over the
forest。 〃The fir trees were not like his boughs； and the chestnut trees were
not like his branches〃 （Ezekiel 31：8）； nor any tree in the garden of God。
The cedar is repeatedly employed as an emblem of royalty； and its use in
Scripture to represent the righteous shows how Heaven regards those who do
the will of God。
Balaam prophesied that Israel's King would be greater and more powerful than
Agag。 This was the name give