Precious Promises Indeed

"For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her." -Zechariah 2:5 [KJV]

Precious promises these, my soul! and, like all the other promises of our God, are "Yea and amen in Christ Jesus." Is the church, in this wilderness-state, exposed to the ravages of Satan, who goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour? then will God "be unto her a wall," and that "of fire," which (like travellers in the desert, who encircle themselves with fire against the attacks of wild beasts by night) will keep her secure from all approaches. Doth the church, in her poor circumstances, need comfort within? then will God in Christ be "the glory in the midst of her." And hence, all around, within and without, in every direction, and in every way, Jesus will be "the hiding-place from the storm, and a covert from the tempest; and upon all the glory shall be a defence."  

Look up then, my soul! What hast thou to fear? What though the rains beat without, and poverty be felt within; He that is "the wall of fire" can never be extinguished, and He that is "the glory in the midst" will still shine upon thee, and fully satisfy all thy need. Precious Lord Jesus! While Thou art my defence, what host of foes can I fear? And while Thou art my glory, surely I shall never consider my own humble circumstances. I will therefore say, with an exercised believer of old, "At what time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee" Psalm 56:3! To whom shall a child run, but to his father, in a season of distress? And to whom shall a poor ransomed soul of Jesus look, but to his Redeemer? And He will be both a shield and sun, "when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against a wall." Sweet thought to hush the soul asleep! And thou, my soul, take it with thee to thy bed, this night: Jesus is unto thee as "a wall of fire round about," and He that is in the midst of thee is "thy God, thy glory!" 

-Robert Hawker (1753-1827 A.D.)