By the Sea and Other Verses Part 5
Down the long line of two-score years I looked and saw at last, The blissful view from Pisgah's height; the Jordan safely pa.s.sed;
And heard--as Memnon's harp had caught the sweet enchanting strain, And sent adown the waves of time brave Miriam's glad refrain--
"Sing, for the Lord hath triumphed; sing, great wonders can he do; The Lord is mighty and can save by many or by few."
I saw again, when sin-enslaved, by Jabin's hand oppressed, A people's cry went up to G.o.d for rescue and for rest.
Then up rose Deborah, judge and seer, with all her valiant band, And drove the oppressor from her gates, his chariots from her land.
And Jael, wife of Heber, slew his captain with the sword; So woman's hand achieved that day the victory for the Lord.
And woman's voice extolled in song the great Deliverer's name:-- "Praise G.o.d! He hath avenged His own, for willingly they came.
"The mountains melt before His face, the tribes their strength renew; The Lord is mighty and doth save by many or by few."
I saw when Gideon led his band down to the water's bank To prove and set them in array, as man by man they drank,
And with the handful chosen thus went forth against the foe, And vanquished all the Midian host, and laid their princes low.
Not with the thousands called from far, who pitched by Harod's well; Nor yet the undismayed who stood when the faint-hearted fell;
But "Now, with these three hundred men, go forward," said the Lord; "Do thou thy part, let them do theirs, trust, and obey my word."
Their torches flashed like dancing flames, their trumpets loudly blew; Strange warfare! but the Lord can save by many or by few.
Once more I saw when Israel quailed before Philistia's pride; While great Goliath, day by day, Jehovah's power defied.
The weak and timid fled away, the valiant shrank with fear;-- 'Twas threatened death or dire defeat, and life and fame are dear.
Even Saul, their chosen king, forgot (admiring Israel's boast!) That he stood head and shoulders high above his martial host.
"And are there none," he cried, "who dare to meet this vaunting foe?
And must the banner of our G.o.d trail in dishonor low?"
Then forth there came a ruddy youth: "That banner I'll defend; Be it not said our G.o.d hath none on whom He may depend.
"Let no heart fail to-day because of this Philistine's boast; The battle is the Lord's and He will vanquish this proud host."
Then spake he to the giant foe: "A loyal servant I Of Israel's G.o.d, whose holy name thou darest to defy.
"In that dread name I charge thee stand, and shield thee as thou may; The fowls of air, the beasts of earth shall feast on thee to-day."
'Twas but a pebble from the brook, sent by a loyal will; But sword and spear not mightier were G.o.d's purpose to fulfil.
For one may chase a thousand, and ten thousand flee from two; The G.o.d of right is strong to save by many or by few.
Years, ages pa.s.s and now I see a land beloved and fair; And lo! a cruel enemy hath gained possession there.
The riches of this goodly land into his coffers pour; Insatiate and unscrupulous, his constant cry is "More!"
"More money clinking in my till, more men--my licensed prey; More _boys_ to feed my traffic when these men have pa.s.sed away."
Thus man is robbed of purse and soul, home of its peace and joy; The wife of husband is bereft, the mother of her boy.
The land doth mourn. On every side the spoiler hath his way; No past oppression hath surpa.s.sed this vision of to-day.
And who, like Moses, will exchange his self-distrust and fear For faith to meet the encroaching foe and check his bold career?
And who, like Deborah, will arise and lead a valiant band To drive the Tyrant from her gates, the Traffic from her land?
Who will, like Gideon and his men, the light of truth dare throw On darkest evil, and the trump of coming victory blow?
Or who, like David, will come forth in G.o.d's great name, alone, And lay the boastful giant low, as once with sling and stone?
When Avarice and unholy Pride against the good contend, The battle is the Lord's and He His people will defend.
The great Red Sea of wrong, while He doth pa.s.s, shall stand aside; Mountains shall bow before Him, and proud Jordan's waves divide.
Each epoch hath its burning bush, and each its palm-tree shade; And each its oak of Ophrah, where the pledge of peace is made.
And each its fold, where kingly soul in shepherd guise is found; And when the Master calleth there the place is "holy ground."
Holy the place; but whose the hour? perchance He calleth _thee_, Or _thee_; who, who will answer now, "Lord, here am I; send me?"
O, for the love of land and home, make answer brave and true; Our G.o.d is mighty still to save, by many or by few.
BE YE ALSO READY
Let us be still before Him. Yet once more That voice hath spoken to our startled souls Which fell in solemn cadence on the ear Of the hushed listeners on Mt. Olive's hill: "At eventide, at midnight, or at morn, The Son of Man shall come, shall surely come; Be ready, for ye may not know the hour."
And if at eventide, when Nature folds Her toil-spent hands and sinks into repose; Or if at midnight hour of gloom Thou come, Or when the morning spreads her wings of light, Oh make us ready for the solemn call.
Supply our need, of knowledge, wisdom, grace, Dear Lord, that with confiding joy our souls, Made pure of sin and strong in faith, may go To meet Thee at Thy coming. If the sound Of sweet home-voices follow to the brink Of death's dark river, as they fainter grow, Then let us hear Thy still small voice of love; Say to us, "It is I--be not afraid."
Or if the angel of the icy hand Should find us when no human friend is near And summon us away, then as we lose Our hold of earth and fall away from life, O wilt Thou grant our parting spirits may Go out in silence and be found with Thee.
MIMOSA
A modest plant; soft shades of green In leaflets poised on slender stem; And all outspread to catch the glow Of morning sun or dew-drop gem.
But, lo, what change! When finger-tips But touch the leaflets' fringe, the charm Of life is gone--Mimosa shrinks, As conscious of some present harm.