PRECIOUS PROMISE
Elder Corvin Dove (deceased)
“And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me” (Ps. 50.15).
What a precious promise! How often has it been verified. His servants have called upon him, and their deliverance has glorified God. Israel was delivered from the host of Egypt, and their songs of deliverance declared his glory and power. Their miraculous deliverance has been brought to the remembrance of all generations, and God has been glorified. David found him able to deliver him from the paw of the lion, the paw of the bear and the hand of the Philistine, and God was glorified. Daniel found him able to deliver him from the den of lions, and God was glorified. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego found him able to deliver from the fiery furnace, and God was glorified. Even the king, Nebuchadnezzar, when he saw their deliverance, declared, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servant that trusted in him, . . . because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.”
The Bible abounds with records of the wonderful deliverances of God, all of which declare his glory and power. But the life of each one of his saints also abounds with proof of his deliverance. How oft do they call upon him in the day of trouble, and he delivers them! How oft is he glorified in their praise and thanksgiving!
Call upon him, trembling child, in the day of trouble, and he will deliver thee. Though our troubles seem great, he is the great deliverer. If God be for us, who can be against us? Hast thou not found him able to deliver, and faithful to deliver? David said, “I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live” (Ps. 116.1-2). He has heard our cries, and hath delivered us in all our troubles. And we shall be made to call upon him as long as we live, for this is a world of trouble. The days of trouble are many, but he has promised to hear and deliver us when we call upon him. We have a throne of grace, where we may boldly come to find help in every time of need. What a precious promise! We cannot come with any demand upon him, but as beggars seeking mercy. The poor are made rich, the weak are made strong, the thirsty are given drink, the hungry are not sent empty away, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Then, dear children, let us call upon God in the day of trouble, and he will deliver us, and we shall glorify him. Let us not forget this precious promise, nor the God who has made it.
[from Primitive Monitor and Church Advocate, May 1928. Elder Dove was the editor of the Monitor, and was the son of Elder Adam Dove, whose letter is found elsewhere in this issue.]