Isaiah 14:3 And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear… Let me tell you of a man who went home one day, and sitting down in his armchair, put his hand on his brow as if in great trouble. His little child went up to him, saying, "Father, what's the matter?" Looking down upon her with eyes of despair, he replied, "Ah, little Mary, I'm ruined!" She said, "Ruined, father, what's that?" He answered, "Why, my child, I'm like a man in a boat on the sea, and during a storm the boat has upset, and he is east on a desolate island." She climbed on his knee, stroking his face, and after awhile, exclaimed. "Well but, father, you know, you have only lost the boat; you haven't lost yourself, have you?" With tears in his eyes, he said, "Ah, no, thank God! I have only lost the boat; my heart and my life remain!" Then she asked, "Father, what's the name of the island?" He replied, "That is the worst of it Mary." "I don't know." She said, "But, father, I know; yea, I know the name of the island you are on; why, father, it is a nice island!" The wretched man tried to smile, and drawing the dear little face to his breast, said, "Mary, dear, tell me the name of the island!" She replied, "Oh, father, don't you know? you are dull tonight! why, father, the name of the island is God!" The sorrowful man was very, still, and little Mary looking up in his face, put her arms round his neck, saying, "Poor father, what makes you cry? Why don't you go upstairs and tell God about it?" Then he gently lifted the dear child down, and went to tell out his heart's sorrow to God. It is true his business had fallen but a Divine hand upheld him. (W. Birch.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve, |
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