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I. WHY ARE THEY CALLED GOD'S HIDDEN ONES?

1. Because He has put them out of the reach of their adversaries, and concealed them in a place of safety.

2. Because He gives them quiet and peace, even in the midst of turmoil and sorrow. The more of trial you have to endure, the more of communion you shall have to enjoy. This is the happy, happy case of a tried child of God.

3. Because they are not understood. He who has been made to live unto God lives a life that is quite incomprehensible to ordinary men.

4. Because they are obscure.

5. Because all the saints are at present unrevealed.

II. WHAT IS THEIR SPECIAL HONOUR?

1. He knows whom He chose and redeemed; He knows whom He has called; He knows whom He has justified. He has hot done any of those things in the dark. He has a familiar acquaintance with all that His grace has done for you.

2. Though you are hidden, you are not hidden from the Lord. You are hidden by Him, but you are not hidden from Him. He can read your thoughts; He knows the troubles that are yet to come as well as those that have come; He reads you as I read the pages of this Bible.

3. Some of God's hidden ones are among the very choicest of His children. I think there are some who are so very dear to God that He keeps them to Himself.

4. Hidden as you are, He has engaged to keep you. His Very hiding of you shows that He means to keep you in safety. You shall never perish, for "He keepeth the feet of His saints."

III. WHAT THEN?

1. Let us rejoice that the Lord has more people than we knew.

2. Let us look for these hidden ones wherever we are.

3. Since God has hidden ones, let us take care never to act or speak so as to grieve them.

4. Although God has His hidden ones, let not one of us hide himself more than is needful.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.

WEB: They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones.