This promise was made particularly to God's people Israel, the descendants of Jacob, and refers to their holy city, Jerusalem. But in its larger sense it applies to all God's people, and will be fulfilled to the spiritual seed of Israel (Gal. 3:29).
God has promised His people deliverance from their enemies and from the enemies of all truth and righteousness. Not only that, but holiness; and finally the possession of the things that belong to them by inheritance. This threefold promise is ourstoday: deliverance, holiness, possession.
God's deliverance is often strange. Bishop Gobat, laboring among the tribes of the Druse Mountains, was invited to visit a certain chieftain. He had long desired to see him, hoping to influence him for good. But when the invitation came, he was ill. It was repeated, however, but again he was unable to accept for the same reason. When the third invitation came, he set out with a guide, but the guide lost the way. Soon after the way was found again, a hyena crossed the path and the superstitious guide would not go on. So the visit was given up, since the bishop had to sail for Malta the next day. Some time later he learned that by these means he had been kept from falling into the hands of enemies who had planned to murder him. Even the treacherous chieftain acknowledged, "That man must be the servant of God, for although I sent messenger after messenger to bring him, he was always hindered."
It is written that without holiness "no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14). Along with deliverance, holiness is given by God to those who are His own; and finally in the earth made new His people will "possess their possessions," for "the meek shall inherit the earth."
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: f