Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come night thee (Ps. 91:5-7).
In the early days of the reign of Alexander I, Bible reading and devotion were held in contempt among the upper classes in Russia. Prince Galitzin was appointed one of the official rulers of the church, and he purchased a Bible secretly in order to acquaint himself with the first principles of Christianity. It changed his whole life. Then Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Russia, and all St. Petersburg prepared either to fight or to flee. Galitzin alone remained unmoved and continued work on his palace as though his country were in the midst of profound peace. In astonishment the czar asked, "How is it that you go on building when everyone else prepares to flee?"
"The Lord is my defense, sire," replied Galitzin. "I'm safe here as anywhere." Then he showed him his Bible, the first Bible Alexander had ever seen. The prince opened it to the ninety-first psalm: "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." The czar was profoundly impressed and went to the cathedral for worship before leaving for his campaign. The pastor began to read this same psalm. "Did Galitzin tell you to select that psalm?" asked the czar after the service. "No, I prayed the Lord to be guided in my choice."
The czar went a day's march with his army. In the evening, feeling anxious, he ordered his chaplain to read to him, and he began, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High--"
"Stop," cried the czar, "Did Galitzin tell you to read that to me?"
"Certainly not," said the chaplain. "I asked God to direct me."
From that time on, Alexander read the Bible secretly every day.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee" (Ps. 56:3).
In the early days of the reign of Alexander I, Bible reading and devotion were held in contempt among the upper classes in Russia. Prince Galitzin was appointed one of the official rulers of the church, and he purchased a Bible secretly in order to acquaint himself with the first principles of Christianity. It changed his whole life. Then Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Russia, and all St. Petersburg prepared either to fight or to flee. Galitzin alone remained unmoved and continued work on his palace as though his country were in the midst of profound peace. In astonishment the czar asked, "How is it that you go on building when everyone else prepares to flee?"
"The Lord is my defense, sire," replied Galitzin. "I'm safe here as anywhere." Then he showed him his Bible, the first Bible Alexander had ever seen. The prince opened it to the ninety-first psalm: "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." The czar was profoundly impressed and went to the cathedral for worship before leaving for his campaign. The pastor began to read this same psalm. "Did Galitzin tell you to select that psalm?" asked the czar after the service. "No, I prayed the Lord to be guided in my choice."
The czar went a day's march with his army. In the evening, feeling anxious, he ordered his chaplain to read to him, and he began, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High--"
"Stop," cried the czar, "Did Galitzin tell you to read that to me?"
"Certainly not," said the chaplain. "I asked God to direct me."
From that time on, Alexander read the Bible secretly every day.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee" (Ps. 56:3).
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