Tarrying Under the Cloud

“And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord, and journeyed not.” — Num. ix. 19.

It would be well for us if we could repeat this experience. Our practice is to journey after the cloud has come. We are proud of our intellectual clouds; we like to travel in the strength of them, to let men see that we are influenced by them. We make parade of our doubt as if doubt were the symbol of plenty; we forget that it is the sign of want. Is there not a better, a more excellent way? To thee, as to all men, there must come moments of darkness, moments when, like the Psalmist, thou shalt cry, “Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself.” But it is not well for thee to journey in the darkness. It is not well for thee to go forth proclaiming to all the world that the shadows of an intellectual night have fallen upon thee, that truths once bright have become dim, that hopes once dear have become clouded. To-morrow the shades may all have passed away; morning may have come back to thy heart, and thy first faith may have risen in resurrection from the depths of night. And yet thy restoration may not restore the harm thou hast wrought on thy journey. What if thou hast affected others with thy clouds? what if thou hast impressed thy fellow-men with the gloom of thine own night? Their day may not come back when thy night shall vanish. Beware, therefore, 0 my soul, what thou shalt do under thy cloud. Beware that thou dost not journey while the shadow remains upon thee. Beware that thou dost not propagate in the hearts of others that which may only be transient in thine own. Be it thine to rest in secret while the cloud is hanging over thee, be it thine to tarry within while the shadow of doubt is overhead. One day ioo MOMENTS ON THE MOUNT.

thou shalt bless God that thou didst not journey, one day thou shalt rejoice that the cloud was kept secret in the depths of thy heart. For the cloud shall not be eternal. The sun of early hope shall rise, and the buds of early spring shall open, and the time for the singing of birds shall come, and then thou shalt be glad with an exceeding great joy. Thou shalt be glad that thou hast not revealed thy darkness, that thou hast not allowed the impressions of one misty hour to shade the eyes and disturb the thoughts of other men. When the cloud tarries upon thy tabernacle, keep the charge of the Lord and journey not.