JOHN BUNYAN The Pilgrim's Comfort Song

In the wonderful classic book by John Bunyan, "The Pilgrim's Progress From This World To That Which Is To Come", there is an episode where Christian and his companion, Hopeful, happen upon a peaceful place. They find green meadows surrounding crystal streams of clean, pure water. In this place, they find lush, fruit-bearing trees on either side of this River of Life. Here, the pilgrims take their rest. They come away for a time, from the troubles and the turbulent events of their arduous journey from the City of Destruction and from Vanity Fair, to the Celestial City, which is Jerusalem above, the eternal Mount Zion, the dwelling place of their glorious God and King.

The Great Jehovah, the LORD Jesus Christ, is their Guide. He knows their needs better than they themselves know them, and so, He brings them to this quiet place, where weary travelers may stop for a season and find comfort and refreshment in the verdant green, health-giving spot. The pilgrims marvel at the absence of enemies and alarms as they indulge, with grateful hearts, upon their great God's providence of food, medicinal substances for healing and the long expanses of sleep they may enjoy without fear of waking suddenly in the night to some horrendous circumstance that would disturb their slumbers.

All this, of course, is a parabolic glimpse into the life of the true child of God. We experience so many stormy blasts and furious calamities on our way to Heaven and to Home. But, our Faithful Brother and Friend, the LORD Jesus Christ, makes sure that we find peaceful rest and comfort from time to time, in perfect accordance with our soul's need. Once we are rejuvenated and encouraged, we go on, back out into the wilderness to struggle up the steep hill a few more miles. When discouragements, thirst and hungerings overtake us, He leads us back again to this place of repose by the crystal streams.