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Numbers 23-24
Who are these two upon the mountains that overlook the camp of
Israel? That one who gazes with rapt attention upon the scene is
the prophet of Pethor; the other, who with eager solicitude points
out all the circumstances of the scene, is the king of Moab, who
has brought him from the mountains of the east, that he may
pronounce his curse upon the people whom the Lord has blessed.
Oh, vain man! to think that the power which but yesterday was not
sufficient to slay an ass, would today be able to ruin a great
people. But see, the prophet seems affected. Perhaps one of his
better moments is comethe moment in which the proud mind of
the flesh, and the power of worldliness, relax their strong gripe
upon the heart, and allow some poor natural feeling, imprisoned
in its dark chambers, to rush forth for one moment into the glad
sunshine and the pleasant air. He sees the goodly array of the
chosen people like lign aloes which the Lord hath planted beside
the waters; he beholds in the midst of them the glorious
tabernacle of the Lord; and he views the magnificent pillar of
cloud spread over them as a shield for their defence against his
maledictions. He sees moreagain his eyes are opened, and his
view extends into the great future, in which he beholds their
victories over the enemies of the Most High, and is even allowed
a glimpse of the remote Star of Jacob, nor is perhaps left wholly
ignorant of its deep significance. He could not be wholly
unmoved. Struck with a deep conviction of the peculiar privileges
and mercies of this people, and contrasting it with the dim
consciousness of his own condition, he cries outHow goodly
are thy tents, O Jacob! and thy tabernacles, O Israel! Let me die
the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!