Miriams Schooling and Other Papers | Page 8

how the
waters were a wall on the right hand and on the left, and in the morning
watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar
of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians. I called
to mind the night when Gideon and his three hundred stood round the
Midianites, and the Lord set every man's sword against his fellow, even
throughout all the host. I called to mind the voice which spoke to me
when as a child I lay on my bed in the Lord's House. As I communed
and wrestled, the tent was filled with light, brighter than that of the sun
at noon. No word was spoken, but I knew it was the light of Him whom
to see is death, but whose light is life. All fear departed, and as the
glory slowly waned, sleep overcame me--sleep like that of an infant;
and when the morning dawned, and I opened the doors of my tent and
watched the sun rise, I was strong with the strength of ten thousand
men, and rejoiced, although the Philistines were like the sand on the
seashore for multitude. I caused the trumpet to sound, and brought
Israel together. On the hill there in Mizpeh, in sight of the people who
stood round trembling, I builded an altar and slew a lamb, and offered
it as a sacrifice to Him who had appeared unto me. I prayed again, for
as the smoke of the burnt-offering rose in the clear air, the Philistines
came up the hill to battle with us, and the people cried, and were on the
point of fleeing this way and that way, to be pursued and slain. I
commanded them to be still. The Philistines drew nearer and nearer,
and I prayed ever more and more earnestly. The smoke of the offering
was beginning to die down, and yet I prayed. The fire was well nigh out
to the last spark, and for a moment I doubted, forgetful of the vision,
for the music of the army of Dagon could now be heard. Suddenly the
fire flamed up on high from the grey ashes, as if a heap of the driest
wood of summer had been thrown on it, and I saw a little cloud gather
on the other side of the Philistine hosts, and I knew that my prayer was
answered. The flame dropped instantly, but the cloud spread itself even
as I looked, and the wind arose, and hither and thither across the cloud

flashed the lightning. Onward it came till it rested over the Philistines,
and then it broke and descended on them, and they were shut out from
us in thick darkness. The thunder of the Lord crashed and rolled, and
we saw His lightnings pierce down like swords. Silent we stood, and
presently the cloud lifted, and the Philistines, who, a few minutes
before, marched against us in order, were a confused mass, struggling
hither and thither, and many of them were lying dead on the ground.
Then, with one accord, Israel shouted, and ran and smote the Philistines
until they came under Bethcar. I went not with them; but when they had
all departed, I took a stone and set it up between Mizpeh and Shen, and
wrote on it Ebenezer, for hitherto had the Lord helped us--the Lord, I
say, and never a man, as it was the Lord and never a man who has
helped us since we left Egypt.
After that defeat the Philistines troubled us no more, and the cities
which they had taken from us were restored; but when I became old,
the people grew restless, and desired a change. The Lord, to humble me,
and prevent boasting by His servant, had afflicted me with two sons,
who obeyed not His commandments; and the people put forward these
two sons, who were judges under me, as a reason why a king should be
given them. If, however, my sons did injustice, I was still alive to
whom appeal could be made, and why should a king, because he was a
king, be better? The Lord had brought us out of Egypt, and had ruled us
through His ministers. We had no court, with women and with
splendour; and those who won our battles lived like those whom they
led. Our gold and our silver were saved for the House of the Lord,
which was His, and for all of us. The office of king was foreign to us: it
was heathen and hateful to me. None more earnestly than I worshipped
the Lord, and submitted myself to His direction, and imposed His will
even to death upon the people. But that a man, because he was