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ANGELIC GUARDS

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 29, 1858

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 11, No. 24.

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ANGELIC GUARDS.

Fear not; for they that be with us are more than they that be with them, 2 Kings, vi, 8-23.
The Syrian host at midnight hour Came softly o'er the field, And round the city placed their power, Of chariot, horse and shield; And silently the cohort waits, Till morning dawns, before the gates.
And why has Syria's monarch sent His chosen army down, At midnight hour to spread the tent Before a peaceful town? That martial host their way have trod, To bind in chains one man of God.
A wall of spears, in thick array, Around the town arose; The citizens unguarded lay, In innocent repose, Nor knew till morn dispelled the gloom And shone on helm, and shield and plume.
Myriads of lances in that hour, Gleamed in the prophet's eye; That eye beheld a greater power, An army in the sky; Elisha stood the approaching shock, Firm and unmoved as Zion's Rock.
Not so that morn the youthful saint, That stood before the seer; His faith was weak, his heart was faint, His soul was filled with fear; "O, who, my master, can withstand The might of this surrounding band!"
"To us a stronger power is given Than Syria's monarch boasts; Our troop is marshaled in the heaven, Our head the Lord of hosts. Unseal, O God, the servant's eye, To see our heavenly panoply."
Chariots and horses rushing came, And filled the mountain's brow, The youth beheld the host of flame, And trusts and triumphs now; "O, who may brave Jehovah's ire, Who comes with horse and wheels of fire!"
The Syrian spears, like forest wood, The prophet of the Lord Inclose. Serene Elisha stood, And conquered with a word; "With darkness, Lord, the people smite;" And all that host were lost in night.
He led them like a feeble flock, Within Samaria's walls; And there to Israel's God and Rock, Again the prophet calls; "Unseal their eyes;" and all that band Beheld their power in Israel's hand.
Dismissed in peace, the Syrian king Laid spear and helmet down, And owned that 'neath Jehovah's wing Was sheltered Israel's crown; And knew that horse, and shield, and sword, Were things of nought before the Lord.
The hosts of earth, the gates of hell, Mount Zion's peace oppose; Celestial armies, marshaled well, The church of God inclose; And earth and hell are feeble things, In presence of the King of kings.