[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":4},["ShallowReactive",2],{"reading-1231":3},"DECEMBER 31\r\nHitherto hath the Lord helped us (1Samuel 7.12).\r\nThe word \"hitherto\" seems Eke a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet \"hitherto hath the Lord helped us!\" Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness,\r\nthrough health; at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea; in honor,\r\nin dishonor, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, In temptation-\"hitherto hath the Lord helped!\"\r\nWe delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to    gaze from one end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with Its branching pillars and its arches of leaves. Even so look down   the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy\r\noverhead, and the strong pillars of lovingkindness and faithfulness will bear up your joys.\r\nAre there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely, there must be many, and they sing of mercy received \"hitherto.\"\r\nBut the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark, and writes \"hitherto,\" he is not yet at the end;\r\nthere are still distances to be traversed. More trials, more joys;\r\nmore temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come\r\n\r\nsickness, old age, , death.\r\nIs it over now? No! there is more yet-awakening in Jesus' likeness, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, white raiment, the face of Jesus,\r\nthe society of saints, the glory of God, the fullness of eternity,\r\nthe infinity of bliss. Oh, be of good courage, believer, and with\r\ngrateful confidence raise thy \"Ebenezer,\" for, He who hath helped thee hitherto Will help thee all thy journey through.\r\nWhen read in Heaven's fight how glorious and marvelous a prospect will thy \"hitherto\" unfold to thy grateful eye. --C. H. Spurgeon.\r\nThe Alpine shepherds have a beautiful custom of ending the day by singing to one another an evening farewell. The air is so\r\ncrystalline that the song will carry long distances. As the dusk\r\nbegins to fall, they gather their flocks and being to lead them\r\ndown the mountain paths, singing, \"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. Let us praise His name!\"\r\nAnd at last with the sweet courtesy, they sing to one another the    friendly farewell: \"Goodnight! Goodnight!\" The words are taken up by the echoes, and from side to side the song goes reverberating  sweetly and softly until the music dies away in the distance.\r\nSo let us call out to one another through the darkness, till the\r\ngloom becomes vocal with many voices, encouraging the pilgrim host Let the echoes gather till a very storm of Hallelujahs break In\r\nthundering waves around the sapphire throne, and then as the\r\nmorning breaks we shall find ourselves at the margin of the sea of\r\nglass, crying, with the redeemed host \"Blessing and honor and glory be unto him that sitteth on the throne and to the Lamb forever and\r\never!\"\r\nThis my song through endless ages, Jesus led me all the way.\r\nAND AGAIN THEY SAID, HALLELUJAH! (Rev. 19:3, R. V.).",1783499794607]