From J. C. Philpot's Daily Portions
November 19 "Underneath are the everlasting arms." Deuteronomy
33:27 The "everlasting arms" of the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit, the divine Jehovah, are "underneath" every one of his people, and,
being underneath them, they can neither fall through them nor out of them;
but they are borne, and supported, and carried along by them until they are
brought to the eternal enjoyment of a Three-One God. Now, if these
"everlasting arms" were not underneath a man, so deceitful is his heart, so
desperately wicked is his corrupt nature, such dreadful stratagems does
Satan lay for his feet, and such numerous perils encompass every step, that
he must infallibly perish. But what we need to feel is, that these arms
are underneath us. What good will the doctrine do us? The doctrine of
the "everlasting arms" being underneath us will not satisfy our souls, if we
feel that we are sinking fathoms. If we keep sinking, sinking, sinking, and
are afraid, at times, that we shall sink at last into hell, the bare
doctrine that the "everlasting arms" are underneath God's people will not
satisfy us; but we need to feel them under us, so that we can rest
upon them, and enjoy a blessed support in them and coming out of them. How secure the babe lies in its mother's arms as long as
it can feel the arms touching and supporting its body; but let the
mother withdraw the arm, the babe is in fear; it cries out in alarm; but so
long as it feels the pressure of the mother's arms, it sleeps on calm and
secure. So with living souls; if they cannot find the "everlasting arms"
underneath them, they cannot rest in the mere doctrine of God's upholding
the Church; but when they can feel a support given; when in trouble, in
affliction, in sorrow, in temptation, there is a sensible leaning upon the
everlasting arms, and a sensible support communicated by them, then they can
rest calmly and contentedly upon them.