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I. MAN'S EMERGENCY.

1. Man's journey is along a rough and thorny road.

2. Conscious experience of wear and tear: "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." Fresh obligations of unfolding life, and hence increasing pressure. At first we only dream of bliss and peace from religion; at length we realise in it fidelity, obligations, responsibilities, sacrifices, conflicts. How real to every true man is the "wear and tear" of a religious life, the necessary exhaustion from duty. When the business and the bustle of life come in conflict with religion and pious reflection. When the conflict for principle leaves us consciously weaker, even if making us truer at heart. No conflict, however its success and triumph, without reaction. Such man's emergency.

II. GOD'S PROVISION.

1. For the rough journey, the shoes of iron and brass. Equipment proportionate to need. Thus in illustrations of the Christian life: "Conflict" — armour (Ephesians 6:12-17). "Duty" — conviction (2 Corinthians 1:12). "Journey" — "shoes of iron and brass" (Deuteronomy 8:2-4). With the same and yet higher provision men make against emergency does God provide for His people: The Arctic whaler is built for her voyage, no pleasure yacht for a summer's day. The soldier is equipped for service, not decorated for a holiday parade. Thus with God for us. Against every rough pebble there is a nail in the shoes of grace.

2. For the "wear and tear" — the supply: "As thy day, so," etc. Note — God's communications of grace never anticipative but always sufficient. Men paralyse their energies in the anticipation of possible emergencies. "What shall I do," says a man, "if so-and-so should happen?" and he forgets how he does new — the once future of anticipated forebodings. God gives not to the heart, unembarrassed by worldly cares and anxieties, and rejoicing in its gladsomeness, the strength for the hour of care and worry that may or may never come to it. God's provisions are economic. Waste has no part in the laws of God's moral government. "As thy days, so," etc. But God's provision is in the presence of man's emergency. God gives us our desires as fully in giving us strength for the rough journey, as in smoothing the way for us and strewing the path with flowers. And more. For the effort of manhood, assisted by grace, results in a bettering of manhood for ourselves; while the interpositions of grace merely — kindly, gracious though they be — leave us as we were before, "afraid of that which is high," and faltering in the presence of difficulties. How a man that has overcome gains confidence. "I have met a trouble before," says he, when trouble lies ahead, "and by God's grace I can meet this one." Results are more from efforts than helps. It is from "the swing of the heavy sledge, week in, week out, from morn to night, that the muscles of the brawny arm are strong as iron bands." And God assures us that the effort of our manhood will have His support. "As thy days, so shall thy strength be."

(W. Henderson.)

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KJV: Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

WEB: Your bars shall be iron and brass. As your days, so your strength will be.