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Another year is numbered with the past. To each of us it has been marked by events materially affecting us for weal or woe. A new year, richly laden with golden possibilities, is now opening before us. What may transpire during it is concealed from our present view. "Ye have not passed this way heretofore." Nor need we be dismayed by reason of this obscurity; indeed, we would not have it otherwise. All that we require in going forth to meet what ever may arise, is to realise the presence with us of the God of Israel, and to follow the pillar of cloud and of fire. Several important truths were pictured forth under the Jewish dispensation by the symbol of the ark of the covenant.

1. The recognition of the Divine presence.

2. The duty of striving after the honouring of the Divine law.

3. The privilege of communion with God through the Mediator.When the children of Israel were commanded to "go after" the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they were in fact urged, in all their future wanderings, to seek to live under a continual sense of the Divine presence, to strive to honour the Divine law, and to hold fellowship with Heaven. Even so let it be with you. Think of the eye of God as being upon your way; yea, be your spirit that which led one to say, "If Thy presence go not with me, carry me not up hence." Take the principles of God's own Word, and act upon them. Seek counsel and help from Heaven. Lift up to God "holy hands." Have a mercy-seat; some spot sacred to hallowed and refreshing communion with God. And, pursuing this course, the weeks and months of the year will pass happily along in your experience: new duties will be faithfully performed, new temptations successfully resisted; your witness to the truth will be decided in its character; strength, both for service and for suffering, will be secured; and "the beauty of the Lord your God" being thus upon you, He will "establish the work of your hands." There are two very plain reasons why it behoves us to take this course.

(1) Our way in the future is unknown to us, and hence we need to be Divinely directed. The waters of doubt and uncertainty are flowing over the path we have to tread, quite obliterating it from our view. We stand to-day, looking on to the goodly land beyond, the land of light and love, of rest and peace, of beauty and blessedness, of eternal purity and uprightness, but we cannot tell by what way we are to be brought into its full possession. And the path before us being thus an unknown one, we do well to yield ourselves up to the guidance of our God; and, taking this course, we may rest assured that He will conduct us in safety, and bring us at length into the fulness of His rest.

(2) The future is new to us. Events and experiences, totally different from anything we have had before, will occur to us. But, living as in God's presence, and in obedience to His will, and in fellowship with Him at His throne, arise what may, we shall be Divinely supported.

(S. D. Hillman.)

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KJV: And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;

WEB: It happened after three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp;