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Ancient history is full of legends concerning the deadly power of dragons. The Bible has many references to these imaginary monsters. In Church history they are represented as winged crocodiles, and regarded as emblems of sin and the devil. There are spiritual dragons now. Consider —

I. THESE DRAGONS. They are besetting sins, turbulent passions, sinful customs, fascinating vices, evil spirits, etc.

II. WHERE THEY DWELL. The wilderness. The world, though beautiful, is yet cursed by sin. To the saintly heart it is often a wilderness —

1. For its loneliness.

2. For its barrenness.

3. For its dangers.Dragons lurk there. They may pour forth their fire and fury upon us there at any time. Application. Be watchful. Seek the help of the great dragon-slayer — Christ. In all legends of the slaying of dragons it was one hero that did it — Hercules, Perseus, Siegfried, St. Michael, St. George — these slew the dragons, and delivered the people.

(W. Osborne Lilley.)

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KJV: I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,

WEB: "I have loved you," says Yahweh. Yet you say, "How have you loved us?" "Wasn't Esau Jacob's brother?" says Yahweh, "Yet I loved Jacob;