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Messiah does but illustrate universal human experience. He is successful, but it is God who gives him his success. "The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion." This inmost truth of things is too often disregarded. The pious soul fully recognizes it and rejoices in it. His refrain in all life's toils and successes is this, "The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our Refuge."

I. WORLD-SUCCESS IS LARGELY DUE TO GOOD FORTUNE. Some men seem born to succeed. We can find no reason, in either their ability or their character, why they should succeed when others fail. We speak of their "good luck." Take any department of life, business, or profession, and we plainly see that some are the children of fortune. They seem born favorites, and they are the world's favorites as long as they live. This may, indeed, be an incorrect view to take; we only note that it is the common and usual view. There may be reasons, in character and in entrusted mission, which are simply beyond our discernment and appraisement. Now men may look on the success of Messiah, and say of it, "It is only a piece of good fortune. He just happened to fit to the needs of his age."

II. WORLD-SUCCESS IS LARGELY DUE TO ENERGY. Many a man, by the force of his own vitality, and by the concentration of his powers, has mastered disabilities and difficulties, and gained for himself a place. The energy that is quick-witted to seize opportunities, skilful to use opportunities, and persistent in carrying out resolves, seldom fails to win world-success. And it may be said of the success of Messiah - It is sufficiently explained by the vital force that was in him, by his energy and enterprise. The boast of Nebuchadnezzar has many and many a time been repeated since his day, "Is not this great Babylon which I have builded?

III. WORLD-SUCCESS IS REALLY DUE TO DIVINE PERMISSION, ARRANGEMENT, AND AID. But the discernment of this comes only to those whose eyes have been spirituality opened. The success of Messiah really has explanation, The Lord sends the rod of his strength out of Zion."

1. There is no such thing as good fortune. Everything stands in Divine adjustment. A man's "destiny" is the arrangement of infinite wisdom.

2. Back of a man's energy is the Divine vitalizing. A man's bodily health and mental power are absolutely in God's hands, and are God's providings. Man plans, but he must lean on God for power to execute his plans. God may say, "This night shall thy soul be required of thee." - R.T.

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KJV: The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

WEB: Yahweh will send forth the rod of your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies.