“I sing the hymn of the conquered, who fell in the battle of life–
The hymn of the wounded, the beaten, who died overwhelmed in the strife.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The hymn of the low and the humble, the weary, the broken in heart,
Who strove and who failed.”
There may be no Bible beatitude saying expressly, “Blessed are the unsuccessful,” but there are beatitudes, which are equivalent to this. We take from our Lord’s own lips,
“Blessed are they that mourn,” “Blessed be ye poor,” “Blessed are they which are persecuted,” “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you,” “Blessed are ye when men shall hate you.”
Then many other Scripture passages have like teaching. Evidently not all blessings lie in the sunshine; many of them hide in the shadows. We do not read far in the Bible, especially in the New Testament, without finding that earthly prosperity is not the highest good that God has for us. Our Lord speaks very plainly about the perils of worldly success.
The Bible is indeed a book for the unsuccessful. Its sweetest messages are to those who have fallen. It is the book of love and sympathy. It is like a mother’s bosom to lay one’s head upon in the time of distress or pain. Its pages teem with cheer for those who are discouraged. It sets its lamps of hope to shine in darkened chambers. It reaches out its hands of help to the fainting and to those who have fallen. It is full of comfort for those who are in sorrow. It has its many special promises for the needy, the poor, and the bereft. It is a book for those who have failed, for the disappointed, the defeated, and the discouraged.
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