Mistaken Messengers

"She [Phinehas' wife] said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken" (1 Samuel 4:22).  "In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?" (Psalm 11:1).  "A faithful messenger… refresheth the soul" (Proverbs 25:13).  "She [Mary Magdalene] runneth, and… saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher… Then the same day at evening… came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you." (John 20:2,19).

It wasn't when the ark was taken

That Israel's glory had departed. 

Phinehas' wife was thus mistaken: 

It left when they became hardhearted. 

Mistaken messengers appear

As waters from a troubled fountain,

To tell us that we ought to fear

And flee as birds into our mountain. 

Among God's people we have seen

That some may draw the wrong conclusion,

As weeping Mary Magdalene

Thought Christ was taken, in confusion. 

We thank You, Lord, for perfect peace

Among Your own that You reported.

Mistaken messengers increase,

But still Your truth is undistorted.