Article March 27, 1943 Issue

"I shall not be moved"

LYMAN S. ABBOTT

In a world filled with conflicting forces and opposing ideologies, mankind looks longingly in many directions searching for peace and harmony, for escape from the turmoil all about it. King David, who is credited with the authorship of many of the Psalms, voiced the sure road to tranquillity when he sang, "I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."

Chosen of God, and anointed by Samuel to succeed Saul as king over Israel, David, as a young man, served Saul faithfully. Jealous of David's popularity, Saul sought his servant's life, so that David was compelled to flee. Throughout his wilderness experience David clung steadfastly to his faith in God's goodness and power, and to his assurance of ultimate deliverance from those who sought to destroy him. Even when the opportunity came for him to slay his arch enemy, Saul, David restrained his followers from harming him, saying (I Samuel 26:9), "Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?"

True tranquillity, then, is to be found only in absolute trust in God, and this is acquired as the actual nature of God is perceived. And what is God's actual nature? Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, has answered this question for all time in a comprehensive definition of God in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 587), where she defines God as, "The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence." This definition is in consonance with the teachings of the prophets and apostles, who frequently refer to God as Love, Life, Soul, Spirit.

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