ord. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge
of the tongue; neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it
cometh. At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou
be afraid of the beasts of the earth. For thou shalt be in league with
the stones of the field; and the beasts of the field shall be at peace
with thee. And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in
peace."[483] That the land of Canaan was granted to the Israelites, not
merely by promise, but by a sovereign decree, is implied in the words,
"Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land
which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to
do all that I have commanded them."[484] Israel, fallen from the service
of the Lord, is thus addressed,--"And it shall be at that day, saith the
Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi (my husband), and shalt call me no
more Baali. For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth,
and they shall no more be remembered by their name." Protection, as
ordained in connection with their being taken into covenant with God, is
thus promised,--"And in that day will I make a covenant for them with
the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the
creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow, and the sword,
and the battle, out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.
And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto
me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in
mercies: I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness; and thou
shalt know the Lord." Support, too, as in like manner provided for
them--crying unto the Lord for the supply of their wants, is
promised,--"And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith
the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; and
the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall
hear Jezreel." And not merely reclaimed Israel, but the Gentiles, as by
sovereign ordination interested in all their outward and spiritual
blessings, are objects of the promise,--"And I will sow her unto me in
the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy;
and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and
they shall say, Thou art my God."[485]

Secondly. The covenant of God, as ordained by him, manifests that the
exercise of vowing unto him was also ordained. That was appointed. In