At many times, in various ways, God spoke to us in former days; by dream and vision, sound and sight which spelled disaster or delight. So if the message carries weight its spokesman must be advocate; small wonder if the prophet's fears spill out in trembling and in tears. But faithfully he draws the scene in words, half-knowing what they mean; God's Spirit moves the heart to seek, the ears to hear, the voice to speak of figures human and divine revealed in symbol, shape and sign, and wonders hard to comprehend of earth's beginning and its end. And as we scan each living page let thoughts and prayers and praise engage with warning as with promises, for one great light outshines all these: though lions, kings and armies roar, God rules, and loves for evermore; let him be ours, and we his own, all land acclaim him Lord alone!