It is fabled of Antaeus, that every time Hercules threw him to the ground, he rose up the stronger; for he obtained new strength by touching his mother, the earth. So the christian: when assaulted and thrown down by the enemy, he falls into the Lord's everlasting arms, and gains fresh strength: he cannot be thrown down lower than God suffers; for "underneath are the everlasting arms." His word is full of grace, his arms almighty, his love everlasting. Here is the wisdom, here the glory of the Lord's people–to look from themselves, to go out of themselves for safety and salvation. For they rest upon God's word: they believe the Lord to be all that to them which he has said. This is living by faith; honoring the Lord's truth; glorifying the Saviour's name.
Why are we told, "Underneath are the everlasting arms?" Because we know and see ourselves deserving of hell, and liable to fall into the pit of destruction. Therefore the Lord would have our hearts strong in him, and in the power of his might, that we may not fear the face of any enemy, nor be dismayed under the sense of our own vileness and insufficiency to stand.
Drooping believer! Why dost thou hang down thy head? Why those distressing doubts and fears? Look back to the everlasting covenant: there everlasting love presided. Then wast thou viewed, and thy case provided for. Look up; there sits a God of love on a throne of grace; there stands thy blessed advocate, Jesus, ever pleading thy cause. Look underneath, there are the everlasting arms to sustain and support thee. What power then shall prevail against thee? Neither sin, death, nor hell can snatch thee out of the everlasting arms of thy almighty God, thy reconciled Father: out of the arms of thy gracious Redeemer: out of the powerful arms of the Holy Ghost, thy sanctifier. In the everlasting arms is everlasting safety. Here is a covenant declaration. Exercise upon it the covenant grace of faith. "The eternal God is thy refuge:" flee to him in distress. His everlasting arms are underneath: rejoice in thy safety. He will thrust out every enemy before thee, and speak destruction to them. Happy art thou, O believer! Who is like unto thee, saved by thy Lord?