The Raven

It is a large bird, considerably larger than the crow; and its feathers are very black, very glossy,and very beautiful. People in ancient times seem to have liked a black color, and wereespecially pleased with black hair; so we read in the Song of Solomon, where one who isbeautiful is described, "His locks are bushy, and black as a raven."

It is said that the raven always attacks the eye of an animal first; seeming to prefer that to everyother part. This may explain one of the verses in Proverbs, "The eye that mocketh at his father,and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eaglesshall eat it." It has been the custom, in many countries, to hang those who have been guilty ofgreat crimes on a tree or on a gallows in the open air; and there to leave the body for the birds topeck at and devour if they chose. I suppose this verse means that stubborn and disobedientchildren, or those who are not kind and respectful to their parents, must expect to come to somesad end; and they very often do so.

I have heard that the raven drives out its young ones very early from the nest, almost before theyare able to seek their food. This may explain a verse in the Psalms, "The Lord giveth to the beasthis food, and to the young ravens which cry;" and another in Job, "Who provideth for the ravenhis food ? when his young ones cry unto God, wandering for lack of meat." Our Savior speaks ofthis bird in the 12th chapter of Luke, "Consider the ravens; for they neither sow nor reap; theyhave neither store-house nor barn; and God feedeth them." He was speaking to his disciples, andit was as much as to say, "If God takes care of the ravens, he will certainly take care of you; soyou need not be anxious or afraid.

Have you read in the Bible how a good prophet's life was once saved by ravens? The peoplewho were living then were very wicked, and would have been glad to kill the prophet Elijah; soGod told him to go into the wilderness and live there alone by the side of a small brook. Elijahwent to the brook, and there was water enough for him to drink, of course, but no food to keephim from starving. You may be sure that God did not forget his servant; but you would hardlybelieve, if it was not in the Bible, that he would send the ravens to carry food to him. Yet so itwas: "the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening;and he drank of the brook." It is supposed that he was fed in this way for as much as a year. Itwas a long time to stay there by himself; but I do not think he was lonely or afraid, for he lovedGod, and felt sure that He was always near him, even in the wilderness.

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