Beauty for Ashes

Throughout the ages there is a people that dwell in darkness, that dwell in the land of the shadow of death. And so horrible is their position that the holy prophet characterizes their habitation as being a yoke of their burden, a staff of their shoulder and a rod of their oppressor. But, oh wonder of grace, away in the distance they saw a great light. That light was so unspeakably lovely and charming that they began to be joyful be­fore God's face as men rejoice when dividing the spoil. For...