February 1
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. . . . God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able."
1 Corinthians 10:12,13
What we have to do, whether to Christians, to backsliders, or to sinners, is to maintain the attitude of God towards each of these classes.
He never gives up one of His own, nor diminishes His love, though He does change His manner. As someone has said, we do not cease to love, but we do not caress a naughty child.
The perfection of the christian life is absolute trust in God. All roads lead to this, and the one who reaches it in any measure will never be confounded.
Waiting before the Lord is the sure means of qualification for obedience to His bidding. The fear of God can lift the feeblest and humblest above the fear of man.
Sympathy is the rarest of all ministries, as it is also the sweetest; it makes no show in the world, but it leaves its mark. In praying for the sick I once heard a brother use this expression: "May those who are too weak to pray be able to lean."
Until the soul is at peace and in liberty divine things cannot be communicated. We get rest by a revelation of the Father's love through Christ. . . . There is no pillow like love, and we have the Lord's perfect love to rest upon. E. Dennett
N.J.Hiebert - 9110
What we have to do, whether to Christians, to backsliders, or to sinners, is to maintain the attitude of God towards each of these classes.
He never gives up one of His own, nor diminishes His love, though He does change His manner. As someone has said, we do not cease to love, but we do not caress a naughty child.
The perfection of the christian life is absolute trust in God. All roads lead to this, and the one who reaches it in any measure will never be confounded.
Waiting before the Lord is the sure means of qualification for obedience to His bidding. The fear of God can lift the feeblest and humblest above the fear of man.
Sympathy is the rarest of all ministries, as it is also the sweetest; it makes no show in the world, but it leaves its mark. In praying for the sick I once heard a brother use this expression: "May those who are too weak to pray be able to lean."
Until the soul is at peace and in liberty divine things cannot be communicated. We get rest by a revelation of the Father's love through Christ. . . . There is no pillow like love, and we have the Lord's perfect love to rest upon. E. Dennett
N.J.Hiebert - 9110
February 2
Upon the first day of the week let everyone of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him. 1 Corinthians 16:2
Have you ever wondered why the Lord chose the first day of the week for us to lay aside something? Was it for convenience's sake? Was it because then we could just remember how our income was during the past week and give in relation to that?
The first day of the week, Sunday, or the Lord's Day, is the day when the Lord rose from the dead. The disciples were together that day and the Lord revealed Himself to them. A week later, again on the first day of the week, the disciples being together, again the Lord revealed Himself to them.
It became the practise that the believers met together on the first day of the week, and on that day they remembered the Lord in partaking of the bread and wine in memory of their Lord, and we continue this still today.
As we take the bread and eat of it, we remember the death of the Lord on the cross, His body given as a sacrifice; and as we drink from the cup, we remember that God's holiness and righteousness have been satisfied in the matter of sin because the Lord shed His blood, gave His life, and died in our place.
We remember, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
As we reflect on His riches and HIs poverty and His great sacrifice, should this not affect our hearts in relation to what we give Him in our offering every first day of the week? Considering Him, our giving will not be a mechanical percentage, it will not be an obligatory custom of putting some money in the collection, but it will be an offering of gratitude, a sweet-smelling savour to God, an act of worship. A. Blok.
N.J.Hiebert - 9111
Have you ever wondered why the Lord chose the first day of the week for us to lay aside something? Was it for convenience's sake? Was it because then we could just remember how our income was during the past week and give in relation to that?
The first day of the week, Sunday, or the Lord's Day, is the day when the Lord rose from the dead. The disciples were together that day and the Lord revealed Himself to them. A week later, again on the first day of the week, the disciples being together, again the Lord revealed Himself to them.
It became the practise that the believers met together on the first day of the week, and on that day they remembered the Lord in partaking of the bread and wine in memory of their Lord, and we continue this still today.
As we take the bread and eat of it, we remember the death of the Lord on the cross, His body given as a sacrifice; and as we drink from the cup, we remember that God's holiness and righteousness have been satisfied in the matter of sin because the Lord shed His blood, gave His life, and died in our place.
We remember, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
As we reflect on His riches and HIs poverty and His great sacrifice, should this not affect our hearts in relation to what we give Him in our offering every first day of the week? Considering Him, our giving will not be a mechanical percentage, it will not be an obligatory custom of putting some money in the collection, but it will be an offering of gratitude, a sweet-smelling savour to God, an act of worship. A. Blok.
N.J.Hiebert - 9111
February 3
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matthew 24:35
Bibles are more plentiful today than they ever have been. The words of the Lord Jesus are better known and loved by a greater multitude today than ever before in the history of the world. The Gospels have been handed down by the noblest of earth, through rivers of blood, at the cost of liberty and life, in the history of every nation in Christendom.
Christians have fought by weakness, enemies as diverse as Herod, Pontius Pilate, and the people of Israel, and have always been victorious. The enemy, the devil, in one age, has prepared his weapons in the monasteries of superstition; in another he has conducted his warfare from the colleges of infidelity; but whether Greek or Jew, ignorant or intellectual, every weapon has failed.
Passed away! What has passed away? The kings of earth have passed away. The cruelty of the Inquisition and the scoffings of Voltaire have passed away. Whatever opposition may arise to God and His Word shall surely pass away: for the Son of Man who was the Son of God, said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."
Let the ages answer. Let history come with the officers to the seat of power and learning. With one voice all will say, "Never man spake like this Man." (John 7:46). The Words of the Lord Jesus were often promises as well as declarations. They were promises that could be tested; promises that have been tested, thousands and thousands of times. Whoever found fault with Matthew 11:28? "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." A Plant of Renown - Leonard Sheldrake
N.J.Hiebert - 9112
Bibles are more plentiful today than they ever have been. The words of the Lord Jesus are better known and loved by a greater multitude today than ever before in the history of the world. The Gospels have been handed down by the noblest of earth, through rivers of blood, at the cost of liberty and life, in the history of every nation in Christendom.
Christians have fought by weakness, enemies as diverse as Herod, Pontius Pilate, and the people of Israel, and have always been victorious. The enemy, the devil, in one age, has prepared his weapons in the monasteries of superstition; in another he has conducted his warfare from the colleges of infidelity; but whether Greek or Jew, ignorant or intellectual, every weapon has failed.
Passed away! What has passed away? The kings of earth have passed away. The cruelty of the Inquisition and the scoffings of Voltaire have passed away. Whatever opposition may arise to God and His Word shall surely pass away: for the Son of Man who was the Son of God, said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."
Let the ages answer. Let history come with the officers to the seat of power and learning. With one voice all will say, "Never man spake like this Man." (John 7:46). The Words of the Lord Jesus were often promises as well as declarations. They were promises that could be tested; promises that have been tested, thousands and thousands of times. Whoever found fault with Matthew 11:28? "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." A Plant of Renown - Leonard Sheldrake
N.J.Hiebert - 9112
February 4
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him . . . but the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? and we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this Man hath done nothing amiss. Luke 23:39-41
What genuine repentance is there manifested! The repentant malefactor took God's part against himself. To the other malefactor he said, "you are a dying man, and I too, and we are justly punished". The man who is divinely converted always condemns himself. "We indeed justly" is the language of real repentance.
When we are not right ourselves we never employ "we." We can then use the word "you." This man, divinely taught, says, "We indeed justly;" and then, conscious of the glory of the One who hung by his side, sinless but suffering, adds, "but this Man hath done nothing amiss." It was a very striking confession. The world head it, God head it, Satan heard it.
Do you think he was a fool or a wise man? He was a wise man; and any man who is not his companion is a fool. You say, that is bold. It is true; it is right. That man was right, and every man, who is unbelieving, is wrong.
That repentant thief accepts the judgment of God upon him, condemns himself, and clears the character of Christ, when all had condemned Him. His life had been a sinful one, and he owns it, saying, I have sinned, and I am getting what I deserve; and then boldly confesses his faith in Jesus.
"This man hath done nothing amiss," is his triumphant allegation. Thank God for the bold, true, glorious confession of that dying malefactor on the cross beside Jesus. Seekers for Light - W.T. P. Wolston, M.D.
N.J.Hiebert - 9113
What genuine repentance is there manifested! The repentant malefactor took God's part against himself. To the other malefactor he said, "you are a dying man, and I too, and we are justly punished". The man who is divinely converted always condemns himself. "We indeed justly" is the language of real repentance.
When we are not right ourselves we never employ "we." We can then use the word "you." This man, divinely taught, says, "We indeed justly;" and then, conscious of the glory of the One who hung by his side, sinless but suffering, adds, "but this Man hath done nothing amiss." It was a very striking confession. The world head it, God head it, Satan heard it.
Do you think he was a fool or a wise man? He was a wise man; and any man who is not his companion is a fool. You say, that is bold. It is true; it is right. That man was right, and every man, who is unbelieving, is wrong.
That repentant thief accepts the judgment of God upon him, condemns himself, and clears the character of Christ, when all had condemned Him. His life had been a sinful one, and he owns it, saying, I have sinned, and I am getting what I deserve; and then boldly confesses his faith in Jesus.
"This man hath done nothing amiss," is his triumphant allegation. Thank God for the bold, true, glorious confession of that dying malefactor on the cross beside Jesus. Seekers for Light - W.T. P. Wolston, M.D.
N.J.Hiebert - 9113
February 5
Whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Daniel 6:7
The word of God gave Daniel plain directions for the circumstances in which he found himself. Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple anticipated his difficulties (1 Kings 8:47-49). . . In faith in God, Daniel acted according to the word of God. He refused to make any compromise.
The carnal mind might suggest, "Why not close the window and pray in secret?" Refusing any such compromise, he prayed with his window open. But if he must pray with his window open, why select a front room facing towards the street?
Without hesitation, he prayed in his room toward Jerusalem. But if he must pray with an open window toward Jerusalem, why need he go down on his knees? Could he not assume some other position that would not call attention to the fact that he was praying? No, Daniel would not give up the right attitude toward God; he knelt down.
If then he was so strict that he must pray with his windows open, looking toward Jerusalem and kneeling upon his knees, what need was there for doing it three times a day? Surely he could pray early in the morning before anyone was abroad, or late in the evening after everyone had retired? Indeed, could he not for these thirty days give up praying by day and pray by night instead? God can see and hear in the dark.
No such suggestions influence Daniel; he prays three times, and in the day. And though he is in captivity, and surrounded by those who are plotting for his life, he finds occasion to give thanks as well as to pray.
Moreover, he prays and gives thanks "before his God." Men may see him praying, but it is before God, not men, that he prays. This was no new thing with Daniel. Hamilton Smith
N.J.Hiebert - 9114
The word of God gave Daniel plain directions for the circumstances in which he found himself. Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple anticipated his difficulties (1 Kings 8:47-49). . . In faith in God, Daniel acted according to the word of God. He refused to make any compromise.
The carnal mind might suggest, "Why not close the window and pray in secret?" Refusing any such compromise, he prayed with his window open. But if he must pray with his window open, why select a front room facing towards the street?
Without hesitation, he prayed in his room toward Jerusalem. But if he must pray with an open window toward Jerusalem, why need he go down on his knees? Could he not assume some other position that would not call attention to the fact that he was praying? No, Daniel would not give up the right attitude toward God; he knelt down.
If then he was so strict that he must pray with his windows open, looking toward Jerusalem and kneeling upon his knees, what need was there for doing it three times a day? Surely he could pray early in the morning before anyone was abroad, or late in the evening after everyone had retired? Indeed, could he not for these thirty days give up praying by day and pray by night instead? God can see and hear in the dark.
No such suggestions influence Daniel; he prays three times, and in the day. And though he is in captivity, and surrounded by those who are plotting for his life, he finds occasion to give thanks as well as to pray.
Moreover, he prays and gives thanks "before his God." Men may see him praying, but it is before God, not men, that he prays. This was no new thing with Daniel. Hamilton Smith
N.J.Hiebert - 9114
February 6
I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1
Waiting is much more difficult than walking. Waiting requires patience, and patience is a rare virtue. It is fine to know that God builds hedges around His people--when the hedge is looked at from the viewpoint of protection.
But when the hedge is kept around one until it grows so high that he cannot see over the top, and wonders whether he is ever to get out of the little sphere of influence and service in which he is pent up, it is hard for him sometimes to understand why he may not have a larger environment--hard for him to "brighten the corner" where he is.
But God has a purpose in all HIS holdups. "The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord." (Psalm 37:23). On the margin of his Bible at this verse George Mueller had a notation, "And the stops also." It is a sad mistake for men to break through God's hedges. It is a vital principle of guidance for a Christian never to move out of the place in which he is sure God has placed him, until the "Pillar of Cloud" moves (Exodus 13:21).
When we learn to wait for our Lord's lead in everything, we shall know the strength that finds its climax in an even, steady walk. Many of us are lacking in the strength we so covet. God gives full power for every task He appoints. Waiting, holding oneself true to His lead--this is the secret of strength. And anything that falls out of the line of obedience is a waste of time and strength. Watch for His leading.
Must life be a failure for one compelled to stand still in enforced inaction. No; Victory is then to be gotten by standing still, by quiet waiting. It requires a grander heroism to stand and wait and not lose heart and hope, to submit to God's will, to be quiet, confident rejoicing. "having done all, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13) J. R. Miller
N.J.Hiebert - 9115
Waiting is much more difficult than walking. Waiting requires patience, and patience is a rare virtue. It is fine to know that God builds hedges around His people--when the hedge is looked at from the viewpoint of protection.
But when the hedge is kept around one until it grows so high that he cannot see over the top, and wonders whether he is ever to get out of the little sphere of influence and service in which he is pent up, it is hard for him sometimes to understand why he may not have a larger environment--hard for him to "brighten the corner" where he is.
But God has a purpose in all HIS holdups. "The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord." (Psalm 37:23). On the margin of his Bible at this verse George Mueller had a notation, "And the stops also." It is a sad mistake for men to break through God's hedges. It is a vital principle of guidance for a Christian never to move out of the place in which he is sure God has placed him, until the "Pillar of Cloud" moves (Exodus 13:21).
When we learn to wait for our Lord's lead in everything, we shall know the strength that finds its climax in an even, steady walk. Many of us are lacking in the strength we so covet. God gives full power for every task He appoints. Waiting, holding oneself true to His lead--this is the secret of strength. And anything that falls out of the line of obedience is a waste of time and strength. Watch for His leading.
Must life be a failure for one compelled to stand still in enforced inaction. No; Victory is then to be gotten by standing still, by quiet waiting. It requires a grander heroism to stand and wait and not lose heart and hope, to submit to God's will, to be quiet, confident rejoicing. "having done all, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13) J. R. Miller
N.J.Hiebert - 9115
February 7
HAVE YOU A RESERVATION?
I go to prepare a pace for you. John 14:2
An inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:4
How good it is when the weary traveler can walk up to the hotel desk and find a room ready and waiting, while others may ask in vain--and all because his name is on the book; he made a reservation.
We cannot walk up to the gate of heaven after death and obtain a dwelling-place merely by asking for it. Our abiding place up there is secured in advance while we are down here. Our Saviour has gone to prepare a place, but there are places only for those who make reservations. Is you name in the book?
Many will come in that day and make various claims, but He will say, "I never knew you: depart from Me." (Matthew 7:23) The dying thief made a reservation: "Remember me." (Luke 23:42) Reservations are made, not on the basis of our merit, but on His merit and our simple faith in Him.
Have you a reservation? Day by Day by Vance Havner
O what will you do with Jesus? the call comes low and clear;
The solemn words are sounding in every listening ear;
Immortal life's in the question, and joy through eternity:
Then what will you do with Jesus? O, What will the answer be?
Nathaniel Norton
N.J.Hiebert - 9116
I go to prepare a pace for you. John 14:2
An inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:4
How good it is when the weary traveler can walk up to the hotel desk and find a room ready and waiting, while others may ask in vain--and all because his name is on the book; he made a reservation.
We cannot walk up to the gate of heaven after death and obtain a dwelling-place merely by asking for it. Our abiding place up there is secured in advance while we are down here. Our Saviour has gone to prepare a place, but there are places only for those who make reservations. Is you name in the book?
Many will come in that day and make various claims, but He will say, "I never knew you: depart from Me." (Matthew 7:23) The dying thief made a reservation: "Remember me." (Luke 23:42) Reservations are made, not on the basis of our merit, but on His merit and our simple faith in Him.
Have you a reservation? Day by Day by Vance Havner
O what will you do with Jesus? the call comes low and clear;
The solemn words are sounding in every listening ear;
Immortal life's in the question, and joy through eternity:
Then what will you do with Jesus? O, What will the answer be?
Nathaniel Norton
N.J.Hiebert - 9116
February 8
YOU COULD BE MISTAKEN
Man's goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way? Proverbs 20:24
Even this difficulty he meets, for "He declareth unto man what is His thought." (Amos 4:13) But are you willing to let Him do this? He may show you that those who have, as you suppose, misunderstood you, may have guessed right after all.
He may show you that your desire was not so honest, your motives not so single as you fancied; that there was self-will where you only recognized resolution, sin where you only recognized infirmity or mistake.
Let Him search, let Him declare it unto you. For then He will declare another message to you: "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)
Then, when all is clear between Him and you, "nothing between" (and let that "when" be "now"), how sweet you will find it in the light of His forgiveness, and the new strength of His cleansing, to look up and say, "Thou understandest!" and wait patiently for Him to let you be understood or misunderstood, just as He will, even as Jesus did. For who was ever so misunderstood as He? Opened Tresures - Frances Ridley Havergal
Nothing between my soul and my Saviour,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favour,
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between. Kaleb Brasee
N.J.Hiebert - 9117
Man's goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way? Proverbs 20:24
Even this difficulty he meets, for "He declareth unto man what is His thought." (Amos 4:13) But are you willing to let Him do this? He may show you that those who have, as you suppose, misunderstood you, may have guessed right after all.
He may show you that your desire was not so honest, your motives not so single as you fancied; that there was self-will where you only recognized resolution, sin where you only recognized infirmity or mistake.
Let Him search, let Him declare it unto you. For then He will declare another message to you: "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)
Then, when all is clear between Him and you, "nothing between" (and let that "when" be "now"), how sweet you will find it in the light of His forgiveness, and the new strength of His cleansing, to look up and say, "Thou understandest!" and wait patiently for Him to let you be understood or misunderstood, just as He will, even as Jesus did. For who was ever so misunderstood as He? Opened Tresures - Frances Ridley Havergal
Nothing between my soul and my Saviour,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favour,
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between. Kaleb Brasee
N.J.Hiebert - 9117
February 9
REMEMBER ME
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him. Genesis 40:23
The chief butler forgot to remember Joseph's request! Perhaps, with his new lease on life, he was simply taken up with his blessings. When Pharaoh's dream jogged his memory, he came forward and spoke of Joseph as "a young man, an Hebrew, servant," (41:12). Don't we see veiled in these words a beautiful picture of our Lord?
There is nothing that we can tell the Father about the Lord Jesus that He does not already know; and yet the Father delights to hear us speak well of Him! Sometimes, we too, need a gentle reminder to refocus our gaze away from our temporal blessings to the Lord Himself.
Israel was warned: "And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee" and "Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God." Deuteronomy 8:2,11).
In Paul's last letter to Timothy, he reminded him to "remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel (2 Timothy 2:8). Paul wanted him to be occupied with the greatness and glory of the One who was raised. How uplifting to our spirits in the midst of trial and suffering to know that we serve a living, victorious, Saviour!
On the night of His betrayal the Lord Jesus gathered His disciples, and with bread and wine instituted a new supper. The bread, He explained, was to represent His body, and the wine, His blood. He said to them, "this do in remembrance of Me." (Luke 22:19). When this is done out of genuine love and affection for the Lord Jesus, the very atmosphere and tone of the occasion is one of joy, and an abundant outflow of worship. Let us remember Him! Richard A. Barnett
N.J.Hiebert - 9118
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him. Genesis 40:23
The chief butler forgot to remember Joseph's request! Perhaps, with his new lease on life, he was simply taken up with his blessings. When Pharaoh's dream jogged his memory, he came forward and spoke of Joseph as "a young man, an Hebrew, servant," (41:12). Don't we see veiled in these words a beautiful picture of our Lord?
There is nothing that we can tell the Father about the Lord Jesus that He does not already know; and yet the Father delights to hear us speak well of Him! Sometimes, we too, need a gentle reminder to refocus our gaze away from our temporal blessings to the Lord Himself.
Israel was warned: "And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee" and "Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God." Deuteronomy 8:2,11).
In Paul's last letter to Timothy, he reminded him to "remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel (2 Timothy 2:8). Paul wanted him to be occupied with the greatness and glory of the One who was raised. How uplifting to our spirits in the midst of trial and suffering to know that we serve a living, victorious, Saviour!
On the night of His betrayal the Lord Jesus gathered His disciples, and with bread and wine instituted a new supper. The bread, He explained, was to represent His body, and the wine, His blood. He said to them, "this do in remembrance of Me." (Luke 22:19). When this is done out of genuine love and affection for the Lord Jesus, the very atmosphere and tone of the occasion is one of joy, and an abundant outflow of worship. Let us remember Him! Richard A. Barnett
N.J.Hiebert - 9118
February 10
Saul lay sleeping within the trench and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster...and the people lay round about him...David said...as the Lord liveth,...the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die...The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed.
(1 Samuel 26:7,10)
The deep sleep that God had caused to fall on Saul and on all the camp might have given birth to the thought of taking advantage of such a moment. This was not so. God had sent this sleep to preserve His beloved and not to give him an occasion to avenge himself. God would save him in view of the work of grace He would call Him to accomplish toward Saul.
Grace is reserved for David; judgment is reserved for the Lord. But David takes a token, as he had taken one in the cave. The spear and the cruse of water are two witnesses by which the events that had taken place are confirmed. The weapon that Saul had sought to use against David more than once is now found in David's hand.
Would he use it against the Lord's anointed as he had once used Goliath's sword against this enemy of Israel? In no way. It is enough for David to take away from Saul that which he had used in his effort to harm David, to show the king that he was well aware of his weapons and that they were powerless against him.
Now David goes far away from sleeping Saul and puts "a great space ... between them" (v. 13). To have acted otherwise would have been blind confidence in man. Sometimes the world must see the distance that separates it from the children of God. If they do not distance themselves from the world they often support it in its illusion as to its condition. (1 Samuel - H. L. Rossier)
NJ.Hiebert - 9119
(1 Samuel 26:7,10)
The deep sleep that God had caused to fall on Saul and on all the camp might have given birth to the thought of taking advantage of such a moment. This was not so. God had sent this sleep to preserve His beloved and not to give him an occasion to avenge himself. God would save him in view of the work of grace He would call Him to accomplish toward Saul.
Grace is reserved for David; judgment is reserved for the Lord. But David takes a token, as he had taken one in the cave. The spear and the cruse of water are two witnesses by which the events that had taken place are confirmed. The weapon that Saul had sought to use against David more than once is now found in David's hand.
Would he use it against the Lord's anointed as he had once used Goliath's sword against this enemy of Israel? In no way. It is enough for David to take away from Saul that which he had used in his effort to harm David, to show the king that he was well aware of his weapons and that they were powerless against him.
Now David goes far away from sleeping Saul and puts "a great space ... between them" (v. 13). To have acted otherwise would have been blind confidence in man. Sometimes the world must see the distance that separates it from the children of God. If they do not distance themselves from the world they often support it in its illusion as to its condition. (1 Samuel - H. L. Rossier)
NJ.Hiebert - 9119
February 11
I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick. Ezekiel 34:16
Perhaps when we read those words our hearts are sad over some who do not seem to want to be brought back, and bound up and strengthened.
It helps, if we remember that this is first and foremost His sorrow. Our feeling it, too, means that we do not leave Him to sorrow alone, as He was left to pray alone in the garden of Gethsemane.
So let us not give up hope, for He never does. Even if we have prayed for someone for many years without seeing any result, let us continue steadfastly. We know that the Good Shepherd goes on seeking His lost sheep until He finds. Whispers of His Power - Amy Carmichael
Down in the human heart, Crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that are broken will vibrate once more.
CHORUS
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.
Fanny Crosby
N.J.Hiebert - 9120
Perhaps when we read those words our hearts are sad over some who do not seem to want to be brought back, and bound up and strengthened.
It helps, if we remember that this is first and foremost His sorrow. Our feeling it, too, means that we do not leave Him to sorrow alone, as He was left to pray alone in the garden of Gethsemane.
So let us not give up hope, for He never does. Even if we have prayed for someone for many years without seeing any result, let us continue steadfastly. We know that the Good Shepherd goes on seeking His lost sheep until He finds. Whispers of His Power - Amy Carmichael
Down in the human heart, Crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that are broken will vibrate once more.
CHORUS
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.
Fanny Crosby
N.J.Hiebert - 9120
February 12
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