Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:5-7)
However, God graciously overrules our folly and weakness, and while we are called upon to reap the fruits of our unbelieving and impatient ways, He takes occasion from them to teach our hearts still deeper lessons of His own tender grace and perfect wisdom.
This, while it assuredly affords no warrant whatever for unbelief and impatience, does most wonderfully exhibit the goodness of our God, and comfort the heart even while we may be passing through the painful circumstances consequent upon our failure.
God is above all; and, moreover, it is His special prerogative to bring good out of evil,--to make the eater yield meat, and the strong yield sweetness; (Judges 14:14) and hence, while it is quite true that Jacob was compelled to be an exile from his father's roof in consequence of his own restless and deceitful acting, it is equally true that he never could have learned the meaning of "Bethel" (House of God) (Genesis 28:16-19), had he been quietly at home.
Thus the two sides of the picture are strongly marked in every scene of Jacob's history. It was when he was driven, by his own folly, from Isaac's house, that he was led to taste, in some measure, the blessedness and solemnity of "God's house." Notes - Genesis - C. H. Mackintosh
However, God graciously overrules our folly and weakness, and while we are called upon to reap the fruits of our unbelieving and impatient ways, He takes occasion from them to teach our hearts still deeper lessons of His own tender grace and perfect wisdom.
This, while it assuredly affords no warrant whatever for unbelief and impatience, does most wonderfully exhibit the goodness of our God, and comfort the heart even while we may be passing through the painful circumstances consequent upon our failure.
God is above all; and, moreover, it is His special prerogative to bring good out of evil,--to make the eater yield meat, and the strong yield sweetness; (Judges 14:14) and hence, while it is quite true that Jacob was compelled to be an exile from his father's roof in consequence of his own restless and deceitful acting, it is equally true that he never could have learned the meaning of "Bethel" (House of God) (Genesis 28:16-19), had he been quietly at home.
Thus the two sides of the picture are strongly marked in every scene of Jacob's history. It was when he was driven, by his own folly, from Isaac's house, that he was led to taste, in some measure, the blessedness and solemnity of "God's house." Notes - Genesis - C. H. Mackintosh
N.J.Hiebert - 9207
May 10
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6
Many Christians live in a state of unbroken anxiety, and others fret and fume terribly. To be perfectly at peace amid the confusion and turbulence of daily life is a secret worth knowing. What is the use of worrying? It never made anybody strong; never helped anybody to do God's will; never made a way of escape for anyone out of perplexity.
Worry spoils lives which would otherwise be useful and beautiful. Restlessness, anxiety, and care are absolutely forbidden by our Lord, who said: "Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (Matthew 6:31)
He does not mean that we are not to take forethought and that our life is to be without plan or method; but that we are not to worry about these things. People know you live in the realm of anxious care by the lines on you face, the tones of your voice, the minor key in your life, and the lack of joy in your spirit.
Scale the heights of a life abandoned to God, then you will look down on the clouds beneath your feet. Darlow Sargent
N.J.Hiebert - 9208
Many Christians live in a state of unbroken anxiety, and others fret and fume terribly. To be perfectly at peace amid the confusion and turbulence of daily life is a secret worth knowing. What is the use of worrying? It never made anybody strong; never helped anybody to do God's will; never made a way of escape for anyone out of perplexity.
Worry spoils lives which would otherwise be useful and beautiful. Restlessness, anxiety, and care are absolutely forbidden by our Lord, who said: "Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (Matthew 6:31)
He does not mean that we are not to take forethought and that our life is to be without plan or method; but that we are not to worry about these things. People know you live in the realm of anxious care by the lines on you face, the tones of your voice, the minor key in your life, and the lack of joy in your spirit.
Scale the heights of a life abandoned to God, then you will look down on the clouds beneath your feet. Darlow Sargent
N.J.Hiebert - 9208
May 11
My Lord and my God. John 20:28
These word were recorded after Thomas realized he was actually seeing the Lord Jesus in resurrection. The Lord had just pointed out the marks of the wounds He received on the cross. Thomas spoke out in awe, in humility and in worship.
My Lord - Two words that dramatize the relationship between the believer and the Lord, based on all He accomplished in dying. It encompasses the love we have towards Him in response to His towards us. It takes in our standing before God on the basis of the shed blood. It recognizes His role as our Good Shepherd. And it includes the promise of eternal life in the Father's home, with the Lord.
My God - here we have our appreciation of our intimacy with Jesus Christ as one Person of the Holy Trinity; become a man so that He could die as the perfect sacrifice for sin and sins. It expresses the glory He had from a past eternity, as well as His acquired glory as the sin-bearer. It alludes to the removal of distance between sinners and God, our Father.
Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed (John 20:29). Thomas' natural reasoning process kicked in. He doubted the Lord's bodily resurrection could be possible. We often do the same; letting our natural minds question the clear statements of scripture. We may not actively doubt, but our thoughts and actions will betray us. In order to be saved, we had to come to the realization that the Lord was a real Saviour, that our sins formed the barrier, and we needed to simply "Trust and Obey". And all that without actually seeing the Lord with our natural eyes. So why not just continue that pattern; nothing about the Lord has changed or ever will."Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. (Heb. 13:8)
Believing is a continuous process, needing to be renewed every morning. The scriptures reinforce the strong beliefs that date from the day of our salvation; continuing to grow, enlarge and mature in us as we read and think about them. Another valuable assist is our regular entry into the presence of the Lord, especially when we meet together with others of like precious faith to remember Him in the circumstances of His death, as He has asked us to do. Each time, we leave fortified for the week ahead. Each such occasion draws from our heart and lips thanksgiving and praise; well summed up in the expression, My Lord and my God. Lorne Perry
N.J.Hiebert - 9209
These word were recorded after Thomas realized he was actually seeing the Lord Jesus in resurrection. The Lord had just pointed out the marks of the wounds He received on the cross. Thomas spoke out in awe, in humility and in worship.
My Lord - Two words that dramatize the relationship between the believer and the Lord, based on all He accomplished in dying. It encompasses the love we have towards Him in response to His towards us. It takes in our standing before God on the basis of the shed blood. It recognizes His role as our Good Shepherd. And it includes the promise of eternal life in the Father's home, with the Lord.
My God - here we have our appreciation of our intimacy with Jesus Christ as one Person of the Holy Trinity; become a man so that He could die as the perfect sacrifice for sin and sins. It expresses the glory He had from a past eternity, as well as His acquired glory as the sin-bearer. It alludes to the removal of distance between sinners and God, our Father.
Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed (John 20:29). Thomas' natural reasoning process kicked in. He doubted the Lord's bodily resurrection could be possible. We often do the same; letting our natural minds question the clear statements of scripture. We may not actively doubt, but our thoughts and actions will betray us. In order to be saved, we had to come to the realization that the Lord was a real Saviour, that our sins formed the barrier, and we needed to simply "Trust and Obey". And all that without actually seeing the Lord with our natural eyes. So why not just continue that pattern; nothing about the Lord has changed or ever will."Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. (Heb. 13:8)
Believing is a continuous process, needing to be renewed every morning. The scriptures reinforce the strong beliefs that date from the day of our salvation; continuing to grow, enlarge and mature in us as we read and think about them. Another valuable assist is our regular entry into the presence of the Lord, especially when we meet together with others of like precious faith to remember Him in the circumstances of His death, as He has asked us to do. Each time, we leave fortified for the week ahead. Each such occasion draws from our heart and lips thanksgiving and praise; well summed up in the expression, My Lord and my God. Lorne Perry
N.J.Hiebert - 9209
May 12
They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Luke 5:31-32
Today there is a growing concern over sickness and diseases caused by pollution, stress, and life-styes. Also, older physicians are retiring from their practices, in part, because of the high cost of malpractice insurance. In our verses, the Lord emphasized His role in healing illness that is spiritual, not physical, that is, "sin-sickness."
However, very few people like to acknowledge their condition as sinners and so they neglect to seek a remedy. That was true in Jeremiah's day when he lamented, "is there no balm...no physician?" (Jeremiah 8:22) When people do seek a remedy, they may chose an ineffective one--Egypt was told "in vain shalt thou use many medicines;" (Jeremiah 46:11).
People are choosing an ineffective remedy when they choose good works as a remedy--nothing we can do will ever cure the result of even one of our many sins (Isaiah 64:6). To be effective in treating our physical maladies, our treating physician must not only diagnose our malady correctly but must also prescribe the proper remedy. The same is true of spiritual illness.
Our Lord Jesus is pictured as the Great Physician. And what a physician he was! The remedy which this great Physician offers for your sin-sickness flowed from His pierced side--"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin". (1 John 1:7) . The good news is that belief in what this symbolizes cures sin-sickness: "For it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes." (Romans 1:16).
Christ was given so that "Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:15). But, to be cured we have to come to Him! "And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." (John 5:40). L. L. Winters
N.J.Hiebert - 9210
May 13
These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33.
Once when Charles Garrett was preaching to a large congregation about the mysterious troubles that often come to the Christian man or woman, he was saying that we are not exempt from trouble; "whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth." (Hebrews 12:6) and some converted men had more trouble after their conversion than before.
He had know Christian men who were steeped in trouble--surrounded by it; trouble to the right, trouble to the left, trouble in front, trouble behind. Then an old man in the gallery, who had served God for seventy years, shouted, "Glory be to God, it's always open at the top."
I love the knowledge that has come through sorrows and trials and pardoned sins; of a love that has never wearied towards me, and is fresher than the freshest dew of youth, and mellower than the ripest tenderness of age. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us." (1John 4:10) Angels in White - Russell Elliott
N.J.Hiebert - 9211
Once when Charles Garrett was preaching to a large congregation about the mysterious troubles that often come to the Christian man or woman, he was saying that we are not exempt from trouble; "whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth." (Hebrews 12:6) and some converted men had more trouble after their conversion than before.
He had know Christian men who were steeped in trouble--surrounded by it; trouble to the right, trouble to the left, trouble in front, trouble behind. Then an old man in the gallery, who had served God for seventy years, shouted, "Glory be to God, it's always open at the top."
I love the knowledge that has come through sorrows and trials and pardoned sins; of a love that has never wearied towards me, and is fresher than the freshest dew of youth, and mellower than the ripest tenderness of age. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us." (1John 4:10) Angels in White - Russell Elliott
N.J.Hiebert - 9211
May 14
ALL YOUR ANXIETY
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7.
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7.
Upon the Lord your burden cast, to Him bring all your care;
He will sustain and hold you fast, and give thee strength to bear.
Worry, anxiety, and depression have been the subject of many discourses. The reason of course, is that these conditions are so common to everyone. Many descriptions of these times have been given:
- Worry is nothing more than borrowed trouble.
- Worry is unbelief in disguise.
- Worry does not relieve tomorrow of its stress--it merely empties today of its strength. (Unknown)
- The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. George Müller
Is there a heart o'er-bound by sorrow? Is there a life weighed down by care?
Come to the cross-each burden bearing, all your anxiety-leave it there.
No other friend so keen to help you; no other friend so quick to hear;
No other place to leave your burden; no other one to hear your prayer.
Come then at once-delay no longer! Heed His entreaty kind and sweet;
You need not fear a disappointment-You shall find peace at the mercy seat.
Come to the cross-each burden bearing, all your anxiety-leave it there.
No other friend so keen to help you; no other friend so quick to hear;
No other place to leave your burden; no other one to hear your prayer.
Come then at once-delay no longer! Heed His entreaty kind and sweet;
You need not fear a disappointment-You shall find peace at the mercy seat.
Chorus: All your anxiety, all your care, bring to the mercy seat-leave it there; never a burden He cannot bear, never a friend like Jesus!
Edward Henry Joy, 1871-1941
N.J.Hiebert - 9212
May 15
But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
You have perhaps heard the story of the child who was keeping the best meat on his plate for his little dog. His mother asked him rather sharply, "Johnnie, why don't you eat up your dinner?" "I'm keeping it for Fido, mummie."
"Nonsense, eat your dinner at once, and you can collect the scraps on the plates after dinner for Fido."
The child did as he was told, and with tears running down his cheeks, he was heard to say, "Fido dear, I wanted to give you a sacrifice, but its only a collection."
A sacrifice costs something, often a collection costs next to nothing. Johnnie's sacrifice to Fido would have been 'a sacrifice of joy.' (Psalm 27:6)
Love is the secret.
Sacrifices of Joy - Meditations on Philippians - G. Christopher Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 9213
You have perhaps heard the story of the child who was keeping the best meat on his plate for his little dog. His mother asked him rather sharply, "Johnnie, why don't you eat up your dinner?" "I'm keeping it for Fido, mummie."
"Nonsense, eat your dinner at once, and you can collect the scraps on the plates after dinner for Fido."
The child did as he was told, and with tears running down his cheeks, he was heard to say, "Fido dear, I wanted to give you a sacrifice, but its only a collection."
A sacrifice costs something, often a collection costs next to nothing. Johnnie's sacrifice to Fido would have been 'a sacrifice of joy.' (Psalm 27:6)
Love is the secret.
Sacrifices of Joy - Meditations on Philippians - G. Christopher Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 9213
May 16
And Moses said unto the people, fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more forever. Exodus 14:13
The Egyptians thought they had Israel in a trap, when they saw them by the seaside. When they are out of danger, behold they are in a wilderness, where nothing is to be had for back or belly, and yet here they shall live forty years, without trade or tillage, without begging or robbing of any of the neighbour nations; they shall not be beholden to them for a penny in their way. What cannot almighty power do to provide for His people.
"The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him" (Lamentation 3:24). Have you not chosen Him for your portion? Do you not look for a heaven to enjoy Him in forever? And can any dungeon of outward affliction be so dark, that this hope will not enlighten? He that has laid a portion in heaven for you will lay out surely all the expenses that you need in the way forward.
Remember how often God has overcome your fears, and proved your unbelief a deception. Has he not knocked at your door with inward comfort and outward deliverance, when you had put out the candle of hope, giving up looking for Him, and been ready to lay down on the bed of despair?
Were you never so sad, the storm of your fears so great that the anchor of hope coming home left you with misgivings and despairing thoughts, as if now your everlasting night had come, and no morning supply expected by you? Yet even then our God proved you wrong, by an unlooked for surprise of mercy, which He brought sweetly in upon you? Christian in Complete Armour - William Gurnall (1616 - 1679)
N.J.Hiebert - 9214
The Egyptians thought they had Israel in a trap, when they saw them by the seaside. When they are out of danger, behold they are in a wilderness, where nothing is to be had for back or belly, and yet here they shall live forty years, without trade or tillage, without begging or robbing of any of the neighbour nations; they shall not be beholden to them for a penny in their way. What cannot almighty power do to provide for His people.
"The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him" (Lamentation 3:24). Have you not chosen Him for your portion? Do you not look for a heaven to enjoy Him in forever? And can any dungeon of outward affliction be so dark, that this hope will not enlighten? He that has laid a portion in heaven for you will lay out surely all the expenses that you need in the way forward.
Remember how often God has overcome your fears, and proved your unbelief a deception. Has he not knocked at your door with inward comfort and outward deliverance, when you had put out the candle of hope, giving up looking for Him, and been ready to lay down on the bed of despair?
Were you never so sad, the storm of your fears so great that the anchor of hope coming home left you with misgivings and despairing thoughts, as if now your everlasting night had come, and no morning supply expected by you? Yet even then our God proved you wrong, by an unlooked for surprise of mercy, which He brought sweetly in upon you? Christian in Complete Armour - William Gurnall (1616 - 1679)
N.J.Hiebert - 9214
May 17
THE PROTECTION OF DANIEL
Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee. Daniel 6:16
The time came when, regretfully, the king was required to execute the sentence, but as Daniel was brought forward to be cast into the den of lions, Darius was there with words of hope and assurance for Daniel.
(Daniel 6:16).
What a testimony from a heathen monarch to the integrity of a man who had been wrongfully accused and was now being wrongfully executed. Darius realized that Daniel had access to powers beyond the earthly, and that if God so desired, He would deliver him.
The king then spent a sleepless night, and early in the morning he was down at the den. There he learned that God had wrought a miracle on behalf of His servant. God had shut the mouths of these ravenous beasts, and they had done Daniel no harm. Daniel was them removed from the den and his persecutors were cast in instead. Before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions were upon them and broke all their bones in pieces.
In a previous scene, we saw Daniel's three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego cast into the fiery furnace. We learned then that God may not necessarily deliver us from the fire, but He will be with us in it and preserve us.
So it is here. God could have stopped these men from putting Daniel into the den of lions, but He didn't. The result was that greater glory was brought to God than if Daniel had been delivered from ever going into the den.
Daniel - William Burnett
N.J.Hiebert - 9215
Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee. Daniel 6:16
The time came when, regretfully, the king was required to execute the sentence, but as Daniel was brought forward to be cast into the den of lions, Darius was there with words of hope and assurance for Daniel.
(Daniel 6:16).
What a testimony from a heathen monarch to the integrity of a man who had been wrongfully accused and was now being wrongfully executed. Darius realized that Daniel had access to powers beyond the earthly, and that if God so desired, He would deliver him.
The king then spent a sleepless night, and early in the morning he was down at the den. There he learned that God had wrought a miracle on behalf of His servant. God had shut the mouths of these ravenous beasts, and they had done Daniel no harm. Daniel was them removed from the den and his persecutors were cast in instead. Before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions were upon them and broke all their bones in pieces.
In a previous scene, we saw Daniel's three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego cast into the fiery furnace. We learned then that God may not necessarily deliver us from the fire, but He will be with us in it and preserve us.
So it is here. God could have stopped these men from putting Daniel into the den of lions, but He didn't. The result was that greater glory was brought to God than if Daniel had been delivered from ever going into the den.
Daniel - William Burnett
N.J.Hiebert - 9215
May 18
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother...when Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. John 19:25-27
We scarcely know which to admire most--the faithfulness, the devotedness of these dear women, and the beloved young disciple, or the tender, compassionate love of the blessed Lord Jesus Christ and His consideration for the dear mother that bore Him. He recalls the prophecy, "Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also," (Luke 2:35)
He recalls the prophecy, and He knows that sword is indeed piercing her mother heart as she sees her Son suffering in such awful agony hanging there upon the nails, and He would have her know that He is concerned about her and anxious to relieve her agonies.
He points her to John and says, "Behold thy son!" and to John He says, "Behold thy mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." During the last of her sojourn here on earth, John became to her as a tender, loving son, and she to him as a loving mother.
Gospel of John - H. A. Ironside
N.J.Hiebert - 9216
May 19
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Hebrews 12:28
Then said the Lord unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it therefore it, shall be shut. Ezekiel 44:2
This came to me this morning as a word not only for the gate referred to here, but also for everything. This service, whatever it may be, this that I have to offer, all I am, and have, and want to be--it is for the Prince.
"To each is given a bag of tools, an hourglass,
And a book of rules;
And each must build ere his work be done,
A stumbling block or a steppingstone."
- Our bag of tools--our body with all its various powers, the "tools"
- God has given us to use; the hourglass--Time;
- The book of rules--our Bible;
- The stumbling block--that which will hinder others;
- The steppingstone--that which will help them nearer Heaven.
- So far all is clear.
Is this clear too? We cannot build both stumbling block and steppingstone. We must chose which we will build. Once built it stands; we cannot pull it down and begin over again. Is not this an awful truth? Think of what it would be if, when the day is over and the work is done, we looked at it and saw a stumbling block. God save us from that.
Every true, loving, faithful thought, word, deed, helps to build the steppingstone. Every untrue, unloving, unfaithful thought, word, deed, helps to build the stumbling block over which others will fall. God help us all to build steppingstones. Thou Givest...They Gather - Amy Carmichael
N.J.Hiebert - 9217
May 20
We must keep looking for our Lord's return.
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 21
The reference here is without any doubt to that advent of our Saviour for which we are bidden to look. The New Testament is full of teaching about this blessed hope, and we lose much if we fail to cherish it in our hearts.
Over 300 times is it spoken of in the later portion of the inspired Word, and the place which it occupies there, indicates the place which it should hold in our thinking. The central ordinance of the Church--the remembrance of the Lord's death--is described in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
That great passage is both commemorative and anticipative; it directs us historically to the night of His betrayal, and prophetically to the day of His return. The last six words of verse 26--"the Lord's death till He come"--tell the whole story.
The first three of these words point us back to the cross; the last three point us on to His coming. Taken together, the six words are like a beautiful rainbow, the one end of which dips in the sufferings of Christ, and the other, in the glory that is to follow.
"And thus that dark betrayal-night,
With His next advent we unite,
By one blest chain of loving rite,
Until He come." The Best is Yet to Be - Henry Durbanville
N.J.Hiebert - 9218
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 21
The reference here is without any doubt to that advent of our Saviour for which we are bidden to look. The New Testament is full of teaching about this blessed hope, and we lose much if we fail to cherish it in our hearts.
Over 300 times is it spoken of in the later portion of the inspired Word, and the place which it occupies there, indicates the place which it should hold in our thinking. The central ordinance of the Church--the remembrance of the Lord's death--is described in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
That great passage is both commemorative and anticipative; it directs us historically to the night of His betrayal, and prophetically to the day of His return. The last six words of verse 26--"the Lord's death till He come"--tell the whole story.
The first three of these words point us back to the cross; the last three point us on to His coming. Taken together, the six words are like a beautiful rainbow, the one end of which dips in the sufferings of Christ, and the other, in the glory that is to follow.
"And thus that dark betrayal-night,
With His next advent we unite,
By one blest chain of loving rite,
Until He come." The Best is Yet to Be - Henry Durbanville
N.J.Hiebert - 9218
May 21
And Jacob dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth and the top of it reached to heaven...
And, behold, the Lord stood above it and said...
I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whether thou goest and will bring thee again into this land...
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, if God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God... (Genesis 28:10-22)
Observe, "If God will be with me." Now, the Lord had just said, emphatically, "I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whether thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land," etc. And yet poor Jacob's heart cannot get beyond an "if;" nor, in its thoughts of God's goodness, can it rise higher than "bread to eat, and raiment to put on."
Such were the thoughts of one who had just seen the magnificent vision of the ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with the Lord standing above, and promising an enumerable seed and an everlasting possession.
Jacob was evidentially unable to enter into the reality and fullness of God's thoughts. He measured God by himself, and thus utterly failed to apprehend Him. In short, Jacob had not yet really got to the end of himself; and hence he had not really begun with God. Notes on Genesis - C. H. Mackintosh
N.J.Hiebert - 9219
And, behold, the Lord stood above it and said...
I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whether thou goest and will bring thee again into this land...
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, if God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God... (Genesis 28:10-22)
Observe, "If God will be with me." Now, the Lord had just said, emphatically, "I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whether thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land," etc. And yet poor Jacob's heart cannot get beyond an "if;" nor, in its thoughts of God's goodness, can it rise higher than "bread to eat, and raiment to put on."
Such were the thoughts of one who had just seen the magnificent vision of the ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with the Lord standing above, and promising an enumerable seed and an everlasting possession.
Jacob was evidentially unable to enter into the reality and fullness of God's thoughts. He measured God by himself, and thus utterly failed to apprehend Him. In short, Jacob had not yet really got to the end of himself; and hence he had not really begun with God. Notes on Genesis - C. H. Mackintosh
N.J.Hiebert - 9219
May 22
The Lord is my Shepherd. Psalm 23:1
Someone has said that the twenty-third is the sweetest of all the Psalms: first learned, oftenest repeated, longest remembered. The simple words of which is composed "touch, inspire, comfort us, not as an echo from three thousand years ago, but as the voice of a living friend.
The child repeats them at his mother's knees; the scholar expends on them his choicest learning; the church lifts them to heaven in the many-voiced chorus.
They fall like music on the sick man's ear and heart; they cheer and encourage the dying Christian as he enters "the shadow of death."
It speaks of the Shepherd Who gave His life for the sheep (verse 1); of the green pastures into which He leads us for our own sake (verse 2); and of the paths of righteousness into which He leads us for His name's sake (verse 3).
It tells us that the valley of the shadow, although full of deadly peril, is nevertheless an avenue to God (verse 4); of the fact that it is possible to have festivity in the midst of conflict (verse 5); and of the two shining ones--"Goodness and Mercy"--who have come from the upper sanctuary to conduct the flock of God to the heavenly land (verse 6).
In other words we have in this brief section of the Word: the Person (verse 1); the provision (verse 2); the pathway (verse 3); the peril; (verse 4); the preparation (verse 5); and the prospect (verse 6).
May we all search more and more into its marvellous depths, enjoy increasingly its matchless beauty, and experience, through all life's future days, its perennial power. The Pearl of Psalms - George Henderson
N.J.Hiebert - 9221
Someone has said that the twenty-third is the sweetest of all the Psalms: first learned, oftenest repeated, longest remembered. The simple words of which is composed "touch, inspire, comfort us, not as an echo from three thousand years ago, but as the voice of a living friend.
The child repeats them at his mother's knees; the scholar expends on them his choicest learning; the church lifts them to heaven in the many-voiced chorus.
They fall like music on the sick man's ear and heart; they cheer and encourage the dying Christian as he enters "the shadow of death."
It speaks of the Shepherd Who gave His life for the sheep (verse 1); of the green pastures into which He leads us for our own sake (verse 2); and of the paths of righteousness into which He leads us for His name's sake (verse 3).
It tells us that the valley of the shadow, although full of deadly peril, is nevertheless an avenue to God (verse 4); of the fact that it is possible to have festivity in the midst of conflict (verse 5); and of the two shining ones--"Goodness and Mercy"--who have come from the upper sanctuary to conduct the flock of God to the heavenly land (verse 6).
In other words we have in this brief section of the Word: the Person (verse 1); the provision (verse 2); the pathway (verse 3); the peril; (verse 4); the preparation (verse 5); and the prospect (verse 6).
May we all search more and more into its marvellous depths, enjoy increasingly its matchless beauty, and experience, through all life's future days, its perennial power. The Pearl of Psalms - George Henderson
N.J.Hiebert - 9221
May 23
