Thursday, January 22, 2009
Morning and Evening 1/23
Thursday, January 22, 2009—posted by Frank Rabinovitch
» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible
Morning Devotion: "I have exalted one chosen out of the people." - Psalm 89:19
Although the immediate context of Psalm 89:19 is King David, it is typically applied to the Messiah, and much of Psalm 89 is directly concerned with the Messiah (see Hebrews 1:5 for example). Spurgeon poses a question for us: Why was Christ chosen out of the people?
I tried to make my own answer before peeking at Spurgeon's, just like the little kid at the grocery store that pushes his toy plastic shopping cart, selecting an item here or there, while his Mom or Dad does the 'heavy lifting' buying the week's groceries.
My Brother - this one will take lots more meditating - I want to feel it in my heart not just my head. Matthew Henry echoes Spurgeon from Proverbs 18:
Christ is a friend to all believers that sticks closer than a brother; to him therefore let them show themselves friendly.
He is my perfect Brother, and I love Him.
More great encouragement from the master of simple Anglo-Saxon language:
Take courage! Royal feet have left a blood-red track upon the road, and consecrated the thorny path for ever.
The Christ is my anchor of hope, sure and stedfast [Hebrews 6:19], perfectly worthy of my devotion, my love, my worship, my service, my life.
Evening Devotion: "We will remember Thy love more than wine." - Song of Songs 1:4
Here I can meditate not only on the scripture, and not only on Spurgeon's exhortation, but I also started by re-reading Pastor Jim's blog for January 1st, when Spurgeon first tackled this Scripture, focusing a bit earlier in the verse, on 'rejoicing in the Lord'. (Yes, there is a Scripture Index to Spurgeon's devotions on the Blue Letter Bible!)
I'm struggling to find anything to add to Spurgeon's voice - could I ask you humbly to go back and re-read his sweet evening devotion?
I find myself in Spurgeon's company, as he himself described his admiration for Sir Richard Baker's commentaries on the Psalms:
We have often tried to quote from him and have found ourselves so embarrassed with riches that we have been inclined to copy the whole...
Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon
posted by Frank Rabinovitch|
2 Comments
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2 Comments:
"Jesus will not let His people forget His Love!" Wow! Even though we sin and fall short of His Glory; even though our sin nature and deceitful hearts would cause us to wander; even though our self righteousness would seek to appoint us to God, He will not let us forget His Love. We can know no greater Love! Jesus, my Lord and my God teach us to love like that!
My thought as reading the evening devotional, was that I wish I was even just minusculely as faithful to Him as He is to me. I was reminded of the verse:
"Therefore I have hope. [Through] the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. [They are] new every morning; Great [is] Your faithfulness." (Lam 3:21-23 NKJV)
Every morning the LORD makes available mercy to me, mercies that I do not deserve. Praise God that I don't get what I do deserve!
Also, what came to mind was Jesus standing at the door and knocking to be let in.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Rev 3:20 NKJV)
This verse is often quoted out of context, e.g. to pagan unbelievers. Jesus here is speaking to the Church in Laodicea. Laodicea, the lukewarm church that Jesus will ultimately "vomit out of My mouth" (Rev 3:14-22). Whatever you take that to mean, it doesn't sound good!
But before He does, He pursues them and exhorts them to turn back to Him. His love is a love that pursues His people—even when we do not pursue Him.
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