“They shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel.” — Zechariah 4:10 Small things marked the beginning of the work in the hand of Zerubbabel, but none might despise it, for the Lord had raised up one who would persevere until the headstone should be brought forth with shoutings. The plummet […]
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” — Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do,” refers to works that are possible. There are many things which our heart findeth to do which we never shall do. It is well it is in our heart; but if we would be eminently […]
“For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” — Romans 9:15 In these words the Lord in the plainest manner claims the right to give or to withhold His mercy according to His own sovereign will. As […]
“To preach deliverance to the captives.” — Luke 4.18 None but Jesus can give deliverance to captives. Real liberty cometh from Him only. It is a liberty righteously bestowed; for the Son, who is Heir of all things, has a right to make men free. The saints honour the justice of God, which now secures […]
“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.” — Proverbs 24:33, 34 The worst of sluggards only ask for a little slumber; they would be indignant if they were accused of thorough […]
“The glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams.” — Isaiah 33:21 Broad rivers and streams produce fertility, and abundance in the land. Places near broad rivers are remarkable for the variety of their plants and their plentiful harvests. God is all this to His Church. Having God she has […]
“Fellowship with Him.” — 1 John 1:6 When we were united by faith to Christ, we were brought into such complete fellowship with Him, that we were made one with Him, and His interests and ours became mutual and identical. We have fellowship with Christ in His love. What He loves we love. He loves […]
“The power of His resurrection.” — Philippians 3:10 The doctrine of a risen Saviour is exceedingly precious. The resurrection is the corner-stone of the entire building of Christianity. It is the key-stone of the arch of our salvation. It would take a volume to set forth all the streams of living water which flow from […]
“Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.” — Hosea 12:12 Jacob, while expostulating with Laban, thus describes his own toil, “This twenty years have I been with thee. That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee: I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou […]
“Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him.” — John 12:2 He is to be envied. It was well to be Martha and serve, but better to be Lazarus and commune. There are times for each purpose, and each is comely in its season, but none of the trees of the […]
“Grieve not the Holy Spirit.” — Ephesians 4:30 All that the believer has must come from Christ, but it comes solely through the channel of the Spirit of grace. Moreover, as all blessings thus flow to you through the Holy Spirit, so also no good thing can come out of you in holy thought, devout […]
“The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.” — Proverbs 30:26 Conscious of their own natural defenselessness, the conies resort to burrows in the rocks, and are secure from their enemies. My heart, be willing to gather a lesson from these feeble folk. Thou art as weak and […]
“0 Lord, Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul.” — Lamentations 3:58 Observe how positively the prophet speaks. He doth not say, “I hope, I trust, I sometimes think, that God hath pleaded the causes of my soul”; but he speaks of it as a matter of fact not to be disputed. “Thou hast […]
“O that I knew where I might find Him!” — Job 23:3 In Job’s uttermost extremity he cried after the Lord. The longing desire of an afflicted child of God is once more to see his Father’s face. His first prayer is not “O that I might be healed of the disease which now festers […]
“Avoid foolish questions.” — Titus 3:9 Our days are few, and are far better spent in doing good, than in disputing over matters which are, at best, of minor importance. The old schoolmen did a world of mischief by their incessant discussion of subjects of no practical importance; and our Churches suffer much from petty […]
“Thou art from everlasting.” — Psalm 93:2 Christ is EVERLASTING. Of Him we may sing with David, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.” Rejoice, believer, in Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Jesus always was. The Babe born in Bethlehem was united to the Word, which was in the […]
“A spring shut up, a fountain sealed.” — Song of Solomon 4:12 In this metaphor, which has reference to the inner life of a believer, we have very plainly the idea of secrecy. It is a spring shut up: just as there were springs in the East, over which an edifice was built, so that […]
“He that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.” — Ecclesiastes 10:9 Oppressors may get their will of poor and needy men as easily as they can split logs of wood, but they had better mind, for it is a dangerous business, and a splinter from a tree has often killed the woodman. Jesus is persecuted […]
“To whom be glory for ever. Amen” — Romans 11:36 “To whom be glory for ever.” This should be the single desire of the Christian. All other wishes must be subservient and tributary to this one. The Christian may wish for prosperity in his business, but only so far as it may help him to […]
“Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty.” — Isaiah 33:17 The more you know about Christ the less will you be satisfied with superficial views of Him; and the more deeply you study His transactions in the eternal covenant, His engagements on your behalf as the eternal Surety, and the fulness of His […]