Choice Gleanings

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 33; Daniel 1; 1 John 3

The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.   Psalm 129:3

In today’s verse, the Holy Spirit foretells our Lord’s scourging. It was a horrific cruelty. The word “long” indicates that there was no part of His back left untouched. The use of the term “furrow” suggests the depth and harshness of each stroke. The wonder of it is that He willingly allowed this torture to happen. “I gave my back to the smitters” (Isa. 50:6). How humbling. It is hard to know what to say. This terrible suffering wasn’t for His sins but ours. Marvellous Saviour, blessed Man of Calvary. Is He your Saviour? —Vernon Markle

Thy cords of love, my Saviour, bind me to Thee forever,
I am no longer mine. To Thee I gladly tender,
All that my life can render, and all I have to Thee resign.
—Paul Gerhardt

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 16; Ezekiel 16:35-63; John 6:1-21

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.  Psalms 107:6

This psalm presents a cyclical theme that many of us have experienced first hand: man’s failure, sin’s consequences, a cry for deliverance and God in His grace providing salvation time and time again. For each one of His people’s distresses, God provides the corresponding relief. What an encouragement for us! Whatever our burden may be, whether due to our own failure or one of life’s heavy blows, we too can cry out to God in our need and rest assured that “He will deliver us”.  —E. V.

He is able to deliver thee, He is able to deliver thee;
Though by sin oppressed, go to Him for rest,
Our God is able to deliver thee.
—William A. Ogden

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 3; Jeremiah 36; Hebrews 8

He (Jehoshaphat) appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army.  2 Chronicles 20:21

A huge army was coming to wage war on Judah. In response, King Jehoshaphat put singers in the front lines praising the Lord. What remarkable special forces. Armed only with hearts full of love for God, their faith in Him was rewarded and the victory was of the Lord. Will we be praise singers in the front lines for God? The front lines are where we live or work or go to school. Will we tell His praises to those who do not know Him? The Lord may be calling you to do just that today. —Robert Gentile

Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness.
Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!
—Fanny J. Crosby

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Sam. 19:9-43; Jeremiah 3:6 to 4:2; Gal. 4:21 to 5:9

For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them.   Isaiah 59:12

This will be the language of all who stand before the Great White Throne of God’s judgment. The books will be opened and the dead will be judged by what is written in them, according to their works. Unsaved friend, then you will weep as you see your multiplied transgressions. Then your sins will testify against you. You did not trust in the Lamb of God as your sin-bearer, therefore your sins will still be with you and on you. On that terrible day you will fully know them and you will know God’s wrath when you could have known His love. Delay no longer. Trust Him now! —Carl Knott

What will you do without Him, when He hath shut the door,
And you are left outside because you would not come before?—F. R. Havergal

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 8 to 9:14; Isaiah 49; 2 Cor. 10

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.  Hebrews 10:25
Come, and let us go up to…the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.  Micah 4:2

Micah foretells a day when the nations of the earth will gather at Jerusalem. As our verse indicates, the result will be great blessings for those who gather. As New Testament believers our desire should be to gather to His name now for times of worship and fellowship. As we do, just as in a coming day, we will be taught His ways so that we may walk in those paths on a daily basis. Little wonder then that we’re admonished not to forsake gathering together.  —Wm. H. Gustafson

Gathered in Thy name, Lord Jesus, losing sight of all but Thee,
Oh, what joy Thy presence gives us, calling up our hearts to Thee.
—C. A. Wellesley

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 18-19; Isaiah 13; 1 Thessalonians 4

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. Genesis 28:15

How glorious are these promises to the pariah who would later become a patriarch. Like Jacob, we too perhaps had an inauspicious start in the life of faith—on the run from some foolish personal choices, all the time trying to work a deal with the Almighty. But despite similar selfish inclinations, the Lord gave clear assurances to Jacob of His unchanging promises and unwavering presence. He would see him through his journey of faith. It was his heritage and it is ours. Let’s claim it today. —Mark Kolchin

My knowledge of my life is small, the eye of faith is dim;
But ’tis enough that Christ knows all, and I shall be with Him. —R. Baxter

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 14:22-15:23; Song of Sol. 5:2-6:9; Luke 10:25-42

There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4
There shall be no more night there. Revelation 22:5

One evening in Scotland I watched the sun setting over the Atlantic water. The brilliant red sky gave a display of beauty that was so delightful. But very soon the darkness descended and that momentary glimpse of glory was gone. I remember thinking at the time that when the sun sets on our lives it will usher in a glorious morning which will never end. —Jim Paul

Beyond the sunset, O blissful morning,
When with our Saviour, heaven has begun,
Earth’s toiling ended, O glorious dawning,
Beyond the sunset when day is done. —Virgil P. Brock

 

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 14; Proverbs 11; 1 Peter 3

The heavens declare the glory of God. Psalm 19:1
For I reckon the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

One night, after finishing a series of Gospel meetings, I was driving home very tired—a three hour trip before me. The night sky was lit up with millions of stars! Then for about an hour I was blanketed by the most amazing display of the northern lights! It made me feel like I was surrounded by the glory of God! It is just a memory now, but what will it be like, when in eternity, His Glory will be revealed not just to us but in us! —Jim Paul

Where no shade or stain can enter, nor the gold be dim;
In that holiness unsullied I shall walk with Him,
Meet companion then for Jesus, from Him for Him made;
Glory of God’s grace forever, there in me displayed. —Frances R. Havergal

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 10; Psalms 111-112; Mark 2:1-22

The Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17

Jonah’s splash was imperceptible amidst the raging waves. The water enveloped him. With lungs bursting for air and sensing his imminent death, suddenly Jonah tumbled into a new environment. The darkness was overwhelming and the smell almost tangible. There in that darkness—wet, hungry and overwhelmed—he subsisted for three days. Often we are guilty of skimming over well known Bible passages without considering the reality of them. The Bible comes alive when we put ourselves into the narrative. It is full of real accounts of real people, not just characters in a story! —Danielle E.

Open Thy Word of Truth, that I may see,
Thy message written clear and plain for me.
—Mary A. Lathbury

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 22 to 23:9; Psalms 64-65; Acts 12

Boaz said, unto Ruth, Go not to glean in another field, but abide here fast by my maidens.    Ruth 2:8

The eye of Boaz observed Ruth, the recently arrived young widow from Moab. Soon, looks turned to love. Because of his loving concern, he wished to see her safely gleaning in his field. His young men were instructed not to touch or harm her and to provide her with refreshing water as she toiled in the blazing sun. In the field of the one who was to become her kinsman redeemer, Ruth found protection, provision, and enjoyable fellowship with others in the same service. Don’t leave the field where God has placed you for a non-satisfying world.  —Arnot McIntee

Go labour, on; spend and be spent; thy joy to do the Father’s will;
It is the way the Master went; should not the servant tread it still?
—Horatius Bonar