Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth…Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit… Isaiah 42:10-11
If we were to bend our ear and listen to the sounds that emanate from this world, what would we hear? Probably one long groan. Sin has ruined this world and ruined lives. But as we look at today’s verse, we can rejoice. A new song is coming and at the centre of it is the Lord Jesus Christ. Where will this song be sung? Our verse tells us in the villages of Kedar. Where is Kedar today? It is a Muslim nation. One day this song of the Lord Jesus Christ will be sung everywhere, even in the villages of Kedar. —Paul Robertson
Sing to the Lord a joyful song, lift up your hearts, your voices raise; To us His gracious gifts belong, to Him our songs of love and praise. —John S. B. Monsell
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. – 2 Corinthians 8:2
In Scripture joy is often associated with affliction and trials. “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that…ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Pet. 4:13). “Looking unto Jesus…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” (Heb. 12:2). Are trials your portion? Rejoice! Your future is glorious. —D. Pickup
While we walk the pilgrim pathway, clouds will overspread the sky; But when trav’ling days are over, not a shadow, not a sigh. When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory! —E. Hewitt
But continue thou in the things which thou has learned. – 2 Timothy 3:14
Paul was one of the primary influences in Timothy’s life. A critical one, to be sure, even as significant as his mother and grandmother (see the next verse). We may be only one of many influences in other people’s lives, but an influence nonetheless—for good or ill. We need to live consistently with the truth of God as found in the Scriptures. We need to be obedient to God and exemplary to others. —N. C. Funston
I am resolved, and who will go with me? Come, friends without delay; Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit, We’ll walk the heavenly way. —Palmer Hartsough
For the Lord most high is terrible [awesome]; he is a great King over all the earth…God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. Ps. 47:2, 8
The sons of Korah approached God in fear and trembling, realizing He was the Lord most high, sitting upon the throne of His holiness. How can we sinners approach such a holy, all powerful God today? Only through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:13). What a privilege we have to call this God of all the universe, simply “Our Father which art in heaven” (Matt. 6:9). We can only bow in humility, wonder and worship as we meditate on this incredible truth and draw near to Him in utter dependence on the precious blood of His own blessed Son. —David Croudace
Jesus, the sinner’s Friend, we hide ourselves in Thee; God looks upon Thy sprinkled blood, it is our only plea. —C. Wesley
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Song of Solomon 2:4
These words acquire a special significance when we view them as portraying figuratively what God has done spiritually for each believer. Our salvation is rooted solidly in what God, in grace, has done for us. Our acceptance in “the banqueting house” is entirely God’s doing. His grace provided all, even though the cost was nothing less than the death of His Son. The “banner over us” guarantees that we are all eternally secure, for His love will never end! —George Hall
O, I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine; He brings a poor, vile sinner into His house of wine; I stand upon His merit, I know no other stand, Not e’en where glory dwelleth, in Immanuel’s land. —A. R. Cousin
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Ps. 90:1
As Moses traveled through the desert, he was comforted to know that his true home was in the Lord. Likewise, believers today have a dwelling place in Him as they traverse an ever-changing, decaying world. Christ promised to prepare an abode in the Father’s house for His people (John 14:2-3) and to make a dwelling place by the Spirit within His people on earth (v. 23). Believers are not alone. He lives within them and they are going to heaven for unfettered enjoyment of the triune God. —K. R. Keyser
We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling, And needing more each day Thy grace to know: Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing; We rest on Thee and in Thy name we go. —E. G. Cherry
Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul…And ye shall teach them your children. Deuteronomy 11:18-19
The young men sat around a beer keg where we were handing out gospel invitations. They greeted us warmly and said something that has stuck in my mind. It was, “We remember the songs you taught us in Sunday School”. They were home from overseas, but they remembered those songs’ words. It made me realize just how important it is that the songs we teach children contain the fundamental truths of the gospel. How essential it also is that we teach our own children and grandchildren the truths of the Bible. —Janet Fleming
Lord, help me teach children, while they are still small, To trust You and to serve You, and to give to You their all. —J. Fleming
Who can be your shepherd? Take care of you through life? Who can give you rest and peace? Who can restore your soul? Who can lead you on the right path, or carry you if need be? And who can take you through the valley of the shadow of death? Only the Lord Jesus Christ. Friend, don’t go through life without Him, and don’t leave this world without Him, if you know what’s good for you. Repent and trust Him today. Then He will lead you and goodness and mercy will follow you, now and forever. —Carl Knott
My soul He doth restore again, And me to walk doth make, Within the paths of righteousness, E’en for His own name’s sake. —Psalm 23
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. NKJV
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. KJV
O precious, simple proverb! How many have committed you to memory! How many have hung on to you when life has thrown its curve balls? Learned at a young age by many, this proverb has been a faithful guide for Christians throughout their lives. Let us ponder it again to gain something anew.
This proverb consists of two parts. The first part has to do with our trust (Prov. 3:5). To trust in the Lord with all your heart is the positive side of this truth; to not trust, or to not lean, on your own understanding expresses it negatively. Sometimes we are asked to trust in situations that do not make sense to us. Why would God give a married couple the desire to have children and then physically hinder them from having any? We don’t know. Why would God lead us along a career path, taking all the necessary steps to qualify for it, only to take away our health, preventing us from fulfilling the job He has prepared us for? Again, we don’t know. Again, why would God allow leading pastors and gifted teachers to be called away from a struggling assembly, or to be imprisoned or put to death at a time when their families and churches urgently need them? We are at a loss to explain it. But this is when Proverbs 3:5-6 becomes most precious to us.
The second part of this proverb has to do with our paths. If we acknowledge Him in all our ways, then He will direct us in all our paths. If you include Him in the dating and courtship process of your relationship, then He will direct you in the marital part. Conversely, if you leave Him out of the dating/courtship process, if you ignore His counsel and neglect to pray or to ask Him for His guidance, then your paths will not be smooth (as another translation puts it). On the contrary, your paths will be very bumpy and rough.
God never tries to hurt us but only to bless us. If we include Him in our decision making, taking His counsel into consideration first, if we lean not on our own understanding, trusting with all our heart like little children, then He will direct our paths and make them smooth.
~ From Shane Johnson’s Wisdom for Fools: 101 Proverbs to Live By, Chapter 6, pg. 28.
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What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. – Matthew 19:6
The world often views marriage as a civil contract that can be broken easily by either party. Jesus said it is much more than that. Marriage is a union established by God and witnessed by God. It is to be maintained inviolate until death terminates the relationship. This is for the good and happiness of man. Children need both parents and the security that a loving marriage can provide. If you are married, renew your vows today to one another. Determine to be faithful and loyal to one another. This is the will of God. —Donald L. Norbie
Lord beloved, I would ponder, breadth and length and depth and height, Of Thy love’s eternal wonder, all embracing, infinite. —Amy Carmichael
