…he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. John 8:7
One day prior to an open-air meeting in which John Wesley was scheduled to preach, a troublemaker secretly determined to pelt him with stones. When the text at the head of this page was announced, the astonished would-be-disrupter dared not throw a rock. God’s Word is powerful (Heb. 4:12-13) and reveals men’s hearts. The only safe course is to believe the Lord Jesus who says “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else” (Isa. 45:22). —K. R. Keyser
As strangers then to God we lived, filled with enmity and fear; Our souls from death He has reprieved, love revealed and brought us near. —G. W. Fraser
In my Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2
Driving through a town in Pennsylvania, I caught sight of a sign outside a building which said “Christ’s Home”. It was a funeral home and I wondered how many people had found themselves, on their decease, being in that particular home, but not actually arriving in Christ’s eternal home (the Father’s house). To enjoy the comforts and companionship of the Father’s house requires being born into the family of God by accepting Christ by faith. Only then can a place be prepared. —Brian Powlesland
There is a home, a glorious home, a heavenly mansion fair; And those we loved so fondly here, will bid us welcome there. —Author Unknown
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ephesians 6:10
Three prominent men had this final message to their sons in the faith. Moses said to Joshua “Be strong and of a good courage” (Josh. 1:6, 9). And as David prepared to give the kingdom to Solomon, he said to him, “Be strong and of good courage” (1 Chron. 28:20). And in Paul’s last letter to Timothy he writes “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:1). As we live before our children let us be “strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Rom. 4:20). —D. Pickup
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake, To guide the future as He has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last. —K. von Schlegel
As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man…So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him. Isaiah 52:14-15
The word “astonied” means to be stunned or devastated. Those who viewed the Lord Jesus on the cross were stunned at the magnitude of His abuse. How could one so lovely in spirit be so maltreated. If the first verse causes surprise, so too does the next one. The nations and their kings will one day be surprised at the magnitude of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is far beyond what they had been told. One day we too will see that glory. —Paul Robertson
Face to face with Christ my Saviour, face to face what will it be; When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me? —C. Breck
Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool… Isaiah 66:1
What a grand and majestic picture this imagery offers. Isaiah began by bringing us into the throne room of heaven (Isa. 6:1). Now he closes on the same note and gives us the full circumference of God’s presence and authority. God’s throne is lofty in heaven. God’s gaze is lowly on earth. God’s Word is fearful among men.
—Sam Thorpe, Jr.
Seek ye the Lord while yet His ear, Is open to your call; While offered mercy still is near, Before His footstool fall. —W. Cameron
The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. Psalm 16:5-6
One of the greatest indicators that a believer is walking with the Lord is an appreciative spirit. Sometimes we are so taken up with the difficulties and challenges of life that we have forgotten all about the tremendous blessings we already possess. David was no stranger to difficulties, but as he reflected on the lot of land that was measured out to him and his heritage, he maintained an attitude of gratitude.
—Sid Halsband
Such blessings from Thy gracious hand, our humble prayers implore; And Thou shalt be our chosen God and portion evermore. —P. Doddridge
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:14
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 1 Thess. 5:24
God’s Word says, “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him” (Ps. 91:15). “Fear thou not…I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee” (Isa. 41:10). “I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5). “I will come again” (John 14:3). Take courage child of God, you can trust your heavenly Father to fulfill all He has promised to do. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen” (2 Cor. 1:20).
—E. V.
It is no secret what God can do, What He’s done for others, He’ll do for you. —Stuart Hamblen
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means… 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Visiting the seaside at Broadstairs, Kent on a stormy wet day, I was buffeted by winds and soaked with sea spray. I retreated to a sheltered street—fittingly called “Serene Place”. Sometimes we can best appreciate inner tranquility after we have experienced the storms of life. If your life is currently stormy, be assured a great calm is to follow if you place your faith in the will and wisdom and presence of the Lord. —Brian Powlesland
While I hear life’s surging billows, peace, peace is mine! Why suspend my harp on willows? Peace, peace is mine! I may sing with Christ beside me, though a thousand ills betide me, Safely He hath sworn to guide me, peace, peace is mine. —J. Denham Smith
David summarizes the entire psalm in his opening decree: “Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust” (v. 1). In the first eight verses David details how he came to know the Lord as His full “portion” in life; in the last three verses he explains why he could joyfully trust the Lord in the face of death. Jehovah was David’s inheritance; apart from Him nothing had value or importance (v. 2). Consequently, while on earth, David enjoyed fellowship with “the excellent ones” (other righteous believers), who felt the same way he did about the Lord (v. 3). Companionship with these faithful saints was wonderful! On the contrary, David was determined not to commune with those who honored or served false gods (v. 4). Why? Because God had bestowed David with the best inheritance he could have ever imagined, Himself. This meant David was experiencing the best possible life, a life of full gratification in the Lord (vv. 5-6). While considering the Lord as his abundant portion, David is prompted to praise the Lord for His counsel and instruction, which had safely guided him through previous calamities (v. 7). Because of the Lord’s presence and strong hand, David was confident he would stand firm in His faith despite the attempts of his enemies to extinguish his life (v. 8).
David was confident God would preserve his life and that his body would not see decay in the grave at that time (vv. 9-10). Both Peter and Paul quoted David to confirm that there was a prophetic meaning to his statement relating to the future resurrection of Christ, the Holy One of Israel (Acts 2:25-28, 13:35-37). Clearly, these verses transcend David’s own experience, for his body did see corruption (his tomb is still in Jerusalem today). In David’s situation, God granted him deliverance from his enemies, but he could not escape death; it was inevitable. However, as it concerns Christ, this passage promises a glorious resurrection from death; therefore, as Hamilton Smith suggests, the entire psalm can be seen as tracing Christ’s life of faithful obedience which led Him into a solitary grave:
Psalm 16 is a prophetic description of the Lord Jesus in His lowly path through this world. He is viewed not in His divine equality with God, though ever true, but in the place of perfect dependence as the servant of Jehovah. It presents the inward life of faith before God, rather than the outer life seen before men. It is a life that has God for its object, so that it is a life lived to God, as well as before God.[i]
The New Testament attests to the resurrection of Christ, speaking of this spectacular event over one hundred times. Paul proclaims that without His resurrection we would not have eternal life or, by extension, hope (1 Cor. 15:12-19). Thus, both the cross and the resurrection of Christ compose the gospel message today (Rom. 10:9; 1 Cor. 15:3-4). Without Christ’s resurrection, saints would just be forgiven dead people with no hope of living for Christ now or having a future heavenly life with God. But this was not David’s confidence; he understood there was a “path of life” which permitted a glorious and joyful entrance into the eternal presence of God (v. 11). Likewise, believers can be confident death will never sever their fellowship with God (2 Cor. 5:8). Death has been conquered and its Victor is exalted and enthroned in heaven (1 Cor. 15:54-57). Truly, the Lord is our portion.
[i] Hamilton Smith, The Psalms, STEM Publishing, http://stempublishing.com/authors/smith/PSALMS.html
About the Author, Warren Henderson
Warren Henderson is an aerospace engineer. He now serves the Lord with his wife Brenda in “full time” ministry. They are commended from Believers Bible Chapel in Rockford, Illinois. Warren is an itinerant Bible teacher and is involved in writing, evangelism, and church planting. Warren Henderson has published many books including Be Holy and Come Near, In Search of God and The Evil Nexus: Are You Aiding the Enemy?
All our acceptance, all our completeness is because we are in Christ. Our blessings in Him are either superlative or else they do not exist at all. Everything we have, everything we are, everything we can possibly aspire to is provided because by faith we are in Him. Let us then serve Him in godly contentment in this little while that remains to us.
—Mark Fenn
O God of matchless grace, We sing unto Thy name; We stand accepted in the place That none but Christ could claim; Our willing hearts have heard Thy voice, And in Thy mercy we rejoice. —Hannah K. Burlingham
