Choice Gleanings

1 Samuel 6:1-7:17; Isaiah 48:1-22; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Repay them, O Lord, according to the work of their hands. Lamentations 3:64 NKJV

Each year, the Jewish people have a day of mourning called Tisha B’av. It commemorates the destruction of the Temple in 586 BC and 70 AD, and on it the book of Lamentations is read by Jews around the world. Jeremiah wrote Lamentations while in a grotto near where the Lord was crucified. The words of the Lord Jesus on the cross were very different from Jeremiah’s. He asked for vengeance, but the Lord Jesus appealed for mercy as He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). —Gary McBride

Forgive them, O my Father, they know not what they do:
The Saviour spoke in anguish, as the sharp nails went through. —C. F.

1 Samuel 4:1-5:12; Isaiah 47:1-15; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24

Joseph brought them out from between his knees. Gen. 48:12
The children … were brought up upon Joseph’s knees. Gen. 50:23

Parents and grandparents have important roles to play in the lives of their children and grandchildren. These include protecting them and showering them with affection. Even when older, Joseph’s sons felt secure near to their father. The second tender word picture here, is of Joseph bonding with his grandchildren, perhaps singing to them, telling them stories, and nursing them till they fell asleep in his arms. Too many parents are so busy that they are missing out on these joyful acts of love that can make all the difference to an upcoming generation. —Clark Logan

Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong; they are weak, but He is strong. —A. Warner

1 Samuel 3:1-21; Isaiah 46:1-13; 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:16

However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. 1 Kings 10:7 NKJV

The Queen of Sheba doubted what she had heard about Solomon until she saw it for herself. When we pass from this life, we will also see things we never imagined. We may think of seeing the glories of heaven, and this is part of it. But when we see the Lord Jesus, the “greater than Solomon,” His glory will captivate our hearts, and we, too, will say “The half was not told me”. —Marsha Blair

Unseen, we love Thee; dear Thy name!
But when our eyes behold,
With joyful wonder we’ll exclaim,
The half hath not been told. —Mary Bowley Peters

1 Samuel 2:1-36; Isaiah 44:24-45:25; 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:10

For the ways of the Lord are right; The righteous walk in them. Hosea 14:9 NKJV

These days we live in are confusing. Everything seems upside down or backward. Twice Proverbs says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12, 16:25). The Lord through Isaiah says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter
for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (5:20). In these difficult times, what a tremendous, joy, blessing, and encouragement it is to know what is right and to walk in the Lord’s right ways! —Ray Jones

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word,
What a glory He sheds on our way! —John H. Sammis

1 Samuel 1:1-28; Isaiah 44:6-23; 2 Corinthians 4:7-5:10

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called … 1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV

How does the one already in Christ “lay hold on eternal life”? As we know, eternal life speaks first of quality, not quantity. It is the very life of God in us, received through “Christ who is our life” (Col. 3:4). The Lord’s desire is to give us the abundant life (John 10:10), but the believer must “lay hold” on that abundance; we must “seize” it. We do this as we intentionally “work out” our salvation, living out its full potential day by day. “Lay hold of that for which
Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (Phil. 3:12). —Eunice Free

Life with its way before us lies;
Christ is the path, and Christ the prize. —John Monsell

Ruth 3:1-4:22; Isaiah 43:1-44:5; 2 Corinthians 3:1-4:6

Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. Luke 4:38 NKJV

What a beautiful prayer. Lord help her! This wasn’t a petition for what Jesus should do, or how He should do it, or even when He should. It was simply, “Lord help!” We may often struggle to know God’s will in various situations and how we should pray. But this kind of simple, submitted supplication can cover all we need to ask of Him. Lord, You know what’s best. Lord, You understand the situation, Lord, You see what I can’t see. Lord, please help! Amen. —Deborah Manera

If pain afflict, or wrongs oppress; if cares distract or fears dismay;
If guilt deject, if sin distress; in every case, still watch and pray. —J. Hart

Ruth 2:1-23; Isaiah 42:1-25; 2 Corinthians 2:1-17

Thy name is as ointment poured forth… Song of Solomon 1:3

The fragrant ointments of the Middle East were used for a number of purposes. Firstly, they refreshed and reinvigorated those who were weary. Secondly, they helped in the healing process of sores and bruising. Thirdly, they were used to anoint kings, prophets and priests and acknowledge their God-given responsibility. Fourthly, they gave pleasure with their aroma. His name is as these fragrant ointments poured out. Our Saviour brings similar
blessings of refreshing, healing, bestowal of responsibility and delight to those who truly trust Him. —Paul Young

Jesus, the name I love so well, The name I love to hear!
No saint on earth its worth can tell, no heart conceive how dear. —Frederick Whitfield

Ruth 1:1-26; Isaiah 41:1-29; 2 Corinthians 1:1-24

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. Mark 15:33

The Lord’s Supper should be a solemn time for us. We come to gaze on Christ and appreciate His finished work for us. We read here that at Calvary there was darkness over the whole land for three hours. In the midst of those weighty hours the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all. What a price! And what a privilege, to have this opportunity to remember each week what He paid. —Virginia Strout

Gazing on the Lord in glory,
While our hearts in worship bow,
There we read the wondrous story
Of the cross, its shame and woe. —C. Thompson

Judges 21:1-25; Isaiah 40:1-31; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

There is none righteous, no, not one … for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:10, 23-24 NKJV

Romans 3:10-23 is like reading a spiritual wellness report. First, the bad news. Our throat, tongue, lips, mouth, feet, and eyes are so bad that we might seek a second opinion. Isaiah agrees that from the sole of our foot even to the head there is no soundness in it (Isa. 1:6). Now, the good news! We can be made well. God offers His righteousness freely by His grace in Christ Jesus. —Rex Trogdon

Yea, justified! O blessed thought!
And sanctified! Salvation wrought!
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And glorified, I too, shall be! —James M. Gray

Judges 20:1-48; Isaiah 38:1-39:8; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

… count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:2-3 NKJV

Everyone knows the phrase “Be careful what you wish for”.  James has a similar idea here. Be careful what you pray for. We have all prayed for patience, but don’t want the accompanying trials that will form it in us. We need trials in our life because through them, God is working on us. He places hardships in our lives to help us grow and be more like Him. Count it all joy! He loves us so much that He longs to make us better men and women for Him. How amazing is our God! —Caleb Riordan

Happy they who trust in Jesus, sweet our portion is and sure;
When despair or doubt would seize us, by His grace we shall endure. —T. K