Choice Gleanings

1 Samuel 15:1-35; Isaiah 54:1-17; Romans 1:18-32

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

The young man sat dejectedly. He had come to an auction to bid on the police car that his late father had used while on the force. Despite his best attempts, the car eventually sold for much more than he could pay. What he so desired was unobtainable on his own. Imagine his joy when the purchaser offered him the keys and said: “Take it. It’s yours!” Do you long to know that your sins are forgiven? You will never be able to work hard enough to make that happen. The Lord Jesus has already paid the price and offers salvation as a gift. Do not turn it down! —Lynn Shatford

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. —E. Hall

1 Samuel 14:1-52; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Romans 1:1-17

I … will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. I will give … the Valley of Achor as a door of hope. Hos. 2:14-15 NKJV

How often we wish to escape the wilderness seasons of our lives. But in Scripture, the wilderness is an almost sacred place, a place where the Lord meets with His people and speaks intimately to them. For me too, the wilderness may become a life-changing encounter with the living God, as I turn aside to notice the bush that is burning. Then let me remember the truths I learned in the desert and carry their sweetness with me. —Marilyn MacMullen

Long the blessed Guide has led me,
By the desert road;
Now I see the coming splendour,
Splendour of my God. —G. Tersteegen

1 Samuel 13:1-23; Isaiah 52:1-12; 2 Corinthians 12:14-13:14

In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided. Gen. 22:14 NKJV
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. Psalm 24:1 NKJV
For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. Psalm 50:10 NKJV

When in need, we often look at our meagre provisions and assume that is all God has to work with. Not so! We are reminded here that He owns it all. He can make something out of nothing and something become nothing. God isn’t limited like we are; His power and His resources are infinite. Nothing is out of His reach or ability. Trust Him today. —Deborah Manera

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. —John H. Sammis

1 Samuel 11:1-12:25; Isaiah 51:9-23; 2 Corinthians 12:1-13

My Lord and my God. John 20:28

We never read of Thomas putting his finger into the print of the nails. After seeing the Lord, Thomas bowed the knee and said “my Lord and my God”. Soon we are going to see Him. I wonder what we shall say in that day? —John M. Clegg

Oh what shall we feel in Thy presence when first,
The visions of glory, upon us shall burst!
Since now our soul longeth and seeketh for Thee;
Oh, when blessed Saviour, Thy face shall we see? —E. Grimley

1 Samuel 9:15-10:27; Isaiah 50:1-51:8; 2 Corinthians 11:1-33

From the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard … Daniel 10:12 NKJV

When they need it, God gives His people glimpses of what He is doing. God encouraged Daniel by letting him know that his prayer had been heard the first time it was presented. God knows when we need a spiritual lift and at the right time He gives it to us. He pulls back the curtain and allows us to see His hand at work. Let us humble ourselves as we seek His purposes. —Laura Fraser

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain. —Katharina von Schlegel

1 Samuel 8:1-9:14; Isaiah 49:1-26; 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. 4:16

Because Christ paid the price for our sin we have the privilege of coming boldly into the very presence of a holy God. For an unsaved sinner to do so would mean instant judgment and death. But trusting in Christ’s death, we now, as His children, can approach, not only a “Holy God,” but a “loving heavenly Father”, who cares about the smallest detail of our lives and is waiting to graciously answer every prayer we may make. —David Croudace

By grace alone somehow I stand, where even angels fear to tread.
Invited by redeeming love, before the throne of God above,
Christ pulls me close with nail-scarred hands, into His everlasting arms. —Rend Co

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