Gems for the Week
July 17 - 22
"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over."
(Psalm 23:5)
David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, who wrote this beautiful psalm, had many wonderful experiences while tending his father's sheep. The Spirit of God uses these incidents to illustrate spiritual lessons. The reason David gleaned such rich, practical lessons from his experiences was because he went through them with the Lord. He was aware of the Lord's presence with him when alone in the fields of Judah keeping his father's sheep. He there met with a bear and a lion and slew them both, rescuing the sheep. His confidence was in God.
David not only learned to know the Lord's power and protection. He also enjoyed the Lord's provision for him. Think of what is implied by a table prepared in the presence of his enemies. The Lord Himself prepares that table, telling forth His conquering love. And His people can feast upon that love. In Genesis 14:18 we see how Melchizedek brought forth bread and wine and blessed Abraham who was returning from battle with trophies of his victory.
The head anointed with oil brings before us the Holy Spirit sent down from the Great Victor, our risen glorified Head in heaven. From there He now pours forth all spiritual blessings upon His people. Enjoying these while feeding at His table will fill the heart with joy and praise. "My cup runneth over." When a heart is so filled with Christ, It must overflow, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (J. Redekop)
N.J. Hiebert # 2312
"My heart is inditing (welling forth with) a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made (composed) touching the king."
(Psalm 45:1)
This is worship. Notice its focus: not so much what He has done, but what He is - His intrinsic worth. Are we able to enter into this kind of appreciation of Him? Listen again to that divine acclamation, "This is My beloved Son in whom Is all My delight." This was true before the Lord Jesus had done anything that man could see. It was true before His incarnation. Throughout eternity past all God's delights were centered in the Son.
To illustrate further, consider Psalm 95:
"Come, let us sing aloud to Jehovah, Let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation;
Let us come before His face with thanksgiving; Let us shout aloud unto Him with psalms."
Why?
"For Jehovah is a great God." "Come, let us worship and bow down."
Why?
"For He is our God."
Worship is not a product of the mind or will, but the gushings forth of the soul that has been set in awe by the presence and knowledge of Him who is worshipped. It is the irrepressible response of the heart brought into an awareness of His matchless worth and incomparable person. (H.B. Duncanson)
N.J. Hiebert # 2313
"Finally (For the rest) brethren, whatsoever things are true. . . honest (noble). . . just. . . pure. . . lovely (amiable). . . of good report; if there be any virtue, and if any praise, think on these things."
(Philippians 4:8)
There are not so many hours in a year as there may be thoughts in an hour. Thoughts fly in flocks like starlings, and swarm like bees. Like the sere leaves in autumn, there is no counting them and like the links in a chain, one draws on another. What a restless being man is! His thoughts dance up and down like midges on a summer's evening. Like a clock full of wheels, with the pendulum in full swing, his mind moves as fast as time flies. This makes thinking such an important business, for "as a man thinketh in heart, so is he." (Psalm 23:7)
We ought to mind our thoughts, for if they turn to be our enemies they will be too many for us and will drag us down to ruin. Thoughts from heaven, like birds in spring, will fill our souls with music; but thoughts of evil will sting us like vipers.
There is a notion abroad that thought is free; bit I remember reading that although thoughts are toll-free, they are not hell-free; and that saying quite agrees with the Bible. We cannot be summoned before an earthly court for thinking, but depend upon it, we shall have to be tried for it at the Bar of God. Evil thoughts are the marrow of sin; the malt that sin is brewed from; the tinder which catches the sparks of the devil's temptations; the churn in which the milk of imagination is churned into purpose and plan; the nest in which all evil birds lay their eggs. Be certain, then, that as sure as fire burns brushwood as well as logs, God will punish thoughts of sin as well as deeds of sin. (C.H. Spurgeon)
N.J. Hiebert # 2314
"And he called his ten servants and delivered them ten pounds and said unto them, Occupy till I come." (Luke 19:11)
The true servant will be waiting for the coming of the Lord. If the heart is really estranged from the world and set on heavenly things, what expectation will bring such blessedness as the thought of the Lord's return? The idle servant, whose heart was full of hard thoughts of his lord, could of course entertain no bright hopes in connection with his coming again. To him the thought must necessarily be unwelcome. But what joy would the prospect bring to the heart of the faithful servant who had been living and labouring for him during his absence! Are our hearts thus waiting and longing? Are we occupying for Christ during His absence, seeking to act in obedience to His Word, waiting in joyful anticipation for His return? (T.B.B.)
N.J. Hiebert # 2315
". . . the church: whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God (to present to you the word of God in its fullness)."
(Colossians 1:24,25)
God's word speaks of grace as well as truth. It speaks of God's grace and love, who gave His only begotten Son that sinners like you and me might be with Him, know Him - deeply, intimately, truly know Him - and enjoy Him forever, and enjoy Him now, that the conscience perfectly purged might be in joy in His presence, without a cloud, without a reproach, without a fear. And to be these in His love, in such a way, is perfect joy. The written Word will tell you the truth concerning yourself; but it will tell you the truth of a God of love, while unfolding the wisdom of His counsels....
By far the best means of assuring himself of the truth and authority of the Word, is to read the Word itself. (J.N. Darby)
N.J. Hiebert # 2316
"And he said, let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." (Genesis 32:26)
The mighty Wrestler says, "Let Me go, for the day breaketh." What a striking _expression, "Let Me go." He was determined to make manifest the condition of Jacob's soul. If Jacob had without delay let go his grasp, he would have proved that his heart was still wrapped up in his worldly plans and schemes; but on the contrary, when he cries out, "I will not let Thee go," he declares that God alone was the spring of all his soul's joy and strength; he in effect says, "Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides Thee" (Psalm 73:25); or with the twelve (disciples) in John 6, "Lord to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." (C.H. Mackintosh)
N.J. Hiebert # 2317
