"Salvation is of the LORD." -Jonah 2:9

"They did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan."   -Exodus 16:35 [KJV] How graciously did God the Holy Ghost teach Israel, by type and shadow, concerning good things to come! It must be our duty, and it will prove our happiness, to read in every event, as far as the Holy Ghost teacheth, our new testament blessings dressed up in the old testament figures. The feeding of the church in the wilderness with manna forty years, was a standing miracle, and, as such, became a most suitable type of Jesus. My soul, look at it, this evening, in this point of view, and behold what the Spirit holds forth in it, concerning the Lord Jesus.   The continuance of this supply from heaven became a beautiful resemblance of the state of believers in all ages. The rebellion of Israel occasioned not any suspension of the mercy; for though they murmured and rebelled, the manna was sent the same, "new and pure every morning." Sweet thought to the poor timid belie...

"Surely, shall one say, In the L ORD have I righteousness and strength ." -Isaiah 45:24 [KJV] The same blessed Spirit who shines as Who shines with a ray of light and life into the conscience, to make it feel the guilt of sin, the curse of the law, and its own miserable state as a transgressor, leads it also into this secret, that it has no strength. Have you never felt that you were utterly powerless—that you would believe, but could not; would hope, but could not; would love, but could not; would keep God's word, but could not; would obey His commandments, but were not able? Has a sense of your own miserable impotency and thorough helplessness never pressed you down almost to despair? You felt sure that there was a faith, a hope, a love, a blessing, and a blessedness in the truth of God; a pardon, a peace, a heavenly joy; an assurance of salvation, a union and communion with the Lord Jesus, which you saw, but could not reach. You felt that if you could believe, all wo...

  Jesus, The Blessed Man! by D G Miles McKee   “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”   -Psalms 1:1 [KJV] I was very much impressed when I read of Joseph Flacks, a Bible scholar of an earlier generation, recall his visit to Jerusalem. When in that ancient city, he was given the opportunity of addressing a gathering of Jewish men all of whom were presumably unconverted. For his text, Mr. Flacks took Psalm One. After reading the first verse he changed the tenses and read the same verse as follows, “Blessed is the man who  has not  walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor  stood  in the way of sinners, nor  sat  in the seat of the scornful.” He said to them, “Now, my brethren, who is this blessed man of whom the psalmist speaks? Notice, this blessed man is a man who never walked in the counsel of the ungodly, he never stood in th...

"Thus saith the L ORD , Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me." - Jeremiah 9:23, 24 [KJV] So we are allowed to glory. But in what and in whom? Not in ourselves;  that  is for ever disannulled. The Lord has purposed to pour contempt upon all human glory, that none should glory in himself, whatever he be or whatever he have. But when a man has a view of the Son of God in His beauty, in His suitability, in His heavenly grace and divine glory, then he can and may glory in the Lord. He can say, "O what a Lord there is above! How glorious is He in His excellency, in His suitability, and in His blessedness; how glorious His wisdom, His righteousness, His sanctification, and His redemption. Let my whole glory be there; let me not take to myself a single atom of it. If I am wise, let me give Him the glory of b...

  "And being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him." - Hebrews 5:9 [KJV] By His sufferings in the garden and upon the cross the Lord Jesus was made perfect. But what perfection was this? It clearly does not mean that by these sufferings in the garden and upon the cross our Lord was made perfect as the Son of God, nor perfect as the Son of man, for He was perfect before as possessing infinite perfection in His eternal Godhead, and was endued also with every possible perfection of which His sacred humanity was capable. He needed no perfection to be added to His Godhead; it was not susceptible of it; no perfection to be added to His manhood, for it was "a holy thing" in union with eternal Deity.  But He needed to be made perfect as a High Priest. It was through His sufferings that He was  consecrated  or dedicated in an especial manner to the priesthood, for this corresponds with His own words: "And for their sakes ...

  "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." - Romans 8:26 [KJV] In all our prayers, in all our approaches to the throne, our mercy and wisdom will be to seek to possess the mind of the Spirit; to desire to know the will of God, and do it; to look up more believingly and continually to the Lord Jesus, that He Himself would teach and guide us; that He would by His Spirit and grace conform us more inwardly and outwardly to His suffering image; that He would grant unto us to know Him more, and serve Him better; that our prayers may day by day be more and more fervent, earnest, and sincere, more spiritual, more in accordance with the will of God; that thus they may be more and more manifested as the interceding breath of the Spirit of God in our hearts, and as such may bring more clear and evident answers down.   Pray for the mani...

  "If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates, in thy land which the L ORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother; but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth."   -Deuteronomy 15:7, 8 [KJV] How is it possible, dearest Lord Jesus, that I can read this scripture, and call to mind Thy obedience for me, in fulfilling the whole law, without connecting with it all the blessedness of looking up to Thee under every circumstance, and in every case, for Thy favour and Thy love? When Jesus became circumcised for His people, He made Himself a debtor to the whole law. And is not this delightful precept of my evening meditation a part of it?   Surely, Lord, this precept speaks to Thee. Not that my glorious Surety needed a command to the love of any of His poor brethren; for, blessed Jesus, Thy love brought Thee d...