“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14 An experimental knowledge of crucifixion with his crucified Lord made Paul preach the cross, not only in its power to save, but in its … Read more
“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness.” 1 Corinthians 1:22, 23 The mystery of the cross can be received only by faith. To the Jews it was a stumblingblock, and to the Greeks foolishness, but … Read more
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.” Psalm 42:1 What a striking figure has David made use of in these words. Conceive a wounded stag, with the arrow in his flank or pursued by a crowd of hunters and hounds, all eager to pull him down; … Read more
“Perplexed, but not in despair.” 2 Corinthians 4:8 Oh! what a mercy, amidst every degree of inward or outward perplexity, to be out of the reach of Giant Despair; not to be shut up in the iron cage; not to be abandoned, as Judas or Ahithophel, to utter desperation and suicide, and, after a long … Read more
“Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” Ephesians 2:20 The meaning of this expression, which frequently occurs in the New Testament, is, we think, often misunderstood. It is taken in the first instance from the declaration concerning our Lord in the Psalms, which he in the gospels (Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17) specially claimed and … Read more
“And he is the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 2:2 What is “propitiation?” By propitiation we are to understand, a sacrifice acceptable to Jehovah; by which God, or rather the attributes of God are propitiated; whereby God can be favourable; whereby mercy, grace, and pardon can freely flow forth. Now sin, and the law … Read more
“And patience of hope.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3 What is meant by the expression “patience?” It means endurance; as though hope had to endure, faith to work, and love to labour. It is the “patience of hope” that proves its reality and genuineness. Hope does not go forward fighting and cutting its way. Hope is like … Read more
“Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Matthew 5:5 Spiritual poverty is a miserable feeling of soul-emptiness before God, an inward sinking sensation that there is nothing in our hearts spiritually good, nothing which can deliver us from the justly merited wrath of God, or save us from the lowest hell. And intimately blended with the … Read more
“Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.” Psalm 84:7 As the Lord is true, no spiritual pilgrim will ever fall and die in the valley of Baca. Some may fear that through temptation their strong passions or boiling lusts will one day break out and destroy them. No, not if they are pilgrims. … Read more
“They go from strength to strength.” Psalm 84:7 “They go from strength to strength.” It is in the margin, “from company to company.” I rather think, that the meaning implied is, “they go from halting place to halting place.” There were certain fixed spots where the whole company rested at night; as we read, when … Read more
“Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.” Psalm 84:5, 6 David casts a glimpse here at those pilgrims who were taking their upward journey to worship God in … Read more
“He led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.” Deuteronomy 32:10 “He led them about.” This was true literally. What a circuitous, tangled, backward and forward route was that of the children of Israel in the wilderness! Yet every step was under God’s direction; they never moved till … Read more