Daily Bible Notes: January, 30th
The following daily bible notes for every day of the year, are taken from six public domain sources:
- "Morning and Evening" by Charles H.Spurgeon
- "My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year" by John H.Jowett
- "Yet Another Day - A Prayer for Every Day of the Year" by John H.Jowett
- "The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith" by Charles H.Spurgeon
- "The Morning Message" by G.Campbell Morgan
- An Evening Meditation from "Searchlights from the Word" by G. Campbell Morgan
1. "Morning and Evening" by C.H.Spurgeon
Morning
When thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, then thou shalt bestir thyself.
2 Samuel 5:24
The members of Christ’s Church should be very prayerful, always seeking the unction of the Holy One to rest upon their hearts, that the kingdom of Christ may come, and that His "will be done on earth, even as it is in heaven;" but there are times when God seems especially to favour Zion, such seasons ought to be to them like "the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees." We ought then to be doubly prayerful, doubly earnest, wrestling more at the throne than we have been wont to do.
Action should then be prompt and vigorous. The tide is flowing - now let us pull manfully for the shore. O for Pentecostal outpourings and Pentecostal labours. Christian, in yourself there are times "when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees." You have a peculiar power in prayer; the Spirit of God gives you joy and gladness; the Scripture is open to you; the promises are applied; you walk in the light of God’s countenance; you have peculiar freedom and liberty in devotion, and more closeness of communion with Christ than was your wont. Now, at such joyous periods when you hear the "sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees," is the time to bestir yourself; now is the time to get rid of any evil habit, while God the Spirit helpeth your infirmities. Spread your sail; but remember what you sometimes sing - "I can only spread the sail; Thou! Thou! must breathe the auspicious gale."
Only be sure you have the sail up. Do not miss the gale for want of preparation for it. Seek help of God, that you may be more earnest in duty when made more strong in faith; that you may be more constant in prayer when you have more liberty at the throne; that you may be more holy in your conversation whilst you live more closely with Christ.
Evening
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance.
Ephesians 1:11
When Jesus gave Himself for us, He gave us all the rights and privileges which went with Himself; so that now, although as eternal God, He has essential rights to which no creature may venture to pretend, yet as Jesus, the Mediator, the federal Head of the covenant of grace, He has no heritage apart from us. All the glorious consequences of His obedience unto death are the joint riches of all who are in Him, and on whose behalf He accomplished the divine will. See, He enters into glory, but not for Himself alone, for it is written, "Whither the Forerunner is for us entered." Heb. 6:20. Does He stand in the presence of God? -"He appears in the presence of God for us ." Heb. 9:24. Consider this, believer. You have no right to heaven in yourself: your right lies in Christ. If you are pardoned, it is through His blood; if you are justified, it is through His righteousness; if you are sanctified, it is because He is made of God unto you sanctification; if you shall be kept from falling, it will be because you are preserved in Christ Jesus; and if you are perfected at the last, it will be because you are complete in Him . Thus Jesus is magnified - for all is in Him and by Him; thus the inheritance is made certain to us - for it is obtained in Him; thus each blessing is the sweeter, and even heaven itself the brighter, because it is Jesus our Beloved "in whom" we have obtained all. Where is the man who shall estimate our divine portion? Weigh the riches of Christ in scales, and His treasure in balances, and then think to count the treasures which belong to the saints. Reach the bottom of Christ’s sea of joy, and then hope to understand the bliss which God hath prepared for them that love Him. Overleap the boundaries of Christ’s possessions, and then dream of a limit to the fair inheritance of the elect. "All things are yours, for ye are Christ’s and Christ is God’s."
2. "My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year" by J.H.Jowett
Psalms 56
1 Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.
2 My enemies want to swallow me up all day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me.
3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
4 In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
5 All day long they twist my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They conspire and lurk, watching my steps. They are eager to take my life.
7 Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, God.
8 You count my wanderings. You put my tears into your container. Aren't they in your book?
9 Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call. I know this: that God is for me.
10 In God, I will praise his word. In the LORD, I will praise his word.
11 I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
12 Your vows are on me, God. I will give thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered my soul from death, and prevented my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
IRRESISTIBLE ARTILLERY
"When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back."
But it must be a real "cry"! It must not be an idle recitation which sheds no blood. It must be a cry like the cry of the drowning, a cry which cleaves the air like a bullet. Said a man to me some while ago, "Assault the heavens with cries for me!" That is the cry which takes the kingdom by storm.
When such a cry rends the heavens, "my enemies turn back." A secret and irresistible artillery begins to play upon them, and their strength fails. Yes, believing prayer calls these invisible allies into the field. "The mountains are full of horses and chariots of fire round about!" And the enemy flies!
"This I know." The psalmist is building upon experience. The miracle has happened a hundred times. Many a morning has he seen the enemy vaingloriously tramping the field, and he has cried unto the Lord, and before nightfall there has been a perfect rout. Blessed is the man who has had such heartening dealings with the Lord that he can now face a hostile host in unclouded faith and assurance!
3. "Yet Another Day - A Prayer for Every Day of the Year" by John H.Jowett
January 30th.
Heavenly Father, I thank Thee for Thy care. Thy mercies are without number. Thou crownest the day with Thy goodness.
Help me to see all the tokens of Thy grace! Deliver me from blindness! May I see the prints of Thy feet everywhere!
4. "The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith" by C.H.Spurgeon.
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest.
Genesis 25:15
Do we need journeying mercies? Here are choice ones - God's presence and preservation. In all places we need both of these, and in all places we shall have them if we go at the call of duty, and not merely according to our own fancy. Why should we look upon removal to another country as a sorrowful necessity when it is laid upon us by the divine will? In all lands the believer is equally a pilgrim and a stranger; and yet in every region the Lord is his dwelling-place, even as he has been to his saints in all generations. We may miss the protection of an earthly monarch, but when God says, "I will keep thee," we are in no real danger. This is a blessed passport for a traveller, and a heavenly escort for an emigrant.
Jacob had never left his father's room before: he had been a mother's boy, and not an adventurer like his brother. Yet he went abroad, and God went with him. He had little luggage, and no attendants; yet no prince ever journeyed with a nobler body-guard. Even while he slept in the open field, angels watched over him, and the Lord God spoke to him. If the Lord bids us go, let us say with our Lord Jesus, "Arise, let us go hence."
5. "The Morning Message" by G.Campbell Morgan.
The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing.
Isaiah 55:12
I will trust Him to do what He promises, and lo! the desert is gone and the garden is here, the mountains are singing, the hills are uttering an anthem, the very leaves have begun their great applause, the brier is withering, and the myrtle is coming. (Ed: Literally interpreted Isa 55:12 would be very compatible with the Millennium. See Isa 51:11).
6. "An Evening Meditation" taken from "Searchlights from the Word" by G.Campbell Morgan.
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh.
Psalms 2:4
This is an arresting statement. Thrice only in the Bible is laughter predicated of God; - here, and in two other Psalms, viz. 37:13 and 59:8. In each case it is the laughter of derision, of contempt; and in each case it is the expression of contempt for those who in foolish pride of heart oppose themselves to Him, and to the purposes of His love for men. He laughs at the kings and rulers who oppose themselves to the King Whom He has appointed to bring blessedness to the sons of men. He laughs at the wicked who plotteth against the just. He laughs at bloodthirsty men. This derisive laughter of God is the comfort of all those who love righteousness. It is the laughter of the might of holiness; it is the laughter of the strength of love. God does not exult over the sufferings of sinning men. He does hold in derision all the proud boastings and violence of such as seek to prevent His will for the blessing of humanity, through the establishment of righteousness. There is no note in the music of this glorious song of the coronation of the Son of God more full of comfort than this which tells of the contempt of God for those who covenant together to revolt against His government. His laughter is reinforced by the speaking of His wrath, and the vexing of His displeasure. Yet this Hebrew singer knew the deepest things of his God, for the last of the song is an appeal to kings and judges to yield themselves to the ordained authority, and so to find the blessedness of those who put their trust in the anointed Son.
Note: To the best of our knowledge we are of the understanding that the above material, all published before 1926 and freely available elsewhere on the internet in various formats, is in the public domain.