Ask for the Old Paths

from my Bible reading this morning:

Jeremiah 6:16
Thus saith the LORD,
Stand ye in the ways, and see,
and ask for the old paths,
where is the good way,
and walk therein,
and ye shall find rest for your souls.
But they said, We will not walk therein.

Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see –
Let us observe the metaphor.
A traveler is going to a particular city;
he comes to a place where the road divides into several paths,
he is afraid of going astray;
he stops short, – endeavors to find out the right path:
he cannot fix his choice.
At last he sees another traveler;
he inquires of him, gets proper directions –
proceeds on his journey –
arrives at the desired place –
and reposes after his fatigue.
. . .

The soul needs rest;
it can only find this by walking in the good way.
The good way is that which has been trodden
by the saints from the beginning:
it is the old way,
the way of faith and holiness.
Believe,
Love,
Obey;
be holy,
and be happy.
This is the way;
let us inquire for it,
and walk in it.

But these bad people said,
We will not walk in it.
Then they took another way,
walked over the precipice,
and fell into the bottomless pit;
where, instead of rest,
they find: –
– a fiery deluge, fed
With ever-burning sulfur, unconsumed.
Clarke’s Commentary

Published in: on October 23, 2017 at 12:32 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Keep All My Commandments Always

Deuteronomy 5:1
And Moses called all Israel,
and said unto them, Hear, O Israel,
the statutes and judgments
which I speak in your ears this day,
that ye may learn them,
and keep, and do them.

1. God speaks to the people.
2. The people are called to hear what God speaks.
3. To learn what they heard, that they may be thoroughly instructed in the will of God.
4. To keep God’s testimonies ever in mind, and to treasure them up in a believing and upright heart.
5. That they might do them – obey the whole will of God, taking his word for the invariable rule of their conduct. Should not all these points be kept in view by every Christian assembly? Clarke’s Commentary

Deuteronomy 5:33
Ye shall walk in all the ways
which the LORD your God hath commanded you,
that ye may live,
and that it may be well with you,
and that ye may prolong your days
in the land which ye shall possess.

God never gave a commandment to man which he did not design that he should obey.
That ye may enjoy life,  . . .that it may be well with you  . . .God will prosper you in all things essential to the welfare of your bodies, and the salvation of your souls.
That ye may arrive at a good old age, and grow more and more meet for the inheritance among the saints in light. Clarke’s Commentary

Deuteronomy 5:29
O that there were such an heart in them,
that they would fear me,
and keep all my commandments always,
that it might be well with them,
and with their children for ever!

Published in: on August 2, 2017 at 4:36 am  Comments (1)  
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For Consider Him . . .

cross

Hebrews 12:1-3

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about
with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider him that endured
such contradiction of sinners against himself,
lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

FOR CONSIDER HIM . . .
Attentively observe and analyze every part of his conduct,
enter into his spirit, examine his motives and object,
and remember that, as he acted, ye are called to act;
he will furnish you with the same Spirit,
and will support you with the same strength.
He bore a continual opposition of sinners against himself;
but he conquered by meekness, patience, and perseverance:
he has left you an example that ye should follow his steps.
If ye trust in him, ye shall receive strength;
therefore, howsoever great your opposition may be,
ye shall not be weary:
if ye confide in and attentively look to him,
ye shall have continual courage to go on,
and never faint in your minds.
Clarke’s Commentary

Published in: on July 18, 2016 at 1:14 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Delight in the Law of the Lord

March 29-30 YP cabin trip 002Delighting in the words of God

Psalm 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the LORD;
and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

from Clarke’s Commentary

But his delight is in the law of the Lord –
his will, desire, affection, every motive in his heart,
and every moving principle in his soul,
are on the side of God and his truth.
He takes up the law of the Lord as the rule of his life;
he brings all his actions and affections to this holy standard.
He looketh into the perfect law of liberty;
and is not a forgetful hearer,
but a doer of the word;
and is therefore blessed in his deed.
He not only reads to gain knowledge from the Divine oracles,
but he meditates on what he has read,
feeds on it; and thus receiving the sincere milk of the word,
he grows thereby unto eternal life.
This is not an occasional study to him;
it is his work day and night.
As his heart is in it,
the employment must be frequent,
and the disposition to it perpetual.

Published in: on June 13, 2016 at 12:38 pm  Leave a Comment  
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The Law of Kindness

The law of kindness is that a rule, a commandment, a guideline not to be broken?

Should all my words stand before this law?

Do my words comply with this law?

Do my words measure up?

Are my words adorned with kindness?

And not just the words but how does the tone of my voice sound: cutting, sarcastic, belittling.. . ?

Kind   —  Of a friendly, generous, or warm-hearted nature.   Showing sympathy or understanding; charitable:

Kindness  acting out being kind

“In her tongue is the law of kindness – This is the most distinguishing excellence of this woman. There are very few of those who are called managing women who are not lords over their husbands, tyrants over their servants, and insolent among their neighbors. But this woman, with all her eminence and excellence, was of a meek and quiet spirit. Blessed woman!”  ~Clarke’s Commentary

Whose adorning . . .let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 1Peter 3:3-4

“A meek and quiet spirit – That is, a mind that will not give provocation to others, nor receive irritation by the provocation of others. Meekness will prevent the first; quietness will guard against the last”.  ~Clarke’s Commentary

The Proverb’s 31 Woman has been lifted up as our example. At times I feel I’ll never reach those heights, but kindness, I think that is doable if I pause before I speak and ask for Christ’s words, Christ’s love , Christ’s compassion to be the motivation of my words.

This is my prayer today.
Okay, keep the shield up……… an attack/test is coming.

photo – onemoneydesign.com

Published in: on November 1, 2011 at 10:55 am  Leave a Comment