Psalm 23:1 “The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” ~~ With Broken Heart and Contrite Sigh Author: Cornelius Elven Tune: Just As I Am (William B. Bradley) 1. With broken heart and contrite sigh, A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry. Thy pardoning grace is rich and free,--O God, be merciful to me! 2. I smite upon my troubled breast, With deep and conscious guilt oppressed: Christ and His cross my only plea,--O God, be merciful to me! 3. Far off I stand with tearful eyes Nor dare uplift them to the skies; But Thou dost all my anguish see,--O God, be merciful to me! 4. No alms or deeds that I have done Can for a single sin atone. To Calvary alone I flee,-- O God, be merciful to me! 5. And when, redeemed from sin and hell, With all the ransomed throng I dwell, My raptured song shall ever be, O God, be merciful to me! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Trust His heart - even when you can’t trace His hand! “And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation” Psalm 107:7. God’s thoughts are not as our thoughts - neither are His ways as our ways! This truth is strikingly exemplified in the manner in which He led the Israelites from Egypt to the promised land. We would have chosen the way that was nearest and most direct - but God decided otherwise. He led them round about through the wilderness, and that for the space of forty years! And not merely was it the most distant way - but it was the most dangerous way as well. It was a land of deserts and of pits - a land of drought and death - a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt. But, as strange as it appeared, we are fully justified in saying that it was wisely arranged. Their long detainments; their tiresome and circuitous wanderings; their fierce conflicts with the Moabites and the Amalekites; the bitter waters which they had to drink; and the fiery serpents with which they were stung - all fulfilled the high purposes of Him who is excellent in counsel, as well as wonderful in working. However contrary His way might have been to theirs - yet, “He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.” And His dealings with His people now, are still as unusual and as much opposed to all their preconceived plans as were His dealings with the Israelites! He has crossed their own schemes, and thwarted their most fondly-cherished purposes! He always effects His own ends - in His own way! Christian, what is your duty? It is to cherish high thoughts of God in all His inscrutable dealings towards you. It is to trust His heart - even when you can’t trace His hand; believing that “all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.” It is to follow His guidance continually; for as He led His people of old with “the cloud by day, the pillared fire by night” - so He has promised to direct all your steps and preserve all your goings. It is to wait His time; for although the way may appear long and tedious - yet remember, all is well that ends well. And what will the end be? “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads! They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away!” --John MacDuff ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Miklat of My Soul “Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither”-Deut. 19 3. Sweet thought to my soul, that He who is the refuge is also the way to every poor soul-slayer, who hath murdered his own soul by sin. And who, my soul, could prepare thee this way, but God thy Father, who gave both Jesus for the way, and Jesus for the refuge? And how hath God the Spirit pointed to the way, cast up and prepared it, by taking up the stumbling-blocks out of the way, as God saith of His people? Isaiah 57:14. Is it not God the Holy Ghost that sets Jesus up, as Moses did the serpent; points to His person, to His blood, to His righteousness, as the sanctuary and the city of refuge to every poor sinner that is the manslayer of his own soul? And if what the Jews have said be true, that magistrates once a year made it their duty to have the roads examined, lest any obstructions should arise to block the path of the poor fugitive; and that they were obliged to set up a post at every turning and avenue, with the word miklat-refuge, upon it, to direct the murderer in his flight; well may ministers, every day, and all the day, stand in the gates of the city, and in the high places of concourse, pointing to Jesus, and crying out, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!” Precious Lord Jesus! lo, I come to Thee; Thou art my City of Refuge-Thou art the Miklat of my soul! Under Thee, and in Thee, I shall be safe. Cease, ye avengers of blood, your vain pursuit; Christ hath taken me in. Thou shalt answer for me, Oh Lord my God. --Robert Hawker
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Daily Readings January 26-February 1 26 - Exodus 14-15; Matthew 17 27 - Exodus 16-18; Matthew 18:1-20 28 - Exodus 19-20; Matthew 18:21-35 29 - Exodus 21-22; Matthew 19: 30 - Exodus 23-24; Matthew 20:1-16 31 - Exodus 25-26; Matthew 20:17-34 1 - Exodus 27-28; Matthew 21:1-22
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