A BRANCH OUT OF HIS ROOTS
Isai 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
He is not only a "Rod", but a "Branch". As you meditate upon this verse you are compelled to think first of the root, then of the shoot, (or "rod"), pushing its way up through the earth, and then of the branch, growing in stre ...read
Devotional
A BUNDLE OF MYRRH
Song 1:13 A bundle of myrrh [is] my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
Myrrh was one of the ingredients in the holy anointing oil which was used to anoint Aaron and the priests. Our Lord was "anointed with the oil of gladness" and He is the Joy of His own. When we come to God The Father we must come in the Name ...read
Devotional
A CERTAIN NOBLEMAN
Luke 19:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
The setting of this picture is remarkable. Our Lord is standing with the Jews around Him, in the shadows of a palace built by a nobleman, Archelaus, who had gone to Rome and received the kingdom from Caesar. Our Lord is t ...read
Devotional
A CERTAIN SAMARITAN
Luke 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion [on him],
The story of the Good Samaritan is familiar to all of us, but read it again. Here we take the liberty of viewing our Lord as "a certain Samaritan". Humanity was His neighbor. He loved all, Lived for all, labored for all ...read
Devotional
A Chief Corner Stone
"Behold, I lay in Sion a Chief Corner Stone...and he that believeth on Him shall not be comfounded." 1 Peter 2:6
Every structure must have a foundation and those of special honor must have a corner-stone. Christ is the Chief Corner Stone of the most wonderful temple ever conceived. This temple is built of human lives-blood-washed saints of ...read
Devotional
A CLUSTER OF CAMPHIRE
Song 1:14 My beloved [is] unto me [as] a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi. {camphire: or, cypress}
Here is a wonderous vision of what Christ is and what He should be to the Church. What a sorrow it is that so many Christians have only a conception of Christ as their Saviour from sin, but fail to recognize that in-Him is everyth ...read
Devotional
A COMMANDER
Isai 55:4 Behold, I have given him [for] a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
A study of the history of nations reveals to us many great commanders. Napoleon was an example of such, and the Old Testament tells us of many great men who God raised up for His people, but no one could rank with God's Own Son Who is the ...read
Devotional
A COVERT FROM THE TEMPEST
Isai 32:2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. {great: Heb. heavy}
There never could be but one Man to whom this title could be applied, and that is, the Man Christ Jesus. We must face the storms of life, and we ar ...read
Devotional
A CROWN OF GLORY
Isai 28:5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
We should read the first five verses of this chapter in order to get the proper vision of the glorious scene portrayed. Uplifted pride is to be trodden down under His feet. Those who are always seeking to live in ...read
Devotional
A DIADEM OF BEAUTY
Isai 28:5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
Words are but poor things to convey to our minds the glories that await us "in that day" when we shall gaze upon our Lord as a "Diadem Of Beauty." What will it be to see Him then, He whose life here upon eart ...read
Devotional
A FOUNDATION
Isai 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
The moral condition of Israel is revealed in the verses which immediately follow this verse, and as we read we cannot but compare it with present da ...read
Devotional
A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER
Prov 18:24 A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
What a tie that binds us to Christ, closer than any earthly relationship could ever be! He cleaves to us through all earthly experiences. We are bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh. We are one -WITH- Him. There is ...read
Devotional
A GLORIOUS THRONE
Isai 22:23 And I will fasten him [as] a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.
We have here the suggestion of "the Father's house", which is Heaven, and the "Glorious Throne" which that house contains, and that "Throne" is our Lord Jesus Christ, for "throne" is often used as a symbol of r ...read
Devotional
A GOVERNOR
And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. {rule: or, feed}
Bethlehem of Judea! A little village, twice highly honored! The birthplace of David, King of Israel, and the birthplace of Jesus the Christ, King of kings and Lord o ...read
Devotional
A GRAIN OF WHEAT
John 12:23,24 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
His first bed a lowly feeding trough, before He could be glorified, The Bread of Heaven m ...read
Devotional
A GREAT LIGHT
Isai 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
The days have been dark in this poor, sin-cursed world ever since the clouds covered the Garden of Eden. The children of men need light. God is good and has made provision for their need, b ...read
Devotional
A GREAT MOUNTAIN
Dani 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
What a theme! What a picture ...read
Devotional
A GREAT PROPHET
Luke 7:16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
Four centuries had elapsed since Malachi had passed away, and Israel had been without a Prophetic Voice. Now they are stirred by the Presence of Jesus and glorify God. Israel was not forsak ...read
Devotional
A GUEST
Luke 19:7 And when they saw [it], they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
Zaccheus was highly honored when Christ invited Himself to be his Guest. How like our Lord! He knew Zaccheus wanted to see Him and He sought him out and became his Guest. How we would congratulate ourselves were some noted p ...read
Devotional
A Lamb Without Blemish or Spot
"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" 1 Peter 1:19
Our familiarity with Scriptural terms often causes us to minimize their meaning. Here we have two words so marvelously wonderful that we are hesitant in our effort to make any comment-"Blood" and "Lamb." How precious the Blood! Millions ...read
