The servant, with his sense of a divine call, equipment, and protection, sees through his temporary defeat to the ultimate glory which his God will enable him to achieve. The servant is Israel, languishing in exile; his destiny is to bless the world, to be “a light to the Gentiles.”

The people of God are liable to falling into temptation, into sin, into errors and mistakes, from an exercise of grace, or from a degree of steadfastness in Gospel truths, and even into a final and total apostacy, were it not for divine power; and they are not able to keep themselves.

He who believing grasps the living Lord has a contact with Him as immediate and as real as that of the eyeball with light, and knows Him with a certitude as reliable as that which sight gives. ‘Seeing is believing,’ says sense; ‘Believing is seeing,’ says the spirit which clings to the Lord, ‘whom having not seen’ it loves. A bridge of perishable flesh, which is not myself but my tool, connects me with the outward world.

IN this book are many things difficult to be understood, and capable of being perverted by any one who desires to justify himself in an undue attachment to the world. But a reference to the condition of the author will enable us to explain the whole in a satisfactory and consistent manner.

God had an important work for Moses to do and for this he must be prepared. That work was to lead His people out of Egypt, and conduct them unto the promised inheritance. And for this work Moses was not yet equipped.

Thus, in Hebrews 9:11, 12 we have the actual ministry of Christ declared, in vv. 13, 14 the proofs that it was “more excellent.”

And let us not be weary in well-doing. The reference here is particularly to the support of the ministers of religion (ver. 6), but the apostle makes the exhortation general. Christians sometimes become weary. There is so much opposition to the best plans for doing good; there is so much to be done; there are so many calls on their time and their charities; and there is often so much ingratitude among those whom they endeavor to benefit, that they become disheartened. Such Pa

The true servant of God cannot but be grieved that he must rebuke Christians for sin, nor can he shun to make those sorry for a season whom he would rather make glad. If the offenders will but let their sorrow work true repentance, God’s minister may rejoice in the nature of their sorrow when it is turned again to joy that is durable.

This principle is of far-reaching application. We are to serve Christ by discharging all the duties of life so as to please Him. This suggests a train of thought which has a special suitableness to young men. Note then the things which are essential to the realization of this lofty ideal of Christian service.

This poverty of spirit is a fruit that grows on no merely natural tree. It is a spiritual grace wrought by the Holy Spirit in those whom He renews. By nature we are well pleased with ourselves, and mad enough to think that we deserve something good at the hands of God.

The emblematical interpretation of the potter with the clay lays a foundation for the prophecy that follows, vv. 11–17, in which the people are told that it is only by reason of their stiffnecked persistency in wickedness that they render threatened judgment certain, whereas by return to their God they might prevent the ruin of the kingdom.

The modesty (see 1:21) of wisdom is a paradox, till, as Paul told the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 8:1 f.), we understand what true wisdom means.

What is the difference between forgiveness and excusing?

What follows describes the way and manner in which the sword of the Spirit is to be handled.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Contents: Worship and testimony of restored and converted Israel in the Kingdom age. Characters: God. ...

The sacrifices which God desires and approves; the sacrifices without which no other offering would be acceptable.

The Lord gives His apostles the choice whether they will follow Him even now, when the way goes for a time into the depth.

CHAPTER SIX Contents: Feeding the 5000. Walking on the sea. Discourse on the Bread of Life. Peter’s confession of faith. Characters:...

The history of the first preaching of the gospel upon earth.

But with thee will I establish my covenant—a special promise of deliverance, called a covenant, to convince him of the confidence to be...