Meditate
with a daily devotion
Daily Light's Evening Reading
Now we call the proud happy.—MAL. 3:15.
Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.—Blessed are the poor in spirit for their’s is the kingdom of heaven.
These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, . . . .—Every one that is proud of heart is an abomination to the Lord.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.—Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Isa. 57:15.Prov. 16:19. -Matt. 5:3.Prov. 6:16.17. -Prov. 16:5.Psa. 139:23,24.Phi. 1:2.3. -Matt. 5:5.
Spurgeon's Evening Reading
“He was sore athirst, and called on the Lord, and said, thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst?”
Judges 15:18
Samson was thirsty and ready to die. The difficulty was totally different from any which the hero had met before. Merely to get thirst assuaged is nothing like so great a matter as to be delivered from a thousand Philistines! but when the thirst was upon him, Samson felt that little present difficulty more weighty than the great past difficulty out of which he had so specially been delivered. It is very usual for God’s people, when they have enjoyed a great deliverance, to find a little trouble too much for them. Samson slays a thousand Philistines, and piles them up in heaps, and then faints for a little water! Jacob wrestles with God at Peniel, and overcomes Omnipotence itself, and then goes “halting on his thigh!” Strange that there must be a shrinking of the sinew whenever we win the day. As if the Lord must teach us our littleness, our nothingness, in order to keep us within bounds. Samson boasted right loudly when he said, “I have slain a thousand men.” His boastful throat soon grew hoarse with thirst, and he betook himself to prayer. God has many ways of humbling his people. Dear child of God, if after great mercy you are laid very low, your case is not an unusual one. When David had mounted the throne of Israel, he said, “I am this day weak, though anointed king.” You must expect to feel weakest when you are enjoying your greatest triumph. If God has wrought for you great deliverances in the past, your present difficulty is only like Samson’s thirst, and the Lord will not let you faint, nor suffer the daughter of the uncircumcised to triumph over you. The road of sorrow is the road to heaven, but there are wells of refreshing water all along the route. So, tried brother, cheer your heart with Samson’s words, and rest assured that God will deliver you ere long.
Old Testament Chapter a Day - Zechariah 4
4. Gold Lampstand and Two Olive Trees
Fifth Vision: The Lampstand and Olive Trees
4
The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as one is wakened from sleep.2He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it; there are seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it.3And by it there are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”4I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”5Then the angel who talked with me answered me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”6He said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts.7What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring out the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’ ”
8 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,9“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.10For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel.
“These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.”11Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”12And a second time I said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which pour out the oil through the two golden pipes?”13He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”14Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
New Testament in Four Years - Acts 28:25-31
28. Arrival at Rome
25So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,26
‘Go to this people and say,
You will indeed listen, but never understand,
and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
27
For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turn—
and I would heal them.’
28 Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him,31proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Psalm a Day - Psalm 4
4. Psalm 4
Psalm 4
Confident Plea for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
1
Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
You gave me room when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
2
How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?
How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?Selah
3
But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
4
When you are disturbed, do not sin;
ponder it on your beds, and be silent.Selah
5
Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.
6
There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!
Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!”
7
You have put gladness in my heart
more than when their grain and wine abound.
8
I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.