Meditate
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Morning Meditations for October 18
Daily Light's Morning Reading
One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.—JOHN 19:34.
Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you.—The life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls.—It is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Jesus said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.—By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.—Peace through the blood of his cross.
Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . . but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, . . . manifest in these last times for you.
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean: . . . from all your idols, will I cleanse you.—Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.
Exo. 24:8. -Lev. 17:11. -Heb. 10:4.Mark 14:24. -Heb. 9:12. -Col. 1:20.I Pet. 1:18-20.Ezek. 36:25. -Heb. 10:22.
Spurgeon's Morning Reading
“Thy paths drop fatness.”
Psalm 65:11
Many are “the paths of the Lord” which “drop fatness,” but an especial one is the path of prayer. No believer, who is much in the closet, will have need to cry, “My leanness, my leanness; woe unto me.” Starving souls live at a distance from the mercy- seat, and become like the parched fields in times of drought. Prevalence with God in wrestling prayer is sure to make the believer strong—if not happy. The nearest place to the gate of heaven is the throne of the heavenly grace. Much alone, and you will have much assurance; little alone with Jesus, your religion will be shallow, polluted with many doubts and fears, and not sparkling with the joy of the Lord. Since the soul-enriching path of prayer is open to the very weakest saint; since no high attainments are required; since you are not bidden to come because you are an advanced saint, but freely invited if you be a saint at all; see to it, dear reader, that you are often in the way of private devotion. Be much on your knees, for so Elijah drew the rain upon famished Israel’s fields.
There is another especial path dropping with fatness to those who walk therein, it is the secret walk of communion. Oh! the delights of fellowship with Jesus! Earth hath no words which can set forth the holy calm of a soul leaning on Jesus’ bosom. Few Christians understand it, they live in the lowlands and seldom climb to the top of Nebo: they live in the outer court, they enter not the holy place, they take not up the privilege of priesthood. At a distance they see the sacrifice, but they sit not down with the priest to eat thereof, and to enjoy the fat of the burnt offering. But, reader, sit thou ever under the shadow of Jesus; come up to that palm tree, and take hold of the branches thereof; let thy beloved be unto thee as the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, and thou shalt be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. O Jesus, visit us with thy salvation!
Old Testament Chapter a Day — Ezra 2
2. List of Exiles Who Returned
Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city; 2Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two. 4The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. 5The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five. 6The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve. 7The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 8The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five. 9The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore. 10The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two. 11The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three. 12The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two. 13The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six. 14The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six. 15The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four. 16The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. 17The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three. 18The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve. 19The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three. 20The children of Gibbar, ninety and five. 21The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and three. 22The men of Netophah, fifty and six. 23The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight. 24The children of Azmaveth, forty and two. 25The children of Kirjath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three. 26The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one. 27The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two. 28The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three. 29The children of Nebo, fifty and two. 30The children of Magbish, an hundred fifty and six. 31The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 32The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty. 33The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five. 34The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five. 35The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.
36The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. 37The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. 38The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. 39The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
40The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.
41The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.
42The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine.
43The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 44The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon, 45The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub, 46The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan, 47The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah, 48The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, 49The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, 50The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim, 51The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 52The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 53The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah, 54The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
55The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda, 56The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 57The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami. 58All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two. 59And these were they which went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father’s house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel: 60The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.
61And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name: 62These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. 63And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.
64The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, 65Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women. 66Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five; 67Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
68And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the Lord which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place: 69They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests garments. 70So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
New Testament in Four Years — Mark 6:33-44
Related Hymns
Psalm a Day — Psalm 85
85. Psalm 85
Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
3Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
4Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
5Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.
8I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
9Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
10Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
13Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.