EXTRACTS
The slippery path of sin is always trodden with accelerated steps, because the first sin tends to weaken in the soul the authority and power of that which alone can prevent our committing still greater sins—that is, the word of God, as well as the consciousness of His presence, which imparts to the word all its practical power over us.
J. N. Darby (‘Synopsis’ on 1 Kings 10 and 11)
Jordan is death as ceasing to belong to this world at all, and entering into heavenly places, as belonging to them, with an ascended Christ. The Red Sea is death as redemption and deliverance, leading us to live to God in this world, and “if” remains. The Red Sea is deliverance into a responsible life in this world, though, if life be there, we shall reach the goal; Jordan is dying to it, and entering into Canaan as united to Christ.
J. N. Darby (‘Notes and Comments’. Vol. 2, p.143)
There were burnt offerings, meat offerings, peace offerings, and in each case the people were supposed to have something, a handful of meal if nothing more. There was a variety of gifts, so that the rich and the poor could each contribute. Mutuality is a great thought in Scripture; that is, that each one has part, either in contributing to what we are brought into or receiving of it.
God blesses each of us, the rain comes upon us all, and hence God looks for fruit, even from the very poorest spiritually, so that no one is shut out. “Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ”, Ephesians 4: 7.
J. Taylor (N.S. Vol. 11, p.97)
He (Abraham) nestled down under the protection of the faithfulness of God. He dwelt in Beersheba in the sense of the faithfulness of God. In his history there had been established a proverb, as I may say, “on the mount of Jehovah will be provided”. I can understand people saying to Abraham as he nestled there in Beersheba—‘Abraham, what about the possibility of famine? What about the winter that is coming? What about the education of your children?
What about the politics of the world, and how they may interfere with you?’. What would Abraham say to every such question? “On the mount of Jehovah will be provided”. That was his answer, that was his psalm. It became established in Israel. It was light for every believer afterwards to nestle in.
J. Taylor (N.S. Vol. 22, p.365)
There is hardly anything that touches one more than the thought of the ark, the smallness of it and what it went through, and what it maintained—the full mind of God, and nothing lost.
J. Taylor (N.S. Vol. 30, p.353)
My impression is that there is an immense amount of latent gift, a great deal of divinely given ability not exercised through different reasons. It is for every one of us to take that to heart and see to it that if there is ability it is exercised, and that we are good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
C. A. Coates (‘Outline of Luke’s Gospel’, p.164)
You cannot make a pony into a horse; but I insist on this, that the horse under a carriage is the same horse when under a cart. If he is a fine, well-stepped good-tempered horse under a carriage, he will be exactly the same under a cart. Are you to change because you are in adverse circumstances? A great man ennobles the lowest circumstances. In the common details of daily life, I am to manifest the power and beauty of the heavenly Man. “I can do all things through him who gives me power”. I derive entirely from Him. “The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. Trying circumstances are the very opportunity for you to display the greatness of His grace.
J. B. Stoney (N.S. Vol. 1, p.247)
It has been said, ‘The expulsive power of a new affection’. I say, ‘The expulsive power of a new Person’. If a man could say he was the chosen friend of the sovereign, he would not want the company of others.
J. B. Stoney (N.S. Vol. 6, p.353)
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