Meditate
with a daily devotion
Daily Light's Evening Reading
The Lord thy God accept thee.—II SAM. 24:23.
Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.—There is none righteous, no, not one. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. To declare . . . at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Accepted in the Beloved.—Ye are complete in him.
Mic. 6:6-8.Isa. 64:6. -Rom. 3:10,23-26.Eph. 1:6. -Col. 2:10.
Spurgeon's Evening Reading
“Keep not back.”
Isaiah 43:6
Although this message was sent to the south, and referred to the seed of Israel, it may profitably be a summons to ourselves. Backward we are naturally to all good things, and it is a lesson of grace to learn to go forward in the ways of God. Reader, are you unconverted, but do you desire to trust in the Lord Jesus? Then keep not back. Love invites you, the promises secure you success, the precious blood prepares the way. Let not sins or fears hinder you, but come to Jesus just as you are. Do you long to pray? Would you pour out your heart before the Lord? Keep not back. The mercy-seat is prepared for such as need mercy; a sinner’s cries will prevail with God. You are invited, nay, you are commanded to pray; come therefore with boldness to the throne of grace.
Dear friend, are you already saved? Then keep not back from union with the Lord’s people. Neglect not the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. You may be of a timid disposition, but you must strive against it, lest it lead you into disobedience. There is a sweet promise made to those who confess Christ—by no means miss it, lest you come under the condemnation of those who deny him. If you have talents keep not back from using them. Hoard not your wealth, waste not your time; let not your abilities rust or your influence be unused. Jesus kept not back; imitate him by being foremost in self-denials and self-sacrifices. Keep not back from close communion with God, from boldly appropriating covenant blessings, from advancing in the divine life, from prying into the precious mysteries of the love of Christ. Neither, beloved friend, be guilty of keeping others back by your coldness, harshness, or suspicions. For Jesus’ sake go forward yourself, and encourage others to do the like. Hell and the leaguered bands of superstition and infidelity are forward to the fight. O soldiers of the cross, keep not back.
Old Testament Chapter a Day - 1 Samuel 22
22. Saul Kills Priest of Nob
David and His Followers at Adullam
22
David left there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; when his brothers and all his father’s house heard of it, they went down there to him.2Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Those who were with him numbered about four hundred.
3 David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. He said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come to you, until I know what God will do for me.”4He left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.5Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold; leave, and go into the land of Judah.” So David left, and went into the forest of Hereth.
Saul Slaughters the Priests at Nob
6 Saul heard that David and those who were with him had been located. Saul was sitting at Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the height, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.7Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, you Benjaminites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?8Is that why all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a league with the son of Jesse, none of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”9Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul’s servants, answered, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech son of Ahitub;10he inquired of the Lord for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11 The king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and for all his father’s house, the priests who were at Nob; and all of them came to the king.12Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.” He answered, “Here I am, my lord.”13Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, by giving him bread and a sword, and by inquiring of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as he is doing today?”
14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is so faithful as David? He is the king’s son-in-law, and is quick to do your bidding, and is honored in your house.15Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? By no means! Do not let the king impute anything to his servant or to any member of my father’s house; for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.”16The king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house.”17The king said to the guard who stood around him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David; they knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not raise their hand to attack the priests of the Lord.18Then the king said to Doeg, “You, Doeg, turn and attack the priests.” Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests; on that day he killed eighty-five who wore the linen ephod.19Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep, he put to the sword.
20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.21Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord.22David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the lives of all your father’s house.23Stay with me, and do not be afraid; for the one who seeks my life seeks your life; you will be safe with me.”
New Testament in Four Years - Ephesians 6:19-24
6. Relationships and Final Greetings
19Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
Personal Matters and Benediction
21 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus will tell you everything. He is a dear brother and a faithful minister in the Lord.22I am sending him to you for this very purpose, to let you know how we are, and to encourage your hearts.
23 Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.24Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm a Day - Psalm 82
82. Psalm 82
Psalm 82
A Plea for Justice
A Psalm of Asaph.
1
God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2
“How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked?Selah
3
Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
4
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
5
They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk around in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6
I say, “You are gods,
children of the Most High, all of you;
7
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals,
and fall like any prince.”
8
Rise up, O God, judge the earth;
for all the nations belong to you!