March 21
Morning
"Ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me
alone." — Joh_16:32
Few had fellowship with the sorrows of Gethsemane. The majority of the
disciples were not sufficiently advanced in grace to be admitted to behold the
mysteries of "the agony." Occupied with the passover feast at their
own houses, they represent the many who live upon the letter, but are mere
babes as to the spirit of the gospel. To twelve, nay, to eleven only was the
privilege given to enter Gethsemane and see "this great sight." Out
of the eleven, eight were left at a distance; they had fellowship, but not of
that intimate sort to which men greatly beloved are admitted. Only three highly
favoured ones could approach the veil of our Lord's mysterious sorrow: within
that veil even these must not intrude; a stone's-cast distance must be left
between. He must tread the wine-press alone, and of the people there must be
none with him. Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, represent the few eminent,
experienced saints, who may be written down as "Fathers;" these
having done business on great waters, can in some degree measure the huge
Atlantic waves of their Redeemer's passion. To some selected spirits it is
given, for the good of others, and to strengthen them for future, special, and
tremendous conflict, to enter the inner circle and hear the pleadings of the
suffering High Priest; they have fellowship with him in his sufferings, and are
made conformable unto his death. Yet even these cannot penetrate the secret
places of the Saviour's woe. "Thine unknown sufferings" is the
remarkable expression of the Greek liturgy: there was an inner chamber in our
Master's grief, shut out from human knowledge and fellowship. There Jesus is
"left alone." Here Jesus was more than ever an "Unspeakable gift!"
Is not Watts right when he sings-
"And all the unknown joys he gives,
Were bought with agonies unknown."
John 16:32
the hour: Joh_4:21,
Joh_4:23, Joh_5:25,
Joh_5:28, Joh_12:23
that: Zec_13:7;
Mat_26:31, Mat_26:56; Mar_14:27,
Mar_14:50; Act_8:1; 2Ti_4:16-17
every: Joh_20:10
own: or, own home
yet: Joh_8:16,
Joh_8:29, Joh_14:10-11;
Isa_50:6-9
Evening
"Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the
bands of Orion?" — Job_38:31
If inclined to boast of our abilities, the grandeur of nature may soon
show us how puny we are. We cannot move the least of all the twinkling stars,
or quench so much as one of the beams of the morning. We speak of power, but
the heavens laugh us to scorn. When the Pleiades shine forth in spring with
vernal joy we cannot restrain their influences, and when Orion reigns aloft,
and the year is bound in winter's fetters, we cannot relax the icy bands. The
seasons revolve according to the divine appointment, neither can the whole race
of men effect a change therein. Lord, what is man?
In the spiritual, as in the natural world, man's power is limited on
all hands. When the Holy Spirit sheds abroad his delights in the soul, none can
disturb; all the cunning and malice of men are ineffectual to stay the genial
quickening power of the Comforter. When he deigns to visit a church and revive
it, the most inveterate enemies cannot resist the good work; they may ridicule
it, but they can no more restrain it than they can push back the spring when
the Pleiades rule the hour. God wills it, and so it must be. On the other hand,
if the Lord in sovereignty, or in justice, bind up a man so that he is in soul
bondage, who can give him liberty? He alone can remove the winter of spiritual
death from an individual or a people. He looses the bands of Orion, and none
but he. What a blessing it is that he can do it. O that he would perform the
wonder to-night. Lord, end my winter, and let my spring begin. I cannot with
all my longings raise my soul out of her death and dulness, but all things are
possible with thee. I need celestial influences, the clear shinings of thy
love, the beams of thy grace, the light of thy countenance, these are the
Pleiades to me. I suffer much from sin and temptation, these are my wintry
signs, my terrible Orion. Lord, work wonders in me, and for me. Amen.
Job 38:31
Pleiades: or, the seven stars, Heb. Cimah, Job_9:9 *marg. Amo_5:8
Orion: or, Cesil
Daily Devotions.
Extract from
e-Sword- the sword of the LORD with an
electronic edge.
Through the Bible Day by Day.(F.B Meyer)
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