Unspeakable!

(Alexander Smellie, "The Secret Place" 1907)

What vastness and wonder there is about Christ and His redemption! When He is mine, I dwell among inexhaustible and immeasurable things! Three times the New Testament uses the adjective "Unspeakable!" concerning Him.

1. "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15

Saved by His mercy, I possess this unspeakable gift — unspeakable on account of its dimensions. Jesus baffles computation, He is so far-reaching and so wide.

I cannot describe His breadth: He meets all the requirements of my many-sided nature — body, mind, memory, imagination, conscience, will, heart.

I cannot estimate His length: from eternity past He loved me — and through eternity future His love will last, without end, without change!

I cannot fathom His depth: He fathoms my sharpest sorrow, my bitterest agony, my fiercest temptation, my foulest sin.

I cannot scale His height: He transforms me into His own holy likeness, and will soon bring me to His own presence — up and up to the heart and the house of the Father!

Christ is an inexpressible gift which cannot be set forth in detail!

2. "He was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter!" 2 Corinthians 12:4

I listen to His unspeakable words — unspeakable on account of their sacredness. It is not lawful for a man to utter them. I have moments on the Mount with my Lord, about which in their mystery and miracle and delight — I cannot express. He has Hissecrets for me, with which it would be sacrilege for a stranger to intermeddle. I am lifted into Paradise; I look on its flowers; I hearken to its songs — and then I must shut up the marvel in my heart of hearts.


3. "Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an unspeakable and glorious joy!" 1 Peter 1:8

Admitted to His family, I rejoice with an unspeakable joy — unspeakable on account of its richness. How superfluous and empty are words picture it — how poor and inadequate! The cup runs over. The tide sweeps every barrier away! Christ intends me to have an unbroken experience of His pardoning mercy, and His keeping and sanctifying grace. He intends me to reapinconceivable satisfaction from communion with Himself. My joy on earth should be of the same substance, if not of the same degree, as the joy which waits for me in Heaven!

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Christian contentment

(Jeremiah Burroughs, 1600-1646)

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances!" Philippians 4:11

Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that!" 1 Timothy 6:6-8 

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said: Never will I leave you;never will I forsake you!" Hebrews 13:5

My own special treasure!

(Theodore Cuyler, "Wayside Springs from the Fountain of Life" 1883)

"Now if you will obey Me and keep My covenant, you will be My own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth!" Exodus 19:5

Luther said that there is great divinity in the personal pronouns of Scripture. "They will be Mine — in the day when I make upMy jewels!" Malachi 3:17

Every true believer is surrendered to the ownership of Christ. Up to the hour of conversion we had other masters — self, sin, and the devil. Now Jesus says to each Christian, "You are Mine! I own you. I will instruct you, and polish you, and put you wherever it pleases Me. I will take care of your salvation, and nothing shall pluck you out of My hand. You shall be My own special treasure in the day of My triumphant appearing. I will place you in My crown!"

"You have been set apart as holy to the LORD your God, and He has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be His own special treasure!" Deuteronomy 14:2

"The LORD has declared today that you are His people, His own special treasure, just as He promised, and that you must obey all His commands." Deuteronomy 26:18

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The prosperity of the wicked — and the adversity of the righteous!

(Arthur Pink, "No Marvels" 1952)

"If you see oppression of the poor, and perversion of justice and righteousness throughout the land — do not marvel at the matter." Ecclesiastes 5:8

In the midst of his soliloquizings and moralizings, King Solomon interjected an occasional counsel or exhortation: "Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, there was wickedness; and that in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there also." (Ecclesiastes 3:16), and he bids his readers not to be surprised or stumbled thereat.

It was a timely word, for such passages as Job 12:6 and 21:7; Psalm 73:2-12; Jeremiah 12:1 show that the Old Testament saints were deeply exercised over the prosperity of the wicked — and the adversity of the righteous. Solomon, therefore, seeks to remove this stumbling-block and prevent their taking offence at, or murmuring against, God's divine government. 

Fallen human nature being what it is, we should not think it strange that the strong oppress the weak, or that justice should be corrupted by those in high places. Man is made to reap the bitter harvest of his apostasy from God.

Yet, however perplexed we may be over the success which so often rewards the workers of iniquity, let us be assured that nothing escapes the notice of the Most High God, that He "regards" and has wise reasons for permitting the frequent miscarriage of human justice by the magistrates and rulers of earth. There is One infinitely above to whom they must yet render an account, and from whom they will receive "a just recompense of reward." (Hebrews 2:2)

"But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. This is what the wicked are like — always carefree, they increase in wealth.

Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me — until I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny! Surely You place them on slippery ground; You cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!" Psalm 73

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Genesis 49:8-12

8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.

9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?

10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:

12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

Joshua the High Priest

Devotional Hours with the Bible, Volume 4: Chapter 46 - Joshua the High Priest
By J.R. Miller


Zechariah 3:1-10

Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai. His prophetic career seems to have been brief. His mission was that of an encourager. The people in trying to rebuild Jerusalem had become greatly discouraged. A deep depression had settled on them. Zechariah sought to kindle hope in their hearts and to induce them to undertake the work of building. In visions which are interpreted by the angel, the prophet gives his message.

Our passage gives one of the visions. "He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Jehovah, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary." This is a strange picture--the high priest in his place before God, and Satan standing beside him. We understand at once that Satan is not there for any friendly purpose. He is never anywhere for a friendly purpose in behalf of a godly man, or for the good of the world. No matter in what guise Satan appears, or what his profession may be--his real object is always sinister and wicked.

Probably if we could see spirits with these eyes of ours--we should many times behold pictures like this--good people in good places with good intent--and Satan standing at their right hand. When we go to church, Satan no doubt keeps near us or has some of his messengers near us, not because he enjoys going to church, nor because he likes to be with us--but because he has some evil design on us. He is always our adversary, whatever he may profess to be--never our friend.

Life is full of insidious dangers. Ofttimes when we think we are safest--we are in the greatest peril. Many of our gravest dangers are unsuspected, because they hide in the sunshine of our sweetest blessings. Prosperity has its perils, which are worse in many cases than what we dread so in adversity or misfortune. Disease is more apt to lurk in a soft, dreamy atmosphere, balmy and pleasant--than in the sharp, chill, wintry air of January. More demons hide in luxurious conditions, than in circumstances of hardship and honest poverty. So it is in spiritual things. Living in a church--would not keep the devil away from one's ear. The minister in his pulpit or at the communion table--is not sheltered from the assaults of Satan, the adversary. When the priest and the prophet stand before God, Satan always stands beside them!

While Satan was standing beside Joshua, so was the angel of Jehovah. That counteracted the danger. Satan could not harm the godly priest, while the Lord was taking care of him. Satan will no doubt follow us wherever we go, even intruding himself into the holiest places. But if we are where duty calls us or leads us--we know that God is beside us as well as Satan, and that no harm can come to us so long as we trust in Him and are faithful and obedient. If in the picture Satan alone stood, unseen, beside God's priest--it would be full of alarm, for no mortal is a match for Satan. But while the Lord also is present--there is a safe shelter into which the imperiled soul may flee. "God is our refuge ... a very present help in trouble!" "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it, and is safe!"

The best way we can answer those who would harm us--is to let God answer for us. "And the LORD said to Satan: I, the LORD, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you." The Lord is the friend of His people and will not stand by inactive, when Satan is plotting against any one of them. He is the defender especially of the defenseless.

This characteristic of the divine love is revealed in all parts of the Scriptures. God is the God of the weak. In the Mosaic laws, definite provision was made for the widow and the orphan. Something was to be left for them, when the harvests were gathered. The poor were put under special protection, to shield them from the oppression of the rich and the strong. Every child of God is an object of peculiar divine care. The weakest of them all--is as safe in God's keeping, even amid the greatest dangers--as safe as if they were already in heaven!

On Being Led by the Spirit

By Elmer Ellsworth Shelhamer


Text: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God." Rom. 8:14.

There is another passage a little like this, recorded in Gal. 5:25, which reads thus: "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Mark the Divine order: Here we find that life precedes activity. It does not say, If we walk, then let us live, but rather, "if we live, then let us walk." God's order always puts first things first while the human order reverses this plan. The human says, "Be intensely active, do, DO, DO this and that, in order to be spiritual." But the Divine plan is, first be spiritual, take time, "tarry until endued," and then be intensely active.

If we live in the Spirit and are led by the Spirit, we will do certain things and avoid certain things: this will make us different from the generality of professed Christians. In what respect?

I. We will sing with the understanding. 1 Cor. 14:15.
II. We will avoid doing rash things. 1 Cor. 13:4.
III. We will be saved from worry. Ps. 37:1-3.
IV. We will be saved from hurry. Isa. 28:16.

I. We Will Sing With The Spirit And With The Understanding
If we could always keep in the Spirit what glorious singing we would have! Instead of singing a number of songs with perhaps only an occasional one catching fire and bringing supernatural blessing, we would save this wasted time and energy and sing the Spirit-inspired-song at the beginning. We would not sing it too high, nor too low, too fast, nor too slow, but keep step with the blessed Holy Ghost. For, sometimes He may lead to sing very softly, while at the next moment it may sound like a mighty army charging the foe. Sometimes He may lead to omit several verses and at other times to repeat the same verse, or chorus again and again. Now, if we are trying to sing according to order, or at the direction of a fastidious leader, the Holy Spirit's leadings are likely to be set aside. Human leadership may sound nice to musical ears, but there is no thunder-clap from the upper skies. No doubt if we were always able to sing in the Spirit, we might not need so much preaching, for we would be able to sing a revival down.

II. We Will Avoid Rash Things
To always mind the checks and leadings of the Spirit is a fine thing. Many times one is about to say, or do a certain thing, when the Holy Spirit gently checks him. Now, if he is blinded by lust, or love of praise, he will disregard these gentle misgivings and like a mule, plunge ahead, saying or doing the thing that temporarily pleases, but the after-effect will be, leanness of soul.

Paul says that the characteristic of love is freedom from rashness -- "vaunteth not itself." If we live in the Spirit we will avoid doing rash things. There are multitudes of good people, who, as they review the past, deplore many places where they marred God's original plan and did something out of the Spirit. They can see where they drove some one away who might have been reached. They can see where they wrote a hasty letter and broke fellowship with a brother beyond reparation. One hasty step may require a thousand other steps to recover the lost ground -- if ever it is recovered.

We read, "Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God." Many a man has said one rash word to a loving companion from which she never fully recovered. Forgiveness may have been sought and received, the wound may have been healed, but the scar ever remained. We have known individuals who would have gladly parted with their right hand, or a large sum of money, could the hasty and unkind word have only been recalled, but it was too late. All this can be avoided if we will but "live in the Spirit."