Spurgeon Daily Devotional Bible: February 19

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Spurgeon Daily Devotional Bible: February 19


Today is: Tuesday, September 17th, 2024 (Show Today's Devotion)

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Morning

“
If any man sin, we have an Advocate.”

Exo_32:15-20; Exo_32:30-35

Exo_32:16

It is no small trial to come down from communion with God to battle with other men’s sins. This may fall to our lot this day. The Lord prepare us for it.

Exo_32:17

Joshua was a soldier, and therefore his thoughts ran that way, but Moses knew better. It would be far better to hear the noise of war with spiritual enemies, than the sound of rebellion against the Lord.

Exo_32:18-19

Moses is nowhere blamed for this. It was a symbolical action testifying his great abhorrence of sin, and his zeal for the Lord of hosts. He felt that tables written with God’s finger would be polluted by being brought among such a people.

Exo_32:20

Thus he put the utmost scorn upon their idol by making them drink it. Is it not beyond measure strange that popish idolaters of our day actually worship the wafer which they afterwards eat, and imagine that it is a religious homage to devour what they declare to be divine?

It is a wonderful instance of the influence of one man, that Moses was able in the midst of thousands of idolaters to tear down their idol, to deface it, grind it to powder, mix it with water, and compel the people to drink. God was with him, or he would have been resisted by the stiffnecked throng. He was very decided in his behaviour, and did not tolerate idol worship for a moment: this decision, no doubt, gave him great moral power.

Exo_32:30

His one thought was to do them good. He was like our Lord Jesus, a faithful Intercessor.

Exo_32:31-32

This was splendid self-sacrifice, of which we find a parallel case in the apostle Paul. Moses meant what he said, but we must not judge his expressions by cold-blooded logic: they were the warm outgushing of a tender heart.

Exo_32:33

This is the voice of the law threatening to blot out the sinner, but the gospel freely blots out the sin.

Exo_32:34

The Lord refused to be personally present with the tribes, but graciously promised to direct them by an angelic deputy. This was a sad threatening for Moses, who knew the value of the divine presence; and to the people themselves it was grievous news, especially the sentence that the Lord would visit them for sin.

Exo_32:35

They were the real makers—Aaron was but their agent: they are neither of them excused, but the guilt of each is clearly staled. It was sad to see such a man as Aaron so far astray. Lord keep thou each one of us by thy Holy Spirit.



Though our sins, our hearts confounding

Long and loud for vengeance call,

Thou hast mercy more abounding,

Jesus’ blood can cleanse them all.



Let that love veil our transgression,

Let that blood our guilt efface,

Save thy people from oppression,

Save from death thy chosen race.



Evening

“
My presence shall go with thee.”

Exo_33:1-7; Exo_33:12-23

Exo_33:4

There was some right feeling left, and while Moses spoke to them it came to the front; but, alas, it was as fleeting as the early dew.

Exo_33:5

As if the Lord knew not how to show mercy to impenitent sinners.

Exo_33:6

This is always a preliminary to mercy. Pride must strip, self-righteousness must throw off her mantle, and carnal security pull off its tinkling jewellery.

Exo_33:7

They were not worthy to have the residence of the Lord in the centre of the encampment. The Lord did not utterly leave them, but he went into the outer circle, and all who would seek the Lord must go without the camp. The lesson is plain, and holds good even now.

Exo_33:13-14

Thus the Lord gives us his presence now and rest at the end. What a precious promise!

Exo_33:17

Grace received is the guarantee of answers to prayer.)

Exo_33:19

Thus we see that the sovereignty of his grace is the very glory of God. Why do men quarrel with it?

Exo_33:22-23

Nowhere else can God be spiritually seen, save in the Rock of ages cleft for us. As yet we see but the skirts of his garments, but even this glimpse delights us. How sweet to know that however little we see of God, yet it is God, our Father.



I need thy presence every passing hour,—

What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?

Who like thyself my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.



I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless:

Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness;

Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still if thou abide with me.