A BRANCH OUT OF HIS ROOTS
Isai 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
He is not only a "Rod", but a "Branch". As you meditate upon this verse you are compelled to think first of the root, then of the sho ... read more
A BUNDLE OF MYRRH
Song 1:13 A bundle of myrrh [is] my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
Myrrh was one of the ingredients in the holy anointing oil which was used to anoint Aaron and the priests. Our Lord was "anointed with the oil of g ... read more
A CERTAIN NOBLEMAN
Luke 19:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
The setting of this picture is remarkable. Our Lord is standing with the Jews around Him, in the shadows of a palace built by ... read more
A CERTAIN SAMARITAN
Luke 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion [on him],
The story of the Good Samaritan is familiar to all of us, but read it again. Here we take the liberty of viewing our Lord as " ... read more
A Chief Corner Stone
"Behold, I lay in Sion a Chief Corner Stone...and he that believeth on Him shall not be comfounded." 1 Peter 2:6
Every structure must have a foundation and those of special honor must have a corner-stone. Christ is the Chief Corner Stone of the m ... read more
A CLUSTER OF CAMPHIRE
Song 1:14 My beloved [is] unto me [as] a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi. {camphire: or, cypress}
Here is a wonderous vision of what Christ is and what He should be to the Church. What a sorrow it is that so many Christians have only ... read more
A COMMANDER
Isai 55:4 Behold, I have given him [for] a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
A study of the history of nations reveals to us many great commanders. Napoleon was an example of such, and the Old Testament tells us of many g ... read more
A COVERT FROM THE TEMPEST
Isai 32:2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. {great: Heb. heavy}
There never could be but one Man to whom this title ... read more
A CROWN OF GLORY
Isai 28:5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
We should read the first five verses of this chapter in order to get the proper vision of the glorious scene portraye ... read more
A DIADEM OF BEAUTY
Isai 28:5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
Words are but poor things to convey to our minds the glories that await us "in that day" when we shall gaze upon ou ... read more
A FOUNDATION
Isai 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
The moral condition of Israel is revealed in the vers ... read more
A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER
Prov 18:24 A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
What a tie that binds us to Christ, closer than any earthly relationship could ever be! He cleaves to us through all earth ... read more
A GLORIOUS THRONE
Isai 22:23 And I will fasten him [as] a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.
We have here the suggestion of "the Father's house", which is Heaven, and the "Glorious Throne" which that house contai ... read more
A GOVERNOR
And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. {rule: or, feed}
Bethlehem of Judea! A little village, twice highly honored! The birthp ... read more
A GRAIN OF WHEAT
John 12:23,24 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
... read more
A GREAT LIGHT
Isai 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
The days have been dark in this poor, sin-cursed world ever since the clouds covered the Garde ... read more
A GREAT MOUNTAIN
Dani 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the ... read more
A GREAT PROPHET
Luke 7:16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
Four centuries had elapsed since Malachi had passed away, and Israel had been without a Prophe ... read more
A GUEST
Luke 19:7 And when they saw [it], they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
Zaccheus was highly honored when Christ invited Himself to be his Guest. How like our Lord! He knew Zaccheus wanted to see Him an ... read more
A Lamb Without Blemish or Spot
"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" 1 Peter 1:19
Our familiarity with Scriptural terms often causes us to minimize their meaning. Here we have two words so marvelously wonderful that we are hesit ... read more
A LEADER
Isai 55:4 Behold, I have given him [for] a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
The Leadership of Christ is unexelled. He is the "Captian of our Salvation" and He has given to us the high and holy privilege of following Hi ... read more
A LIGHT OF THE GENTILES
Isai 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
In accordance with the righteous purpose of our God before the foundation ... read more
A LIGHT TO LIGHTEN THE GENTILES
Luke 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
The world has been a dark world ever since Adam and Eve listened to the temptation of Satan. There was no hope until God Said: "The Seed of the woman shall bruise the s ... read more
A Living Stone
"To whom coming, as unto a Living Stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious." 1 Peter 2:4
Words are inadequate to describe the mysteries of Heaven. It is not composed of an inert mass like the stones of earth, but of living, ... read more
A Man Approved of God
"Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you." Acts 2:22
This is the testimony of Peter, the fisherman-apostle, concerning our Lord, Jesus of Nazareth. "A Man app ... read more
A MAN OF SORROWS
Isai 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. {we hid...: or, he hid as it were his face from us: Heb. as an hiding of faces ... read more
A NAIL FASTENED IN A SURE PLACE
Isai 22:23 And I will fasten him [as] a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.
What a strange declaration is this! How wonderful are the ways and the methods used by the Holy Spirit to make Christ REAL t ... read more
A NAZARENE
Matt 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
Nazareth was a town in the northern border of the plain of Esdraelon. Here came the angel Gabriel ... read more
A PLANT OF RENOWN
Ezek 34:29 And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. {of renown: or, for renown} {consumed: Heb. taken away}
Have you ever had the pri ... read more
A Precious Stone
"Behold, I lay in Sion a Chief Corner Stone, ... precious." 1 Peter 2:6
How precious He is! The more we know about Him the more wonderful He becomes, and the more intimately we know Him the more precious He is. "To whom coming as unto a living s ... read more
A Priest Forever
"Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." Hebrews 5:6
He is our High Priest, our Great High Priest, and He is also a Priest forever after the similitude of Melchisedec (Gen. 14:18-20) that strange character who typified our Lor ... read more
A Prince and a Saviour
"Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour" Acts 5:30, 31
Here is a picture and a theme for our meditation. A convict -a criminal in the sight of men -hanging on a tree, dying an awful death of shame, suffering the ago ... read more
A PROPHET MIGHTY IN DEED AND WORD
Luke 24:19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
Some hated Him. Some worshipped Him. Mighty in life, mighty in death and ... read more
A Quickening Spirit
"And so it is written...the last Adam was made a quickening spirit." 1 Cor. 15:45
We are of the earth, earthy, by birth, but we have a new birth. That which was first was natural and earthy; afterwards comes the spiritual. How wonderful is the op ... read more
A RANSOM
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
"A RANSOM for many!" Here Christ is set forth as the penalty for the sins of the world. As sinners under the judgment wrat ... read more
A REFINER AND PURIFIER
Mala 3:3 And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
What an appropriate title for our Lord! Moses ... read more
A REFUGE FROM THE STORM
Isai 25:4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones [is] as a storm [against] the wall.
Are we who are His dear ones subj ... read more
A REPROACH OF MEN
Psal 22:6 But I [am] a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
In Isaiah 49:7 it is Written of our Lord, "One whom man despiseth, .... Whom the nation abhoreth", and this was literally true of Jesus of Nazareth as He walk ... read more
A Rewarder
"But without faith, it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Hebrews 10:36, 37
We come to God only through Jesus Christ, "No man cometh unto t ... read more
A RIGHTEOUS SERVANT
Isai 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
What a title for our Lord --- a "Servant" --- yes, but a "Righteous Serva ... read more
A Rock of Offense
"The Stone which the builders disallowed...is made a Rock of Offense." 1 Peter 2:8
The Jewish nation is an illustration of our theme. Every possible effort was made by Christ to win His own people to Himself. But they would not have Him. What a b ... read more
A ROD OUT OF THE STEM OF JESSE
Isai 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
What a strange prophesy concerning the Messiah! "There is a hope of a tree that is cut down, that it will sprout again", and so it was ... read more
A Sacrifice to God
"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself...a sacrifice to God." Ephesians. 5:2
God's holiness and righteousness demanded some way by which sin could be forgiven and removed, so that sinful men could have access to ... read more
A SANCTUARY
Isai 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
A "Sanctuary" is a place of refuge. "Lord, Thou has been o ... read more
A SCEPTRE
Numb 24:17 (KJS) I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. {smite...: or, smite ... read more
A Servant
"But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." Philippians. 2:7
Isaiah spoke concerning Him: "Behold, my servant shall deal prudently. He shall be exalted and extolled very high ... read more
A SHADOW FROM THE HEAT
Isai 25:4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones [is] as a storm [against] the wall.
What Divine compassion is suggest ... read more
A SIGN
Luke 2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this [child] is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
Our Lord Jesus Christ was a significant Sign to Israel. The ... read more
A SOWER
Matt 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; --- Matt 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
The Seed is the Word of God. God's Son sowed the Go ... read more
A STAR
Numb 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. {smite...: or, smite throu ... read more
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