My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord. Psa. 104:34

From Samuel Bagster's Daily Light for the Daily Path Devotional [c. 1875]

My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord. Psa. 104:34

With such a subject as the One we adore, our Beloved, how can we help but be sweet and glad???

As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. Song 2:3

Ah! Sweet fellowship with our beloved!

For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? Psa. 89:6

Neither cherubim, seraphim nor angel can be compared to the LORD our Lord! Neither can any mighty man, whether rich or strong, on this earth, past nor present.

My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. Song 5:10

The fairest of ten thousand to my soul!

One pearl of great price. Matt. 13:46

He is the object of our affection, desire, worship and adoration! He, Jesus Christ, is the coveted pearl!

The prince of the kings of the earth. Rev. 1:5

So vibrant among kings of the earth, that he is 'princely'!

His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. Song 5:11

Fair skin, nicely tanned, dark bushy locks; he is wonderful to look at.

The head over all things. Eph. 1:22

Thank God He is the head over ALL things, government, education, home and the church, and not mortal men!

He is the head of the body, the church. Col. 1:18

His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers. Song 5:13

Would these not be prominent except that He smiles often?

He could not be hid. Mark 7:24

His lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. Song 5:13

Never man spake like this man. John 7:46

His countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. Song 5:15

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant. Psa. 31:16

LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Psa. 4:6

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God. Rom. 8:28

From Samuel Bagster's Daily Light for the Daily Path Devotional [c. 1875]

...with application and prayer responses by me...

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God. Rom. 8:28

We know in our spirit that God will cause thing to work together--for good--not necessarily our good, but at least His good and perfect will

Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. Psa. 76:10

even the wrath of man shall end up to the praise of Him

Ye thought evil against me: but God meant it unto good, Gen. 50:20

His perfect will accomplished through us though man is evil toward us

All things are your's; whether ... the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. I Cor. 3:21-23

In Christ, we 'own it all'!

All things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. II Cor. 4:15-17

It's all about our sakes...because ultimately what He will accomplish for our sakes will redound to his glory! For this reason, saith Paul, we do not faint in aging and affliction

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4

Count it JOY today, that patience in our life, ENDURANCE, is his goal for our Christ-like character!

The God of all grace. I Pet. 5:10

From Samuel Bagster's Daily Light for the Daily Path Devotional [c. 1875]

...with application and prayer responses by me...

The God of all grace. I Pet. 5:10

Lord, I need thy grace that I may be gracious to all around me

I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious. Exo. 33:19

O God of all grace! may I be the blessed beneficiary of the necessary grace!

He is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. Job 33:24

Grace...grace that delivers...has pity, has mercy; thot: this grace goes unappreciated to those who do not recognize their woeful condition

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 his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. Rom. 3:24, 25

freely by his grace...no strings attached! not a list of 'works' we must accomplish, just pure undriven grace

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17

Ah! by this Special Person Who loved us from the foundation of the world!

By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Eph. 2:8

Gifts are free...grace is free...it is a gift from God

Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. I Tim. 1:2

Obtain grace and get not one but TWO, that's right, TWO bonuses! mercy and peace!

Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Eph. 4:7

Given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ...and what measure He sustains! hence we can say, 'I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me'

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. I Pet. 4:10

Minister the same to another in grateful unexpected portions!

He giveth more grace. James 4:6

God: 'My grace: try to use it up! I dare you! I'll give you more!'

Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. II Pet. 3:18

grow in it...let it shape you and stretch you and use you like 'silly putty'. then you will be led to give him great glory both now and for ever

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Psa. 119:18

From Samuel Bagster's Daily Light for the Daily Path Devotional [c. 1875]

...with application and prayer responses by me...

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Psa. 119:18

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. Luke 24:45

It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Matt. 13:11

I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. Matt. 11:25, 26

We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. I Cor. 2:12

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand. Psa. 139:17, 18

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? For of him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Rom. 11:33, 34, 36

A bruised reed shall he not break. Matt. 12:20

From Samuel Bagster's Daily Light for the Daily Path Devotional [c. 1875]

A bruised reed shall he not break. Matt. 12:20

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psa. 51:17

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. Psa. 147:3

Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. Isa. 57:15, 16

I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick. Ezek. 34:16

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Heb. 12:12, 13

Behold, your God ... will come and save you. Isa. 35:4

I, even I, am he that comforteth you. Isa. 51:12

From Samuel Bagster's Daily Light for the Daily Path Devotional [c. 1875]

...with application and prayer responses by me...

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. II Cor. 1:3, 4

Oh wonderful love of my God! That He should comfort us in our tribulations, undeserving as we are
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French cunforter, comforter, from Late Latin confortare to strengthen greatly, from Latin com- + fortis strong
1 : to give strength and hope to: CHEER
2 : to ease the grief or trouble of: CONSOLE

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Psa. 103:13, 14

pity: sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you. Isa. 66:13

not, 'I might', nor 'I may', but, 'will I' comfort you! We replicate those empathies toward one another...Christ wept over Jerusalem, as a mother hen would he have gathered the people to himself, but they would not

Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. I Pet. 5:7

Casting = rolling; not some of your care, but ALL of your care upon him; why? because he cares for you...he does want us to tell him and let him care for us

Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. Psa. 86:15

What is my God like? FULL of compassion! Gracious! Longsuffering! PLENTEOUS in mercy and truth

Another Comforter ... even the Spirit of truth. John 14:16, 17

What title does the Spirit bear? Comforter! Shall we not pass on that comfort to another?

The Spirit ... helpeth our infirmities. Rom. 8:26

Infirmities: the general weakness of the spiritual life in its present state

God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Rev. 21:4

God will wipe away the tears, not as a taunting drill-sergeant, but as the God of all comfort, pity and above all, love

If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. John 7:37

From Samuel Bagster's Daily Light for the Daily Path Devotional [c. 1875]

...with application and prayer responses by me...

My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Psa. 84:2

Jesus answers the OT longing in Himself those days He walked this earth and even now! This longing exists today, we who have the Answer must be watching for those who are seeking Him

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Psa. 63:1, 2

Yearning, longing, thirsting...evidences of God's drawing one to Himself

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isa. 55:1

Ah! how He quenches every human thirst!

The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Rev. 22:17

Not only does He quench and feed and satisfy, but He bids us come.

Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14

Never thirst! to everlasting life! Alleluia

My blood is drink indeed. John 6:55

Quenched at such cost...

Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. Song 5:1

Abundant grace! no shortage ever! drink deep and drink often!

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?