Gems from December 2025

O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong.  Daniel 10:19 

God reminded Daniel three times that he was "greatly beloved."  This enabled him to overcome the many trials that he faced.  So also with the Bride, in the days of separation from her Beloved.  The thing that sustains her until she is forever with Him, is this knowledge, "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved, is mine." (Song of Solomon 6:3)  He lives for us, and is coming back for us.  Surely this quells the anxious fears that rise within our hearts, as we face the challenges of time. W.H. Burnett 

Loved with everlasting love, drawn by grace, that love to know;
Spirit, breathing from above, who hast taught me it is so.
Oh, this full and perfect peace! Oh, this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.

Heaven above is softer blue, earth around is sweeter green;
Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen:
Birds with gladder songs o'erflow, flowers with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine. 

Things that once were wild alarms cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms, pillowed on the loving breast.     
Oh, to lie forever here, doubt and care and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear, I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His: who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss Christ can fill the loving heart.
Heaven and earth may fade and flee, firstborn light in gloom decline;
But, while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine.  G. W.Robinson  

N.J. Hiebert - 10142

November 30

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Psalm 23:5

The ordinary interpretation of Psalm 23 is that it brings before us a three-fold picture-- the Shepherd and His sheep in verse 1; the traveller and his Guide  in verse 4; and the Host and His guest in verse 5.  But, while that may be true by application, it is not the  primary significance of this portion of scripture.  From start to finish Psalm 23 sings of shepherd life.

"The valley of the shadow of death" of which it speaks refers to those places of deadly peril through which the flocks have sometimes to pass, and in which they are cast entirely on the guidance and protection of the  shepherd.  This symbolizes  the darker and more difficult portions of the path over which the flock of God travels to the heavenly land. 

Then, as regards the "preparing of a table before me in the presence of mine enemies", it has been said by one who is familiar with shepherd-life in oriental lands, that "There is no higher task of the shepherd  in Eastern countries than to go from time to time to study places, and examine the grass, and find a good and safe feeding-place for his sheep.  There are many poisonous plants in the grass, and the shepherd must find and avoid them."  

Then there are viper's holes, and the reptiles bite the noses of the sheep if they are not driven away.  And round the feeding place, which the shepherd thus prepares, in holes and caves in the hill-sides, there are jackals, wolves, hyenas and tigers; and the bravery and skill of the shepherd are at the highest point in closing up the dens with stones, or slaying the wild beasts with his long-bladed  knife.  Of nothing do you hear the shepherds boasting more proudly than of their achievements in this part of their care of their flocks.   
The Pearl of Psalm - George Henderson.  

N.J. Hiebert - 10143

December 1

HIS DESIRED DESIRE

With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer. Luke 22:15  

With Gethsemane and Calvary in fullest view, His heart's desire was to spend those few last hours in closest fellowship with His disciples.  Now, if we take the King at His word, and really believe that He thus desires us, can we possibly remain cold hearted and indifferent to Him?

Can we bear the idea of disappointing His love--such love--and meeting it with any such pale, cool response as would wound any human heart,  "I do not know whether I love your or not!" 

Oh, do let us leave off morbidly looking to see exactly how much we love (which is just like trying to warm ourselves with a thermometer, and perhaps only ends in doubting whether we love at all), and look straight away at His love and His desire! 

Think of Jesus actually wanting you, really desiring your love, not satisfied with all the love of all the angels and saints unless you love Him too--needing that little drop to fill His cup of joy!  Is there no answering throb, no responsive glow?  

Within an "upper room" are met a small, yet faithful band,
On whom a deep yet chastened grief hath laid its softening hand.
Among them there is One who wears a more than mortal mien, 
'Tis He on whom in all distress the weary one may lean.
Opened Treasures - Frances Ridley Havergal

N.J. Hiebert - 10144

December 2

Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.  John 13:23 

The first time John is called the "disciple whom Jesus loved" is in the Upper Room.  What a scene for the heart to contemplate!  Jesus is there with a love that can never break down, for "having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end." John 13:1 

John is there delighting in the love of Christ, resting his head on the bosom of Jesus. He describes himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved.  Peter is there with real, ardent love for the Lord, but trusting in his own love to the Lord rather than resting in the Lord's love to him.  Lastly, Judas is there, with no love to the Lord--with the bag at his side and the devil in his heart, ready to betray the Lord and pass into the long dark night .

In Jesus we see how very near His love has brought Him to men like ourselves,
as John can rest his head on the bosom of the One who dwelt in the bosom of the Father.  In John we see what the heart of the Saviour can do for a sinner, bringing him to perfect rest in perfect love.  In Judas we see what the heart of a the sinner can do with the Saviour--betray Him, for thirty pieces of silver.

The feet washing is over and the time has come for the Lord to utter His farewell words; but His spirit is troubled by the presence of the betrayer.  The Lord unburdens His heart to His disciples, "One of you shall betray Me" (John 13:21). Immediately they look one on another, doubting of whom He spoke. 

Looking at others will never solve difficulties that arise among believers.  We must look to the Lord, but looking to the Lord demands nearness to the Lord, and in the circle of the upper room, the disciple that was nearest to the Lord was the one whose feet had been in the hands of the Lord, whose head was resting on the bosom of the Lord and whose heart was delighting in the love of the Lord.   H. Smith      

N.J. Hiebert - 10145

December 3

December 4