The Promised Rest

"The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan."
- Joshua 5:12 -

Israel's weary wanderings were all over.

The promised rest was attained.

No more moving tents, fiery serpents, fierce Amalekites, and howling wildernesses.

They had come to the land which flowed with milk and honey, and they ate the old corn of the land.

Joyful is the prospect.

To be with the Lord Jesus in the rest is a cheering hope indeed.

Let us banish every fearful thought.

Let us rejoice with exceeding great joy.

We shall be forever with the Lord.

Let us feed on Jesus, and eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan.

The Last Adam

So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. - 1 Corinthians 15:45 -

Adam is the covenant head and representative of the human race under the law of work.

Under the law of grace, every redeemed soul is one with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the last Adam.

He is the Substitute of the elect in the new covenant of love.

Whatever Jesus had done, He had done it for the whole body of His Church.

We were crucified in Him and buried with Him (Col. 2:10-13).

We are risen with Him and ascended with Him to the seats on high (Eph. 2:6).

The Church has thus fulfilled the law.

The Church is thus accepted in the beloved.

The Church is regarded with complacency by the just Jehovah.

He views her in Jesus, and does not look upon her as separate from her covenant head.

As the Anointed Redeemer of Israel, Jesus has nothing distinct from His Church.

All that He has, He holds for her.

All that He is or does, is ours as well as His.

Here is the foundation of the covenant of grace.

This gracious system of representation and substitution is the very groundwork of the gospel of our salvation.

And we are to receive it with strong faith and rapturous joy.

God Keeps His Promises

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
- Isaiah 41:10 -

God is able to do all things.

We never need to fear.

The strength of man shall never be able to overcome the power of God.

We have enough reason to abide firm in our faith.

God has promised to supply us with daily strength.

He will fulfill His promises.

God shall never grow weary.

He will support His children.

He will never fail us.

He has put His promise on record.

Let us doubt no longer.

He is our God and our strength,

The Love of The Lord

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
- Jeremiah 31:3 -

Sometimes the Lord Jesus tells His Church His love thoughts. In her very presence He says them.

The Lord is a wise lover. He knows when to keep back the intimation of love and when to let it out.

The Holy Spirit is often pleased, to witness with our spirits, the love of Jesus. He takes of the things of Christ and reveals them to us.

We have had times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Our faith has mounted to the topmost heights of assurance.

We have had confidence to lean our heads upon the bosom of our Lord. He has kissed us with the kisses of His mouth.

The Lord has killed our doubts by the closeness of His embrace.

His love has been sweeter than wine to our souls.

Abundant Salt

"up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred kors of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribed limit." - Ezra 7:22 -

Salt was used in every offering made by fire unto the Lord.

The preserving and purifying properties of salt is the grateful emblem of divine grace in the soul.

When king Artaxerxes gave salt to Ezra the priest, he set no limit to the quantity.

When the King of kings distributes grace among His royal priesthood, the supply will not be cut short by Him.

The Lord God is always gracious to His people.

He who chooses to gather much manna will find that he may have as much as he desires.

Some things in the economy of grace are measured.

But the salt of grace is given abundantly.

A man may have too much money, or too much honour.

But he cannot have too much grace.

There is no fear of a man becoming too full of grace.

More wealth will bring more care.

But more grace will bring more joy.

Increase in wisdom may bring in more sorrow.

But abundance of the Spirit is fullness of joy.

Let us go to the throne for a large supply of heavenly salt.

It will season our afflictions.

It will preserve our hearts from corruption.

It will kill our sins.