This Morning's Meditation - July 21, 2016

[Book of Jeremiah]

This morning's devotional from Charles Spurgeon Archive is a comforting Word for the followers of Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.....

Thursday, July 21, 2016
This Morning's Meditation
C. H. Spurgeon

The daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee."
—Isaiah 37:22.

​

EASSURED by the Word of the Lord, the poor trembling citizens of Zion grew bold, and shook their heads at Sennacherib's boastful threats. Strong faith enables the servants of God to look with calm contempt upon their most haughty foes. We know that our enemies are attempting impossibilities. They seek to destroy the eternal life, which cannot die while Jesus lives; to overthrow the citadel, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail. They kick against the pricks to their own wounding, and rush upon the bosses of Jehovah's buckler to their own hurt.

We know their weakness. What are they but men? And what is man but a worm? They roar and swell like waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame. When the Lord ariseth, they shall fly as chaff before the wind, and be consumed as crackling thorns. Their utter powerlessness to do damage to the cause of God and His truth, may make the weakest soldiers in Zion's ranks laugh them to scorn.

Above all, we know that the Most High is with us, and when He dresses Himself in arms, where are His enemies? If He cometh forth from His place, the potsherds of the earth will not long contend with their Maker. His rod of iron shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel, and their very remembrance shall perish from the earth. Away, then, all fears, the kingdom is safe in the King's hands. Let us shout for joy, for the Lord reigneth, and His foes shall be as straw for the dunghill.

"As true as God's own word is true;
Nor earth, nor hell, with all their crew,
Against us shall prevail.
A jest, and by-word, are they grown;
God is with us, we are his own,
Our victory cannot fail."


Meditation for This Morning by C. H. Spurgeon

 

[guno]

Shacharit–Morning Prayers

The sun has risen; a new day beckons.

It’s time to climb a ladder, to ascend to the heavenly spheres and fortify our sensitivity for G‑d and spirituality. After this daily booster we descend, equipped to tackle the day and the struggles it will present.


Rung One:
Content: Hodu—a set of verses that praise the Almighty—and Psalms 30 and 67.
Theme: Simple acknowledgement of G‑d as the Master of the Universe, and a commitment to obey His will.

The Amidah reveals the intrinsic bond that connects us with the Creator, a bond that transcends emotion or intellect


Rung Two:
Content: The “Verses of Praise,” a series of Psalms (the bulk is Psalm 145–150), preceded by a blessing(Baruch She’amar) and followed by one (Yishtabach).
Theme: Awakening an emotional attachment to G‑d through awareness of His awesome deeds.

Rung Three:
Content: The Shema, (Hear O Israel, the L‑rd is our G‑d, the L‑rd is One.) preceded by two blessings and followed by one.
Theme: Contemplating the workings of the supernal worlds and comprehension of G‑d’s greatness and oneness.

Rung Four:
Content: The Amidah.
Theme: The Amidah is when one stands before G‑d and addresses Him directly, asking for his needs. This closeness denotes complete oneness with G‑d, a revelation of the intrinsic bond that connects us with the Creator, a bond that transcends emotion or intellect. This prayer is recited while standing at attention, and in an undertone.

Climbing Down
The Amidah is followed by penitential prayers, a brief reading from the Torah scroll