Then I will praise God's name with singing,
and I will honor him with thanksgiving.
For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing an ox
or presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.

Psalm 69:30-31 (NLT)

Earth’s Value Of A Hymn

“You gave the Lord two hundred dollars this morning,” said a servant of God to an aged brother who had never had much of this world’s goods. “What do you mean?” asked the aged Christian. “I don’t have it to give.” “I heard you singing,” replied the preacher, “I counted five hymns of praise to the Lord. The psalmist said that a song of praise would please the Lord more than an ox. A cow would be worth at least forty dollars. So you have given the Lord two hundred dollars.”

—Choice Gleaning

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman Š

August 30

"`Come now,' he said, `I thought you had agreed to forgive and forget.' She replied: `Sure, but I don't want you to forget that I have forgiven and forgotten.'" Leslie R. Smith, This Love of Ours.

C.S. Lewis wrote, "Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive." He also wrote, "It is not that people think forgiveness is too high and difficult a virtue. No! It is that they think it a hateful and contemptible one." Corrie ten Boom, in The Hiding Place, tells about forgiveness. She, too, cried from her cross, "Father, forgive them..."

Pat Nordman Š

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions With links to the entire devotion
Spurgeon's Morning for August 30	Spurgeon's Evening for August 30
"Wait on the Lord." – Psalm 27:14	"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed." — Jeremiah 17:14 "I have seen his ways, and will heal him." — Isaiah 57:18
It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God's warriors than standing still.	It is the sole prerogative of God to remove spiritual disease. Natural disease may be instrumentally healed by men, but even then the honour is to be given to God who giveth virtue unto medicine, and bestoweth power unto the human frame to cast off disease. As for spiritual sicknesses, these remain with the great Physician alone

dbiblc.gif (5194 bytes)

August 30 La 1:1 - 2:22

365 days of Bible Readings Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

Current Bible Question

Who was the woman that played a timbrel and led the women of Israel in a victory song after the Red Sea incident?

Previous question and Answer:

What is the only book in the Bible that contains numerous directions for musical accompaniment?

Psalms

Today's Devotion

But my mouth would encourage you;
comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
Job 16:5 (NIV)

Finally Unstifled

by Cathy Vinson

"I will be merciful to their unrighteousness"

(Jer 31:34)

Readers of the Old Testament often shudder at the severe punishments Israel received for her rebellions. Yet even at that, we see hints that God wasn't dealing out punishments in equal proportion to what the sins deserved. He was holding back. Flickers of grace flash throughout the Old Testament shining towards its full revelation. As glad as we are for God's earlier mercies toward His nation, God was having to wear a veil. For in not dealing with the sins fully, He was stifling a part of Himself as being the God of perfect justice.

When could God look mercifully, without wincing, at unrighteousness? Did a single moment usher in this gaze of mercy which would last for eternity? Was it in the breaking forth of a new covenant? While Jesus was paying the price through His blood, we who were revealed as His slayers were being shown complete mercy. The payment was paid that day. God could now totally "be Himself." In forgetting sins He was not going to be stifled.

This certainly reveals what need we are in. If we wish to run for cover for all our sins exposed before Him, it isn't necessary, for He has already seen us. "I will forgive THEIR wickedness." What a bittersweet gaze! God our Father looks, and looking forgives. Unclothed we stand before God, and now He expresses His all in mercy.

Jesus united it all together! The day has come! In Him, "righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (Psalm 85:10).

Cathy VinsonŠ

Send a note to Cathy Vinson , the writer of this devotion.

. . . we see hints that God wasn't dealing out punishments in equal proportion to what the sins deserved. He was holding back.

Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE

Music in the Bible

The Shophar

The shophar is best understood as a "ram's horn" (Joshua 6:4,6,8,13). The KJV often uses trumpet, cornet, and horn to render this Hebrew word (1 Chronicles 15:28, Hosea 5:8). This instrument was designed to make noise, not melody.

The shophar was not a 'musical' instrument. It was used to give signals and to announce special occasions, such as the transfer of the ark (2 Sam. 6). The shophar was also used to frighten away evil spirits and gods of the enemy (Zech 9:14-15).

T
H
I
N
K

A
B
O
U
T

I
T

~ Sing of His Love ~

The Shophar

The shophar is best understood as a "ram's horn" (Joshua 6:4,6,8,13). The KJV often uses trumpet, cornet, and horn to render this Hebrew word (1 Chronicles 15:28, Hosea 5:8). This instrument was designed to make noise, not melody.

The shophar was not a 'musical' instrument. It was used to give signals and to announce special occasions, such as the transfer of the ark (2 Sam. 6). The shophar was also used to frighten away evil spirits and gods of the enemy (Zech 9:14-15).