And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

2 Samuel 6:5

When natural music is sharpened and polished by art, then one begins to see with amazement the great and perfect wisdom of God in His wonderful work of music. ... He who does not find this an inexpressible miracle of the Lord is truly a clod, and is not worthy to be considered a man.

— Martin Luther

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman ©

September 2

"Why do you stand looking into the sky?" (Acts 1:11).

We mourn that which passes from our lives. But! "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way as you have seen Him go into heaven" (V.11b).

Sometimes the loss we so grieve over is a blessing that will strengthen us. We gaze with broken heart and mind at a fading treasure, and yet in the losing is the very grace that we may and can gain. "It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you..." (John 16:7). "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).

September 3

"I will give you a new heart..." (Ezekiel 36:26a). Ah, Lord God, a new heart! I beg for a heart that understands my brother's and sister's real needs, not just desires. I beg for a renewed heart that can mesh with my dear friend's, to comprehend the hurts and tangles in both our lives.

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10). "Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults" (Psalm 19:12). O my Lord, baptize me in the Living Water that I may be cleansed of all that separates me from You and from Your creation. Wash me, O Father, and I shall be whiter than snow...

September 4

"...We tried to stop him, because he is not one of us" (Luke 9:49b). It is arrogance to assume that we know what is best for all concerned; it is to reach the top rung of pride.

"So a young man ran and told Moses...`Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.' Then Joshua...answered and said, `Moses, my Lord, restrain them.' But Moses said to him, `Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!'" (Numbers 11:2729 NAS).
Jesus says, "Do not stop him...for whoever is not against you is for you" (Luke 9:50). Only God knows motives.

Pat Nordman ©

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions With links to the entire devotion
Spurgeon's Morning for September 2	Spurgeon's Evening for September 2
"But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her." - Mark 1:30	"Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." - John 4:48
We see at once that household joys and cares are no hindrance to the full exercise of ministry, nay, that since they furnish an opportunity for personally witnessing the Lord’s gracious work upon one’s own flesh and blood, they may even instruct the teacher better than any other earthly discipline.	Why, dear reader, if such be your case, do you crave for signs and wonders? Is not the gospel its own sign and wonder? Is not this a miracle of miracles, that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish"?
Spurgeon's Morning for September 3	Spurgeon's Evening for September 3
"Thou whom my soul loveth." - Song of Solomon 1:7	"The Lord trieth the righteous." - Psalm 11:5
Many can only say of Jesus that they hope they love him; they trust they love him; but only a poor and shallow experience will be content to stay here. No one ought to give any rest to his spirit till he feels quite sure about a matter of such vital importance.	Our mountains are not too high, and our valleys are not too low for temptations: trials lurk on all roads. Everywhere, above and beneath, we are beset and surrounded with dangers. Yet no shower falls unpermitted from the threatening cloud; every drop has its order ere it hastens to the earth.
Spurgeon's Morning for September 4	Spurgeon's Evening for September 4
"I will; be thou clean." - Mark 1:41	"Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have." - Leviticus 19:36
Primeval darkness heard the Almighty fiat, "light be," and straightway light was, and the word of the Lord Jesus is equal in majesty to that ancient word of power. Redemption like Creation has its word of might. Jesus speaks and it is done	The scales in which we measure our trials and troubles, are they according to standard? Paul, who had more to suffer than we have, called his afflictions light, and yet we often consider ours to be heavy-surely something must be amiss with the weights!

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September 2 Eze 5:1 - 9:11
September 3 Eze 10:1 - 13:23
September 4 Eze 14:1 - 16:63

365 days of Bible Readings Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

Current Bible Question

What caused Saul's "evil spirit" to leave him?

Previous question and Answer:

Who wrote over 1000 songs?

Solomon (1 Kings 4:23)

Today's Devotion

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

Before Him

by Cathy Vinson

"One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord..."

(Job 1:6)

There is one place in the universe, if considered, will recover our hearts from irreverence. It is the positioning before God. (emprosthen-place or position, in front of, in the sight of, before the presence of.)

In Job 1:6, it says, "One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord..." Before God was the place they were to present themselves. Will we be presented one day here, too? Are we already?

Before the Lord is the place of His sight. He can be well-pleased and have pleasure with what is before Him. One pleasure to Him is giving revelation of His Son to babes (those without the power of speech), while hiding (apo-away from) the same things from the wise and intelligent. This is a pleasing sight to the Lord. "Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight (emproshen)" (Mt 11:26). Oh, might we find out what comes before Him and pleases the Lord!

What can be positioned before His throne? Here we can have involvement. We can bring and insert people into that looked upon and presented spot! Paul writes "We give thanks to God always concerning you, making mention of you in our prayers, unceasingly remembering you...before (emprosthen) our God and Father..." (1 Th 1:2-3). Wouldn't we, too, like to be pleasingly and unceasingly remembered in that awesome place?

Cathy Vinson©

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

There is one place in the universe, if considered, will recover our hearts from irreverence. It is the positioning before God.

Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE

Music in the Bible

The Flute

The mashrikitha is most often translated as "flute" in the Bible. It was actually a big pipe with a mouthpiece. It produced a sharp, penetrating sound, similar to an oboe. Because of the penetrating sound it was used in processions (Isa 30:29). It was popular for both secular and religious events. It was not mentioned as an instrument of the first temple orchestra, but was sometimes allowed in the second temple.

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~ Who's That Old Gal? ~

Our church had been given a used organ that, after a little TLC, was soon readied for service. The anticipated Sunday arrived, for which we had hired a professional musician to play the organ. Before she hit the first note, I nodded in her direction and said, "Let's see what the old gal can do!"

To my surprise, the congregation burst out laughing, and it was only after the red-faced organist pointed out my blunder that I realized the double meaning. To remedy the situation, I blurted out, "I mean the organ!" But it was too late.

The ultimate humiliation, though, was still to come. When the organist dramatically hit her first chord not a note sounded. Our repairman, we later discovered, had mixed up a major electrical connection.

- David Martin, Manzanita, Oregon. C

Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
Do not forsake me when my strength fails. Psalm 71:9

`You shall rise up before the grayheaded, and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD. LEV 19:32

A gray head is a crown of glory;
It is found in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 19:31