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“Salvation is of the Jews,” John 4:22.

This morning the first chapter of my daily Bible reading was Exodus 28. In it there is reference to Aaron the high priest being adorned with ‘holy’ and beautiful garments (verse 2). Moses was instructed to engrave the names of the tribes of Israel upon two sets of precious stones mounted on the shoulders and over the heart of Aaron.The purpose of these engravings is explained by the Lord in verse 29.

“‭And Aaron‭ shall bear‭‭ the names‭ of the children‭ of Israel‭ in the breastplate‭ of judgment‭ upon his heart‭, when he goeth‭‭ in unto the holy‭ ‭place‭, for a memorial‭ before‭ the LORD‭ continually‭.‭”

Aaron pictures for us our Great High Priest, Who at this moment “is‭‭ even‭ at‭ the right hand‭ of God‭, who‭ also‭ maketh intercession‭‭ for‭ us‭,” Romans 8:34.Is this not another reason for Christians to think and pray for the very people that at this moment Christ bears up before His father?

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This morning (14/3/26) I read what is one of my favourite chapters in the Bible. I always feel reluctant to refer to any portion of God’s Word as one I enjoy above all the other parts of the Bible. In truth, I recognise that as I read through the Bible, many, many portions are considered by me as my ‘favourite portion’ for the simple reason that coming upon a chapter that particularly meets the need of my soul at that moment, I am inclined to elevate it to the position of being my favourite chapter.

Our own physical appetite illustrates our changing ‘tastes’! There times when we think of a particular food and desire it above all other morsels. But as our appetite shifts according to what it is our bodies need, so it is with the wonderful array of spiritual food set forth in Holy Scripture. There are certain portions that our souls at times require above others to feast upon.

Today I feasted upon John chapter 4!

It is a chapter which reminded me of another book I read from before coming to it — the book of Proverbs. I read the first chapter of that wonderful book also this morning. It is a book of ‘pithy nuggets’ of divine wisdom.

In that, it is similar to John chapter 4 for it is a chapter in which you find many succinct and compendious statements, setting out in a most memorable way, essential Gospel truths.

Not least amongst such declarations is the statement by the Saviour which is our text.

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“But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries,” Exodus 23:22.

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The words of our text clearly suggest that there is an alternative outcome to the response from the Lord to the obedience of those who heed His voice and keep His Word!

If there is disobedience on the part of His people, then He will act as an enemy toward them and they shall be overcome by their adversaries!

The implied threat of the above words was enacted upon at the fall of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonian army.

“How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger! The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof. He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy, and he burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about. He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire. The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation,” Lamentations 2:1-5.

These words were written by Jeremiah in the wake of the siege and horrific overthrow of Judah and the massacre of thousands and the captivity and scattering of many more in the years BC 587/586.

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