PSALMS
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Psalms 42; 43 and 44
Psalms 42: 1 – 5
The psalmist looked to the LORD as his chief good, and set his heart upon HIM accordingly; casting anchor thus at first, he rides out the storm. A gracious soul can take little satisfaction in GOD’s courts if it does not meet with GOD HIMSELF there.
Living souls never can take up their rest anywhere short of a LIVING GOD. To appear before the LORD is the desire of the upright, as it is the dread of the hypocrite. Nothing is more grievous to a gracious soul than what is intended to shake its confidence in the LORD. It was not the remembrance of the pleasures of his court ​ that afflicted David; but the remembrance of the free access he formerly had to GOD’s house, and his pleasure in attending there. Those that commune much with their own hearts, will often have to chide them.

When the soul rests on itself, it sinks; if it catches hold on the power and promise of GOD, the head is kept above the billows. And what is our support under present woes but this, that we shall have comfort in HIM. We have great cause to mourn for sin, but being cast down springs from unbelief and a rebellious will; we should therefore strive and pray against it.

OLD TESTAMENT
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Numbers 10: 11 – 36
Numbers 10: 29
Come thou with us…
Moses invited his brother-in-law a non-Israelite, to come with them and share the good things GOD had promised to Israel. The door was always open for Gentiles to join Israel, to make GOD of Israel their GOD, and to share in GOD’s promises and blessings. Hobab appeared to have rejected the invitation, later on, Rahab, Ruth and many other Gentiles found acceptance and blessing with the LORD and His people.

NEW TESTAMENT
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Acts 21: 1 – 26
Acts 21: 13
Then Paul answered…
The will of the majority or even the unanimous wish of genuine caring believers is not necessarily the will of GOD. Paul was not indifferent to the pleas and tears of His friends, still, he could not change his resolute purpose to be willing to suffer imprisonment and even to die for the name of the LORD JESUS.