October 1—Morning—Genesis 49:10
"Shiloh." — Gen. 49:10

Precious name of the Lord Jesus! How blessed it has been throughout all ages to His people. Oh Lord, let it be as ointment poured forth this morning to my soul! Both Jews and Christians alike agree that this name belongs only to the Messiah. So, how is it that they do not see Christ in it, even our Jesus, who suffered under Pontius Pilate and died, as Caiaphas predicted, for the people, fulfilling the dying patriarch's prophecy by gathering together in one the children of God scattered abroad?

That Jesus fulfilled Jacob's prediction, and that none but Jesus ever did, is evident from their own testimony: "We have a law," they said to Pilate, "and by that law he ought to die." By this, they themselves confessed that, as Jacob prophesied, the Lawgiver was still present in Israel when Christ came. And when they added, "We have no king but Caesar," it was clear from their own testimony that the scepter had indeed departed from the tribe of Judah, as the heathen emperor now ruled.

Reflect on these evidences, my soul, and feast on the precious name of your Shiloh. Your Jesus, your Shiloh, your Almighty Deliverer, has come. He is both your Lawgiver and your Law-fulfiller, your God and your King, who arose from Judah. Oh, you glorious Shiloh! May my soul be gathered to you, to live upon you and for you; and do you, Lord, arise out of Zion, and when the fullness of the Gentiles is complete, let both Jew and Gentile be gathered into one fold, with you as the ever-living, ever-loving, ever-ruling Shiloh, to bless them forever. Amen.
 

October 1—Evening—Habakkuk 3:17, 18
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no food; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation!" — Habakkuk 3:17, 18

See, my soul, in the prophet's example, the blessedness of living above earthly enjoyments by living upon the fullness of the Creator. Here is a sun that never sets! Here is a fountain whose streams never dry up! Those who depend on the excellency of earthly things will find themselves lacking both food and comfort when that excellency fades, for they will perish when their season is over. But the soul that draws everything from Jesus, the God of his salvation, will have Jesus and His salvation as an everlasting source, even when all the resources of nature fail.

My soul, what are your resources for a time of famine? Can you join the prophet in his confidence? If the fig tree's blossoms are nipped by blight, frost, or mildew; if the vine and olive fail; and if even the essentials and pleasures of life are gone—do you have Jesus to sustain you? Can you rejoice in Him when nothing else remains, and call Him yours, the God of your salvation, when no one else will claim you and you have no one else but Him?

It is said that music sounds sweetest on the waters. Whether this is true or not, the melody of the soul is certainly at its sweetest when nature is out of tune if the believer can take his harp from the willow and sing aloud on the turbulent waters of sorrow to the God of salvation. And this song is never out of season, but gains a special sweetness when, from a renewed heart, the believer sings it to the God of his salvation.

Blessed Lord Jesus! Give me the grace, like the prophet, to sing and triumph so that, whether I gain or lose, I cannot lose You. As long as I have You, I may find joy in all earthly comforts; and when all else is gone, having You as my portion, may I sing aloud with the prophet, "Though all earthly joys fade away, I will still rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."