Devocionales
Enero 1

Charles H. Spurgeon

Fecha	Español	Inglés
Enero 1 January 1	Mañana    "Comieron de los frutos de la tierra de Canaán aquel año." Josué 5:12   El recorrido [J1]   fatigante de Israel había terminado, y el descanso prometido fue logrado, conseguido. No más tiendas ambulantes,  serpientes mortales [J2]   [J3]  , feroces Amalequitas [J4]  , y tierras salvajes ululantes: ellos vinieron a la tierra que fluye con leche y miel [J5]  y comieron el fruto de la tierra. Quizás este año, amado lector cristiano, puede ser su caso o el mío.  Alegre es la esperanza, y si la fe está en ejercicio activo,   que cosecharemos gozo sin impurezas. Estar con  Jesús en la paz que permanece para la gente de Dios, es una alegre esperanza sin lugar a dudas, y esperar esta gloria tan pronto es una doble bendición. La incredulidad se estremece ante el Jordán el cual aun se revuelve entre nosotros y la buena tierra, pero descansemos seguros que nosotros ya hemos experimentado más enfermedades que los que la muerte en el peor de los casos puede causarnos. Dejemos que se desvanezca cada pensamiento temeroso, y regocijémonos  con muy grande gozo [J6]  , en la esperanza de que este año empezaremos  a estar "por siempre con el Señor". Una parte del ejército  se quedará este año en la tierra, para hacer servicio por su Señor. Si este fuera nuestro destino, no hay razón por la que el Texto de Año nuevo no fuera cierto aun. "Nosotros que hemos creído entramos en el reposo" [J7]   El Espíritu Santo es el anhelo de nuestra herencia; el nos da "gloria iniciada desde abajo". En el cielo están seguros, y así somos preservados en Cristo Jesús; ahí ellos  triunfan sobre sus enemigos, y nosotros tenemos victorias también. Los espíritus celestiales disfrutan la comunión con su Señor, y esta no es negada a nosotros; ellos reposan en su amor, y nosotros tenemos perfecta paz en Él: ellos cantan alabanzas para su adoración, y es nuestro privilegio bendecirlo también. Este año juntaremos frutos celestiales en el suelo terrestre, donde la fe y la esperanza han hecho al desierto como el jardín del Señor. EL hombre comió comida de angeles en el pasado, y ¿por qué no ahora? O por gracia comer en Jesús, y así  comer del fruto de la tierra de Cannan este año.   [J1] La versión en Inglés dice deambular (wandering), pero el significado de esta palabra es andar sin dirección. No andaba el pueblo Hebreo sin dirección Dios los estaba guiando en su recorrido por el desierto.   [J2] "Y Jehová envió entre el pueblo serpientes ardientes,  que mordían al pueblo;  y murió mucho pueblo de Israel." Número 21:6   No te alegres tú,  Filistea toda,  por haberse quebrado la vara del que te hería;  porque de la raíz de la culebra saldrá áspid,  y su fruto,  serpiente voladora. Isaías 14:29   [J3] Serpientes Mortales (LXX. "mortal," Vulg. "ardiente"), Num. 21:6, probablemente la naja haje de Egypt; some swift-springing, deadly snake (Isa. 14:29). After setting out from their encampment at Ezion-gaber, the Israelites entered on a wide sandy desert, which stretches from the mountains of Edom as far as the Persian Gulf. While traversing this region, the people began to murmur and utter loud complaints against Moses. As a punishment, the Lord sent serpents among them, and much people of Israel died. Moses interceded on their behalf, and by divine direction he made a "brazen serpent," and raised it on a pole in the midst of the camp, and all the wounded Israelites who looked on it were at once healed. (Comp. John 3:14, 15.) (See ASP.) This "brazen serpent" was preserved by the Israelites till the days of Hezekiah, when it was destroyed (2 Kings 18:4).   [J4] Comentario Easton Bible Dictionary Amalekite A tribe that dwelt in Arabia Petraea, between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. They were not the descendants of Amalek, the son of Eliphaz, for they existed in the days of Abraham (Gen_14:7). They were probably a tribe that migrated from the shores of the Persian Gulf and settled in Arabia. They dwelt in the land of the south...from Havilah until thou comest to Shur' (Num_13:29; 1Sa_15:7). They were a pastoral, and hence a nomadic race. Their kings bore the hereditary name of Agag (Num_24:7; 1Sa_15:8). They attempted to stop the Israelites when they marched through their territory (Deu_25:18), attacking them at Rephidim (Exo_17:8-13; compare Deu_25:17; 1Sa_15:2). They afterwards attacked the Israelites at Hormah (Num_14:45). We read of them subsequently as in league with the Moabites (Jdg_3:13) and the Midianites (Jdg_6:3). Saul finally desolated their territory and destroyed their power (1Sa_14:48; 1Sa_15:3), and David recovered booty from them (1Sa_30:18-20). In the Babylonian inscriptions they are called Sute, in those of Egypt Sittiu, and the Amarna tablets include them under the general name of Khabbati, or 'plunderers.'   [J5] "y he descendido para librarlos de mano de los egipcios,  y sacarlos de aquella tierra a una tierra buena y ancha,  a tierra que fluye leche y miel,  a los lugares del cananeo,  del heteo,  del amorreo,  del ferezeo,  del heveo y del jebuseo." Éxodo 3:8 "y he dicho:  Yo os sacaré de la aflicción de Egipto a la tierra del cananeo,  del heteo,  del amorreo,  del ferezeo,  del heveo y del jebuseo,  a una tierra que fluye leche y mi" Éxodo 3:17 " Y cuando Jehová te hubiere metido en la tierra del cananeo,  del heteo,  del amorreo,  del heveo y del jebuseo,  la cual juró a tus padres que te daría,  tierra que destila leche y miel,  harás esta celebración en este mes." Éxodo 13:5 " Pero a vosotros os he dicho:  Vosotros poseeréis la tierra de ellos,  y yo os la daré para que la poseáis por heredad,  tierra que fluye leche y miel.  Yo Jehová vuestro Dios,  que os he apartado de los pueblos." Levítico 20:24 " Y les contaron,  diciendo:  Nosotros llegamos a la tierra a la cual nos enviaste,  la que ciertamente fluye leche y miel;  y este es el fruto de ella." Números 13:27 " Si Jehová se agradare de nosotros,  él nos llevará a esta tierra,  y nos la entregará;  tierra que fluye leche y miel." 14:8   [J6] "Y al ver la estrella,  se regocijaron con muy grande gozo."  Mateo 2:10   [J7] "Pero los que hemos creído entramos en el reposo,  de la manera que dijo: Por tanto,  juré en mi ira,  No entrarán en mi reposo;  aunque las obras suyas estaban acabadas desde la fundación del mundo." Hebreos 4:3	Morning   "They did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year." - Jos 5:12   Israel's weary wanderings were all over, and the promised rest was . No more moving tents, fiery serpents, fierce Amalekites, and howling wildernesses: they came to the land which flowed with milk and honey, and they ate the old corn of the land. Perhaps this year, beloved Christian reader, this may be thy case or mine. Joyful is the prospect, and if faith be in active exercise, it will yield unalloyed delight. To be with Jesus in the rest which remaineth for the people of God, is a cheering hope indeed, and to expect this glory so soon is a double bliss. Unbelief shudders at the Jordan which still rolls between us and the goodly land, but let us rest assured that we have already experienced more ills than death at its worst can cause us. Let us banish every fearful thought, and rejoice with exceeding great joy, in the prospect that this year we shall begin to be "for ever with the Lord." A part of the host will this year tarry on earth, to do service for their Lord. If this should fall to our lot, there is no reason why the New Year's text should not still be true. "We who have believed do enter into rest." The Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance; he gives us "glory begun below." In heaven they are secure, and so are we preserve in Christ Jesus; there they triumph over their enemies, and we have victories too. Celestial spirits enjoy communion with their Lord, and this is not denied to us; they rest in his love, and we have perfect peace in him: they hymn his praise, and it is our privilege to bless him too. We will this year gather celestial fruits on earthly ground, where faith and hope have made the desert like the garden of the Lord. Man did eat angels' food of old, and why not now? O for grace to feed on Jesus, and so to eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan this year!  English Notes   [1] Fiery Serpent (LXX. "deadly," Vulg. "burning"), Num. 21:6, probably the naja haje of Egypt; some swift-springing, deadly snake (Isa. 14:29). After setting out from their encampment at Ezion-gaber, the Israelites entered on a wide sandy desert, which stretches from the mountains of Edom as far as the Persian Gulf. While traversing this region, the people began to murmur and utter loud complaints against Moses. As a punishment, the Lord sent serpents among them, and much people of Israel died. Moses interceded on their behalf, and by divine direction he made a "brazen serpent," and raised it on a pole in the midst of the camp, and all the wounded Israelites who looked on it were at once healed. (Comp. John 3:14, 15.) (See ASP.) This "brazen serpent" was preserved by the Israelites till the days of Hezekiah, when it was destroyed (2 Kings 18:4). (See BRASS.)   [1] Amalekites   Philo interprets "a people that licks up." A nomadic tribe, occupying the peninsula of Sinai and the wilderness between Palestine and Egypt (Num_13:29; 1Sa_15:7; 1Sa_27:8). Arab writers represent them as sprung from Ham, and originally at the Persian gulf, and then pressed westward by Assyria, and spreading over Arabia before its occupation by Joktan's descendants. This would accord with the mention of them (Gen_14:7) long before Esau's grandson, the Edomite Amalek; also with Jdg_3:13; Jdg_5:14; Jdg_12:15, where "Amalek" and "the mount of the Amalekites" appear in central Palestine, whither they would come in their passage westward. Scripture nowhere else mentions any relationship of them with the Edomites and Israelites. The Amalek of Edom (Gen_36:16) in this view afterward became blended with the older Amalekites. But Gen_14:7 mentions merely "the country of the Amalekites," i.e. which afterward belonged to them; whereas in the case of the other peoples themselves are named, the Rephaims, Zuzims, Emims, Horites, Amorites (Septuagint, however, and Origen read for "the country" "the princes".) The descent of the Amalekites from Amalek, Esau's grandson, is favored also by the consideration that otherwise a people so conspicuous in Israel's history would be without specification of genealogy, contrary to the analogy of the other nations connected with Israel in the Pentateuch. Their life was nomadic (Jdg_6:5); a city is mentioned in 1Sa_15:5. Agag was the hereditary title of the king. On Israel's route from Egypt to Palestine, Amalek in guerrilla warfare tried to stop their progress, and was defeated by Joshua, under Moses, whose hands were stayed up by Aaron and Hur, at Rephidim (Exo_17:8-16). (See AGAG.) It was a deliberate effort to defeat God's purpose at the very outset, while Israel was as yet feeble, having just come out of Egypt. The motive is stated expressly, "Amalek feared not God" (Deu_25:17-19; and Exo_17:16 margin). "Because the hand of Amalek is against the throne of Jehovah, therefore Jehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation." Saul's failure to carry out God's purpose of their utter destruction (1 Samuel 15) brought destruction on Saul himself (1Sa_28:18), and, by a striking retribution in kind, by an Amalekites (2Sa_1:2-10). David, the instrument of destroying them, was raised to the vacated throne (1Sa_27:8; 1Sa_30:1-2; 1Sa_30:17-26; 2Sa_8:12). The Amalekites are mentioned with the Canaanites as having discomfited Israel at Hormah, on the borders of Canaan, permitted by God because of Israel's unbelief as to the spies' report, and then presumption in going up to possess the land in spite of Moses' warning and the non-accompaniment of the ark (Num_14:43-45). Subsequently the Moabite Eglon, in league with Amalek, smote Israel and took Jericho; but Ehud defeated them (Jdg_3:13-30). Next we find them leagued with Midian (Jdg_6:3; Jdg_6:7), and defeated by Gideon: Balaam's prophecy (Num_24:20 Heb.), "Beginning of the pagan (was) Amalek, and its end (shall be) destruction" (even to the perishing, under Saul, David, and finally Hezekiah, 1Ch_4:42-43). In age, power, and celebrity this Bedouin tribe was certainly not "the first of the nations," but (as margin) "the first pagan nation which opened the conflict of pagandom against the people of God." Thus its "latter end" stands in antithesis to its "beginning." The occasion of Amalek's attack was significant: at Rephidim, when there was no water for the people to drink, and God by miracle made it gush from the rock Contentions for possession of a well were of common occurrence (Gen_21:25; Gen_26:22; Exo_2:17); in Moses' message asking Edom and Sihon the Amorite for leave of passage, water is a prominent topic (Num_20:17; Num_21:22; compare Jdg_5:11). This constitutes the special heinousness of Amalek's sin in God's eyes. They tried to deprive God's people of a necessary of life which God had just supplied by miracle, thus fighting not so much with them as with God. This accounts for the special severity of their doom. The execution was delayed; but the original sentence at Rephidim was repeated by Balaam, and 400 years subsequently its execution was enjoined at the very beginning of the regal government as a test of obedience; compare 1Sa_12:12-15. They then still retained their spite against Israel, for we read (1Sa_14:48), "Saul smote the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them." That the Israelites might perceive they were but the executioners of God's sentence, they were forbidden to take the spoil Saul's taking of it to gratify the people and himself, under the pretext of "sacrifice," was the very thing which betrayed the spirit of disobedience, to his ruin.
	Tarde:	Evening "We will be glad and rejoice in thee." - Son_1:4 We will be glad and rejoice in thee. We will not open the gates of the year to the dolorous notes of the sackbut, but to the sweet strains of the harp of joy, and the high sounding cymbals of gladness. "O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise unto the rock of our salvation." We, the called and faithful and chosen, we will drive away our griefs, and set up our banners of confidence in the name of God. Let others lament over their troubles, we who have the sweetening tree to cast into Marah's bitter pool, with joy will magnify the Lord. Eternal Spirit, our effectual Comforter, we who are the temples in which thou dwellest, will never cease from adoring and blessing the name of Jesus. We WILL, we are resolved about it, Jesus must have the crown of our heart's delight; we will not dishonour our Bridegroom by mourning in his presence. We are ordained to be the minstrels of the skies, let us rehearse our everlasting anthem before we sing it in the halls of the New Jerusalem. We will BE GLAD AND REJOICE: two words with one sense, double joy, blessedness upon blessedness. Need there be any limit to our rejoicing in the Lord even now? Do not men of grace find their Lord to be camphire and spikenard, calamus and cinnamon even now, and what better fragrance have they in heaven itself? We will be glad and rejoice IN THEE. That last word is the meat in the dish, the kernel of the nut, the soul of the text. What heavens are laid up in Jesus! What rivers of infinite bliss have their source, aye, and every drop of their fulness in him! Since, O sweet Lord Jesus, thou art the present portion of thy people, favour us this year with such a sense of thy preciousness, that from its first to its last day we may be glad and rejoice in thee. Let January open with joy in the Lord, and December close with gladness in Jesus.