Dear Friends,

There are two big disappointments in the Old Testament. One is King Solomon; the other is the prophet Balaam. Today’s devotional speaks of Balaam but compare him to Solomon. Avoid their follies and then thank God we have a prophet, priest, and king who never disappoints – Jesus! God bless you.

Because of Calvary,

John Janney

• Numbers 23:10

  Numbers 23:10  English Standard Version (ESV)
  10 Who can count the dust of Jacob
  or number the fourth part[a] of Israel?
  Let me die the death of the upright,
  and let my end be like his!”

Numbers 23:10

“Balaam’s Wish”
“How blest the righteous are,
When they resign their breath!
No wonder Balaam wished to share
In such a happy death.

‘Oh! let me die,’ said he,
‘The death the righteous do;
When life is ended, let me be
Found with the faithful few.

The force of truth how great!
When enemies confess,
None but the righteous, whom they hate,
A solid hope possess.

But Balaam’s wish was vain,
His heart was insincere;
He thirsted for unrighteous gain,
And sought a portion here.

He seemed the Lord to know,
And to offend him loathe;
But Mammon proved his overthrow,
For none can serve them both.

May you, my friends, and I,
Warning from hence receive;
If like the righteous we would die,
To choose the life they live.”
[The Works of John Newton III, (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1820), p. 329]