BITS and PIECES
A random collection of news and views
compiled by Frank McClelland for the
Toronto Free Presbyterian Church.
258th Edition – August 31, 2025
AN INTERESTING FACT
Last week we started a short series on the Bible’s “Jehovah titles” and have dealt with Jehovah Hosenu and Jehovah Jireh already. Here is an interesting fact from Psalm 118.
There are 31,174 verses in the Bible, and the central one is Psalm 118:8. “it is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” You will notice the verse has 14 words in English, but there are only five in the original Hebrew and the central word is, unsurprisingly, LORD or Jehovah.
Recognizing the chapter and verse divisions were added later, it is nevertheless interesting that the central figure in the Bible is Jehovah.
JEHOVAH TSIDKENU [Jeremiah 23:6].
3)MAN NEEDS A SUBSTITUTE
Why? To enter the kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus told us that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees or we “shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven” [Mt. 5:20]. And John said, there shall in no wise enter into it (Heaven) any thing that defileth” {Revelation 20:27].
It is obvious that entrance to Heaven is based on perfect obedience which no human has. Mount Sinai of the law is too steep for us to climb. There is only One who has perfectly kept the law of God and Jeremiah foretold His coming. So we can joyfully sing of our Substitute, “Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness my beauty are, my glorious dress; ‘Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed, with joy shall I lift up my head.”
JEHOVAH SHALOM [Judges 6:4].
4) MAN NEEDS SATISFACTION
There has been a void in the life of all people since Eden’s Garden. They yearn for satisfaction and fulfilment. But in this world there is ‘no peace.” Wars, strife, trouble and turmoil abound all of which are the result of sin. What a fearful harvest this world is reaping.
However, peace with God is possible. “the work of righteousness shall be peace” [Isaiah 32:17]. Gideon found “Shalom.” Peace with God comes when sin is covered, as when Gideon came face to face with the Lord.
Satan will try to wrest peace from us but the child of God can sing, “What tho’ the accuser roar of ills that I have done; I know them well, and thousands more; Jehovah findeth none.” There is perfect peace through the sacrificial blood of Christ.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee”
THE WEAVER
“My life is but a weaving
between my Lord and me,
I cannot choose the colours
He worketh steadily.
Oftimes He weaveth sorrow,
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.
Not till the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver’s skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.”
[Author uncertain]
HELPING THE NEEDY
I received my first 2026 calendar this week. It came from an evangelical mission that does an exemplary work in helping children in other lands who have serious health problems.
The calendar has a page for each month with a photo of a child who had been helped with various surgeries that their parents could not ordinarily afford.
Missions like this are to be commended and supported for reaching out to help those little ones who were born with some deformity who, without this vital help, would be confined to a much inferior lifestyle.
If your heart is moved to help support such a mission be careful. Make sure it is faithful to the Lord and His Word because some profess to be Christian and never mention His name or His Word. “Blessed is he that considereth the poor” [Psalm 41:1]
