From J. C. Philpot's Daily Portions
November 18 "And he led them forth by the right way, that they might
go to a city of habitation." Psalm 107:7 "He led them forth." Forth out of the world--forth
out of sin--forth out of a mere profession--forth out of a name to
live--forth out of everything hateful to his holy and pure eyes. "To go to a city of habitation." They had no city to
dwell in here below; but they were journeying to a city of habitation above,
whose walls and bulwarks are salvation, and whose gates are praise; where
there are eternal realities to be enjoyed by the soul; where there is
something stable and eternal; something to satisfy all the needs of a
capacious and immortal spirit, and give it that rest which it never could
find while wandering here below. If we have a city here in this earth, we
desire no city above; and if we have a city above, we desire no city here. This then must be our state and case; either to be
pilgrims, journeying onwards, through troubles, to things above, or taking
up our abode below; seeking heaven here, or heaven hereafter; resting upon
the world, or resting upon the Lord; panting after the things of time, or
panting after the things of eternity; satisfied in self, or satisfied only
in Christ. One of the two must be our state and case. The Lord decide it
clearly in the hearts of his people that they are on his side; and give us
to know and feel that our very restlessness and inability to find food and
shelter in the things of time and sense, are leading us more earnestly and
believingly to seek after the things that have reality in them; that finding
no city to dwell in here below, we may press forward to be manifestly
enjoying testimonies of being citizens of that city which is above, "which
has foundations, whose builder and maker is God!"