Our reading during the present month will embrace the wilderness books of Numbers in the Old Testament, with the two epistles of Peter and that to the Colossians in the New. It is important to note that both the literal and spiritual order of the books is the very opposite of what we would expect according to human thoughts. Man places the sanctuary and the presence of God at the end of the journey. He hopes " to get to heaven at last," and meanwhile is fairly comfortable to go on without the sense of God's presence and the holiness which becomes that presence during his life in this world.

Grace here, as everywhere, inverts human order. We are first introduced into the presence of God, and made at home there; our future for all eternity is assured; the gladness of the final day is put into our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us, and then we are started off on our journey through this world. How like the grace of God this is! Grace never sets us to earn, but always to enjoy and to develop. So Numbers follows Leviticus. The wilderness experience follows the sanctuary.

It is an extremely interesting and profitable book, giving an account of God's provision for the way, and, alas, of the failure of the people to make use of these provisions as they should, with the unbelief which brought upon them the chastenings of God. But the end of the book brings them at the end of the wilderness with song and joy, and the beginning of conquest.

Space will only allow us to point out the divisions:

1. (Chap. 1:-10:10.) The numbering of the people, and their arrangement in the camp according to divine order. So we see the tabernacle in the centre. About it are grouped the Levites and priests after their families, and each with their appointed service. Then come the tribes, where the same divine order prevails. " Marching orders " are given; for, whether at rest or in motion, God would have His people subject entirely to His control. Here all is perfect, and at last the trumpet sounds for the onward march toward the land of their inheritance. Note the Nazarite and his vow, of the sixth chapter, a most important portion.

2. (Chap. 10:ii-16:35.) Unbelief, weakness, and departure from God; murmuring, jealousy and the culminating sin of refusal to go into the land are the prominent features here. Caleb and Joshua are the only two who will ever enter, of all that generation. This portion culminates with the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abi-ram. What dreadful fruits spring from what seems to be the small root of unbelief, and failure to wholly follow the Lord!

3. (Chap. 16:36-24:). The priest in resurrection God's remedy for all this weakness. Amongst many other things are the budding of Aaron's rod, the portion of the priests in the sacrifices, and the cleansing from defilement by the ashes of the red heifer. Here, too, Aaron passes away, and gives place to his son Eleazar. Resurrection is thus seen throughout the entire portion. How good it is to remember that we have a High Priest who has been brought again from the dead, and who "ever liveth to make intercession for " us!

4. (Chap. 25:-27:) Fresh failure, through mingling with Moabites and a new numbering of the people. Moses reaches his end here.
5. (Chap. 28:-36:) Sacrifices, beginning victories, with provision of the cities of refuge. One prominent feature of this portion is the failure of the two tribes and a half, in their desire to settle on the East side of Jordan.

Altogether, the book gives two prominent thoughts:man's weakness and failure in the wilderness; God's mercy and succor.

Colossians gives us a beautiful New Testament book of Numbers, and shows how we may pass through this wilderness without failure and with an ever-growing joy in the heart, fulfilling all the responsibilities of the way. In brief, it is Christ the Object before us, and Christ in us " the hope of glory." Christ is the theme, and where He fills the heart the ways will answer to God.

The four divisions of the epistle are :

1. (Chap. 1:1-18.) Christ's headship over all, "that in all things He might have the pre-eminence."

2. (Chap. 1:19-29.) The gospel of salvation, and the Church-the body of Christ. Paul's twofold ministry in relation to these.

3. (Chap. 2:) Christ in death and resurrection our sufficiency, and we " complete in Him."

4. (Chaps. 3:, 4:) Resurrection life and the cross, the power for a faithful walk in all relationships of life.

The two epistles of Peter are a beautiful and most helpful provision for our wilderness journey. Peter, of course, does not occupy us with the heavenly things as the apostle Paul. His epistles are pre-eminently for the pilgrim life here, but the heavens are always bright above, even though the pathway be full of trial. One of the key-words of the first epistle is "suffering." Various phases of suffering will be found in each chapter. The divisions of the epistle are:

1. (Chap. 1:1-21.) A living hope linked with the resurrection of Christ and the power of God, pledging us to our inheritance.

2. (Chap. 1:22-2:10.) A holy and royal priesthood of a spiritual kind, replacing the old fleshly relationship of Israel.

3. (Chap. 2:10-3:9.) True sanctification in a life to the glory of God.

4. (Chap. 3:10-4:6.) Suffering in a world where they are subject to trial, and walking in the path of Christ.

5. (Chap. 4:7-5:) The end of all things at hand, and varied responsibilities in view of that.

The second epistle has in view declension, with warning and admonition. There are three divisions:

1. (Chap. 1:) All things provided for us by divine power, and our responsibilities growing out of it.
2. (Chap. 2:) Apostasy traced from its beginning, and the final end that brings in judgment.

3. (Chap. 3:) The destruction of the earth, and the promise of " new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."