Calendar:April 16th to May 15th
DAILY BIBLE READING:…..Apr. 16th, 2 Chron. 12; Apr. 30th, 2 Chron. 26; May 15th, Ezra 5. SUPPLEMENTARY READING:…. Apr. 16th, Rom. 2; Apr. 30th, Rom. 16; May 15th, 1 Cor. 15.
Greek New Testament Lessons
LESSON 41. Page 41, par. 40. Study and write out second column of Vocabulary. Translate carefully into English sentences 1-11 in the Exercise at foot of page 42.
LESSON 42. Page 43, top. Translate remainder of Greek Exercise, sentences 12-21. Also translate into Greek from English Exercise, same page, sentences 1-8. For sentence 8, see page 42, rule 2 b.
Young People's Meetings
We have been having reports from one of the largely attended meetings, in which topics and questions form a prominent part of the discussion. These meetings have been very interesting. It is probably better that they are not exactly the same in every place. A successful and interesting one has been well attended, where the Gospel of Luke is being studied in course, chapter by chapter. The study is not made too minute, as the effort is to complete at least half a chapter at one meeting. In this way a fairly thorough survey is made of the Gospel, with many helpful lessons gathered.
At another place, they are trying a somewhat new line of study, which may perhaps be best gathered from their own letters:"Having just completed a study of the books of Ruth and Esther, with a final contrast of the two characters, we decided to remedy the situation (of a lack of acquaintance with the general contents and structure of the Scriptures) by beginning the study of the Bible, its structure and the reasons for its arrangement, the relation of one book to another, and the subject of each book. Our idea was not a detailed study, and more of a comprehensive view that would perhaps be the basis of a closer study later, and enable us to turn quickly to the portion that would give us truth on any certain subject." Another, writing from the same place says, "Our object is not so much a study of the interpretations of the various books, as it is of the subject matter itself-that is, not so much what the books mean, as what is in them, and where they stand in relation to each other, and to the Book as a whole. It is not possible, of course, to separate altogether the interpretation from the subject matter, but we wish first to become familiar with the contents."
This is a very promising and interesting line of study, and can be pursued by the class as a whole, dividing special portions to different persons. It might be called the extensive rather than the intensive, or more detailed study. Of course both are needed for a clear understanding of God's word. This has been likened to two ways of becoming acquainted with a country. We may climb to a lofty summit and take a general survey of the land, its hills and valleys, and the various sections into which it is divided, with its springs and watercourses. We can see that certain parts bear fruits and others yield grain, while the pastures are covered over with flocks. This may answer to the general or extensive survey. But we would not forget to stop and pluck some of the luscious fruit, or to linger long enough to get the needed food from flock or herd, with the bread from the golden grain. This is beautifully suggested in the inspired description given of the Land in the Scriptures:"For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass" (Deut 8:7-9).
So may the dear young people not only get a good survey of the land, but till the ground and feed upon its exhaustless stores-to the praise of the God of all grace. S. Ridout