THE READER SHOULD ALWAYS TURN TO THE BIBLE AND READ THE PASSAGES REFERRED TO.

QUES. 8.-Please explain in Help and Food Isaiah 68:5-the last clause, "By his stripes we are healed," as I often hear faith-healers use it, and I would like to get light on it.

ANS.-This verse plainly says it was "for our transgressions" the Saviour was "wounded," and "bruised for our iniquities;" thus His "bruise" (margin) is our spiritual healing. There is not one word about bodily ailments in this verse, which speaks of atonement for sin.

"Griefs" and "sorrows"-earthly trials are the subjects of verse 4. "Touched with the feeling.- of our infirmities," our sympathizing Lord identified Himself with the afflicted, delivering them from their afflictions during His ministry of love here, as Matt. 8:16,17 tells us. But this was not atonement; it was the sympathy of love. Atonement was when "His own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree" (1 Pet. 2:24)-there, on the cross, it was Divine Righteousness that smote our Substitute.

The O. T. prophets address themselves to Israel primarily; and in this chapter we hear the confessions of the repentant and spared Remnant of Israel reviewing their past blindness and guilt, having seen no beauty in the self-humbled Messiah; misjudging Him and turning away from Him, whilst He was making atonement for their sins! Read this chapter as if you were one of this repentant Remnant, whose eyes shall be opened to their past history, and you will see fresh beauties in it.

Of course, we have part in it as well as Israel, for we were sinners and guilty too, and Israel's Saviour is our Saviour also.