Calendar:Feb. 16th to Mar. 15th.

DAILY BIBLE READING:……… Feb. 16th, Ezra 10; Feb. 28th, Neh. 12; Mar. 15th, Job 4.

GOOD READING:"The Minor Prophets," by H. A. Ironside. Pages 50-109.

MONTHLY BIBLE STUDY CLASS:Colossians, ch. l:l-8.

Our Daily Bible Reading

The two closing chapters of Ezra tell us of a sad lapse by the remnant into ways contrary to God's word. From Ezra's attitude and action we may learn how to meet such conditions. We see in him what is the spiritual meaning of eating the sin offering (Lev. 10). He deeply enters into the shame of the people's trespass, and pours out his soul in earnest entreaty and confession before God.

Ezra's godly example is used to bring the people into exercise so that they make confession, submit to God's word, and put away the evil. Individual faithfulness is of prime importance in days of declension and departure from God. To this must be added spiritual energy which acts for the deliverance of God's people, with heartfelt mourning (ch. 10:6), not with fleshly haste or harshness, lest greater disorder ensue, but with due care, and in conjunction with the rulers and elders of the people. That God is a God of order, not confusion, needs to be remembered in dealing with evil. The work requires patience as well as zeal.

In Nehemiah we find a man of kindred spirit with Ezra j, man of great interest in and affection for all that relates to God's glory. Great spiritual energy and practical wisdom is shown in ordering the work and relations of God's people in a broken – down condition. These captivity books furnish much instruction for us who have our place in the broken condition of the Church.

The confession of sin and of the ruin is characteristic of those who are much used of God in such days. They are marked by manifest dependence upon God, and the acknowledgment of His merciful and good hand being upon them (Neh. 1; 2; 4:4, 9, 15; 5:15).

In the building of the wall we have lessons of how to guard against the enemy, and protect what is holy. Notice that the priests are first mentioned in this good work, and the sheep gate is first set up. This brings thoughts of the sanctuary, of the altar and sacrifice, and of what God's people are to Him-the sheep of His pasture. These things must always be first in any work that is of God.

Reproach and conspiracy are met by appeal to God; not as indifferent, however, concerning what the enemy may do, nor neglectful in preparing against possible attack. Nehemiah is careful also to guard against a spirit of independence, and he seeks to cultivate a sense of unity and mutual dependence among the people.

Neh. 5:9 is a verse to search our hearts, and by which to try our ways. One in the spirit of Nehemiah is given spiritual discernment by which to detect the deceit and falsehood of those without and within. Obedience to God is the sure way of being furnished against evil workers (ch.6).

Chapters 8 and 9 show that when God's Word is given its rightful place, His people take a right attitude, judge themselves, separate from evil associations, and worship Him whose goodness and righteousness they recount. In a word, it is sanctification by the word of truth which these closing chapters set forth.

The book of Esther is quite distinct in character and object. The omission of God's name is significant, yet the reader cannot fail to see that He rules throughout, and that not simply in events of local and passing interest, but of abiding meaning for the whole world. Ezra and Nehemiah present the remnant returned from captivity to the true center of worship and testimony, but Esther views Israel as dispersed among the nations, and God's providential ways with His people while He cannot publicly own them. The end, however, must be in the kingdom and glory of which Mordecai's exaltation is a type.

Structural Outlines

In our Good Reading for this month we complete the Notes on Hosea. As a companion to this we continue the outlines of this prophetic book. Last month we carried this to the end of part one of division 2 (ch. 6:3) in which the rebellion and alienation of the people are set forth with the ensuing consequences. The second part of this division we put down as including chapters 6:4 through 11:11, and entitle it thus:

Jehovah's faithful testimony being rejected, He will abandon His unfaithful and wilful people to captivity and derision in the lands of those vain helpers to whom they had turned instead of to the Most High.

This second part divides as follows:

(1) chs. 6:4-9:17. Sowing the wind, reaping the whirlwind.

(a) 6:4-7:7. Abounding revolt "the whole head is sick"-the corruption of the ruling classes.

(b) 7:8-16. Defiling associations and deceitful ways.

(c) 8:1-7.The covenant transgressed and the law broken:a corrupt sanctuary.

(d) 8:8-14. Israel, a vessel to dishonor.

(c) ch. 9.The divine recompense of their evil ways.

(2) ch. 10. The destruction of false worship and iniquitous rule which supported it.

(3) ch. 11:1-11. The rekindling of the divine compassions.

The third part of the second division embraces the remainder of the book (chs. 11:12-14:9). Its subject is as follows:The path recalled as admonition for the present, and as giving assurance of God's promise of future blessing.

This third part divides as follows:

(1)chs. 11:12-12:14.Wicked independence set over against the divine grace shown in the past.

(a)11:12-12:2.The ground of accusation.

(b)12:3-6.An example, and call based upon it, to bow in humble submission.

(c) 12:7-14. Devoted to iniquity, and reaping its fruits, despite divine ministry.

(2) chs. 13-14:3. Contrast:the divine affections which yearn over the wayward, and the divine judgment which must needs be executed.

(a)13:1-4.As chaff; yet Jehovah is their God.

(b) 13:5-8. Known of old, but shamefully forgotten:merciless smiting can alone awaken their memory.

(c) 13:9-14. Self-destroyed, yet will Jehovah save.

(d)13:15,16.Utter abasement.

(e) 14:1-3. With God there is mercy. (3) 14:4-9. The divine assurance of complete restoration.

Our Monthly Bible Study Class (Colos. 1:1-18.)

For our "Bible Study Class," which was mentioned in December we will take up the Epistle to the Colossians. These lesson papers have as their object a detailed study of the Word. Large portions of the epistle will not be taken at one time, but rather small sections, one each month, until we have finished the book. Any correspondence regarding this work will be gladly received, and anything thought helpful to others will be given space in these pages.

May the Lord give us all a deeper interest in His Word, and awaken a prayerful and diligent searching of it as for hid treasures.

Christ's preeminence in all things, and the believer's completeness in identification with Him, is the general theme. The Person of Christ, and wonderful scope of His work, are especially brought out. This makes the epistle of great value to us in view of present day conditions. There is much in Ephesians similar to Colossians; but the former has a different object, that of developing the purposes of God in relation to the Church, and her place in relation to and with Christ.

In these verses, after the salutation (1, 2), the subject is the life and fruit produced by the truth received, for the evidence of which in the Colossians the apostle gives thanks.
Note how the apostle speaks of himself-"an apostle," etc. Compare the different expressions he used in Gal., ch. 1, and other epistles, as to his apostleship. There is a wealth of thought in them which we may well study. See 1 Tim. 1:1; 2 Tim. 1:1; Tit. 1:1; Rom. 1:1,2.

As to Timothy refer to 2 Tim. 1; Phil. 2:19-23; 1 Thess. 3:2.

Ver. 2 should read, "To the holy and faithful brethren." As a matter of position in Christ they are holy and faithful, not in the sense of fidelity and perseverance, but as believing. Compare John 20:27; Acts 10:45. Then the grace and peace are not those of standing as in Rom. 5:1,2; but rather what he wishes for them in their Christian experience.

Consider the difference in thought between "God our Father," and "God and the Father of our Lord," etc.

Vers. 4 and S give several important subjects for consideration:(1) faith in Christ Jesus; (2) love to all the saints; (3) hope laid up in heaven; (4) the gospel, the means by which these things are known. The first gives us our object; the second speaks of the new relationship, and circle of affections; the third, of our destiny and sphere of interests; the fourth shows God's Word as the means by which we enter upon these divine realities, detaching us from earthly things and attaching us to what is heavenly. Compare 1 Thess. 1:3-5 where the same order of thought is followed-with an instructive difference. In 1 Pet. 1 the hope conies first, then faith in the One loved, though unseen; then the love of the new relationship.

Ver. 6 should read, "And is bearing fruit and growing," etc. The gospel is not exhausted in producing faith, love, hope, but has power for continual increase with knowledge, with which believers are to be filled. In saying this of the gospel the apostle declares its all sufficiency; it denies that there is anything to add to it, as certain false teachers were asserting, to whom he later refers.

Vers. 7 and 8 show Epaphras' relation to the Colossians, and the occasion which drew forth this epistle.