Calendar:Apr. 16th to May 15th.

DAILY BIBLE READING:……….Apr. 16th, Job 36; Apr. 30th, Psalm 8; May 15th, Psalm 23.

GOOD READING:"The Minor Prophets," by H. A. Ironside. Pages 135-179.

MONTHLY BIBLE STUDY CLASS:Colos., chap. l:10-12.

Our Daily Bible Reading

Last month we outlined Job, and must refer our readers to the brief notes then given for the concluding chapters of that book which we read this month. We now turn to the Psalms.

It is well known that the Psalms are divided into five books, and that the first of these comprises psalms 1-41. This five-fold division suggests a comparison with the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses, and when carefully considered, some real correspondence is found to exist. For example, one commentator of note assures us that all the figures and illustrations of the first book of Psalms are from Genesis, and those of the second book from Exodus. In any case it is evident that the first book largely sets forth the counsels of God concerning Christ and Israel. In accord with this the covenant name Jehovah is chiefly used, and God in this relation to His people is presented as the source of all blessing. Thus this group of psalms fittingly occupies the first place.

The psalms of this first book fall into three sections.

(a) Ps. 1-8. Christ is the perfect Man, decreed King, and world-wide Ruler. In Ps. 1 the righteous man and the blessedness of his obedience are set forth. While the godly remnant of Israel is contemplated, it is certain that the Lord Jesus alone gives full expression to this beautiful moral picture. He is definitely before us in the next psalm, giving us God's counsels concerning Him as King, and the banded opposition from which He suffers rejection for a time. The consequences of this for the godly, and the exercises through which they pass, through the opposition of the ungodly, is next given in psalms 3-7. Ps. 8 is the glorious issue reached, rebellion subdued, and Christ as Son of Man manifested in supreme dominion.

(b) Ps. 9-15. In this series, by contrast, the sinister figure of Antichrist, the false king, is prominent – the wicked, lawless "man of the earth" who oppresses the God-fearing remnant (cf.9:5; 10:2, 3, 7-10, 13, IS, 18, etc). Over against this, however, faith can speak with confidence about Jehovah's righteousness, pure words, power, and deliverance for His people, as described in Ps. IS.

(c) Ps. 16-41. The figure of the Blessed One who first came before us (Ps. 1-8) now reappears. His character, personal glory, perfect work, and final triumph over the enemy are presented, intertwined with the results enjoyed by God's people through Christ displayed in grace or government.

Our reading does not carry us beyond Ps. 23 so we will only speak of those psalms which form the first section of this series (16-24).
First we see Christ taking His place in humiliation, identified with those of faith, Himself finding Jehovah all His object and portion (16). Next we read faith's appeal against oppressive and abounding evil, and the cry for Jehovah's intervention (17). This is given in wonderful detail in Ps. 18. The following three (19-21) are linked together in praise of God's glory in creation and revelation, for Christ and His salvation, for His glorious exaltation and manifestation in judgment on enemies. Again Ps. 22-24 stand united together by the great theme of Christ's atoning sacrifice and its results-death, resurrection, and coming glory. His sacrifice is the basis of all blessing, made good in resurrection-power, and is characterized by fullest acceptance in divine glory.

Structural Outlines of the Minor Prophets Amos

Our good reading for this month is Mr. Ironside's Notes on the Prophet Amos. As an accompaniment to this, and for the help of any who may wish to mark their Bibles, we give the following outlines.

Div. 1. (chs. 1,2). The Divine arrangement. The prophet has both Israel and Judah in view, but he first arraigns the surrounding Gentile nations, then brings in God's people who have fallen to the same level. Hardly anything could be more serious and far reaching in its results than such failure on the part of the separated and favored nation.

1. (1:1, 2). Jehovah, the Judge, whose smiting hand is felt (as in the earthquake), and whose mighty voice is heard through the lips of His commissioned servant (ch. 7:IS).

2. (1:3-2:3). The nations:their hostility, cruelty and hatred.

(1) vers. 3-5. Damascus.

(2) 6-8. Gaza, the Philistines.

(3) 9,10.Tyre.

(4) 11,12.Edom.

(5) 13-15. Ammon.

(6) 1-3.Moab.

3. (2:4-16). Judah and Israel.

(1) vers. 4, 5. Judah:the law despised and lies followed.

(2)"6-16. Israel.

(a). 6-8.Unrighteousness, oppression, and idolatry. (6)9-12.The despisal of God's mercies, (c) 13-16.Stripped of strength and adornment; their vanity revealed.

Div. 2 (chs. 3-6). Jehovah, judge in His own house, charges His family with their sins, reproves, warns, and announces overwhelming judgment which can only be averted by whole-hearted repentance.

1. (ch. 3). The certainty of coming judgment which will reach to the greatest.

(1). vers. 1-8. Broken fellowship, and punishment administered.

(2). vers. 9-12. The call to the adversary who shall spoil and devour.

(3). vers. 13-15. Jehovah's visitation against idolatry and the prosperity in which they trust.

2. (ch. 4). A review of past corrective dealings utterly unheeded, while increasing iniquity calls down special judgment from God.

(1). vers. 1-5. Abounding iniquity and hypocrisy.

(2). vers. 6-11. Chastisement, producing no result. (There are five parts each ending with the refrain, "yet have not returned.")

(3). vers. 12,13. God's power and majesty must be met in this controversy.

3. (chs. 5, 6). The fallen virgin:woe upon her because of corruption through inveterate idolatry.

(1). 5:1-15.A lamentation over the coming ruin with one only way of escape:to Jehovah they must seek, (a)1-3. Fallen and forsaken. (6) 4-15. A call to repentance, for Jehovah is gracious.

1:(4-6). Forsake evil or endure fire unquenchable, 2:(7-15).Contrasts:the people's evil ways; Jehovah mighty and gracious.

(2). 5:16-6:14. Alas! Alas! the woes of judgment. (a) vers. 16,17. The wail of death. (6)"18-20.Vainly self-confident.

(c)"21-27.The Holy One, and their idolatry; judgment is inevitable.

(d) vers. 1-6.Sinful, in ease and luxury:warning unheeded.

(e) vers. 7-11.The divine recompense.

(f) '"12-14. The limit set to evil by extreme judgment.

Div. 3. (chs. 7-9). Visions from Jehovah revealing Israel's doom; He directs its execution according to divine measure. The final issue to be complete restoration in blessing under David's house.

1. (ch. 7:1-9). Three visions:mercy twice shown and despised makes judgment sure in which they must meet Jehovah Himself (cp., Ch. 4:12,13).

2. (vers. 10-15). Opposition and contradiction.

3. (vers. 16, 17). The adversary's doom, and Israel's banishment reaffirmed.

4. (ch. 8). The fourth vision:ripeness for judgment which will bring utter prostration to land and people.

(1) vers. 1-3. No longer delay.

(2) " 4-10.Oppression and falsehood, their bitter fruits.

(3) vers. 11-14. The closed sanctuary.

5. (ch. 9:1-10). The fifth vision:Jehovah Himself executing judgment in righteous recompense.

6. (ch. 9:11-15). Divine limit to the overthrow:final victory and blessing through David's house.

Our Monthly Bible Study Class Col. 1:10-12.

Vers. 10,11. These things are to be desired that we may walk worthily of the Lord so as to be pleasing to Him in every way. The features of such a walk are:bringing forth fruit in every good work; growing by the full knowledge of God; being strengthened, etc. Each of these features calls for our careful study that we may know what it means to walk worthily. The first two are joined together by the conjunction; the other stands out separately with two special features-endurance and long-suffering with joy-for which we are capacitated through the strengthening spoken of. First, then, there is a relation between fruit-bearing in good works and spiritual growth. Here it is not growing that we may bear fruit, but being occupied in that which is good, and growing by, etc. These two features exist or occur together, and the latter will not be experimentally true unless the former is characteristic of our walk. The standard by which we are to determine what is good is set up in the Person spoken of-the Lord. The order of this double statement is striking and important. In exercising ourselves in that which is good we cut loose from and avoid what hinders growth. This growth is by means of the full knowledge of God which, of course, is in Christ and the truth concerning His person, His place in the divine counsels, His work by which all is accomplished. In this connection carefully note 2 Pet. 1:2-4, where this full knowledge is twice referred to in plain relation to the experimental side of Christian life. Note further that in the verses we are studying there is a difference, in ver. 9 it is "of His will," in ver. 10 "of God." The latter is more personal, so that out of growth by such knowledge comes the ability to say, as Paul does, "My God" (Phil. 4:19; 2 Cor. 12:21). The former is rather a question of His purposes or counsels as relating to Christ and those who are Christ's. Compare Eph. 1:5,11.

Ver. 11 tells us with what we are to be strengthened- power, the measure of it-the might of His glory, the end in view-endurance, etc. The thought of power here is what is inward, that which is spiritual or moral (e. g., Eph. 3:16). This is to be realized according to the might of God's glory-a word also denoting power (used only of God), but in its relative and manifested form. Thus in Eph. 1:19 the strength which indwells God, which we may say is embodied in Him, came out in relative and manifested form, that is as might, in the glorious resurrection and ascension of Christ. Thus we read of "the might of His strength" (Eph. 1:19, N. Trans.). It is according to God's glory as thus displayed in Christ risen and glorified that the Christian is to be strengthened with power. In faith's knowledge and contemplation of this might of glory there is empowerment for all those experiences connected with walking worthily in this present evil world. In this is found that which enables the believer to endure and to suffer long, all with joy. Here there is a suggestive shade of difference. The term for endurance suggests patience under trials, referring to things; and that for longsuffering, patience under provocation, referring to persons.

The apostle's prayer then is for the in filling of the saints, in view of a walk worthy of the Lord (vers. 9:10) and he gives the features of such a walk.

First, spiritual growth through the revelation God ha» given, in which He imparts full knowledge of Himself; then strengthened in the manner spoken of in ver. 11, and finally, "giving thanks," etc. (ver. 12). These are characteristic features of the worthy walk. Thus we have the object-the Lord and His pleasure; the active life of fruit-bearing and growth; the source of strength; and the thankful spirit which is to mark the believer.

The apostle now turns to what the Father has done, then to what we have in the Son, His distinctive place, glory, preeminence and divine fulness (vers. 12-20).

The Father to whom we give thanks has done three marvelous things:(a) made us meet, or fit; (b) delivered us, (c) translated us. First, the fitness means that He has made believers competent "for sharing the portion of the saints in light" (New Trans.). This involves the removal of what could not enter that light, and the bestowal of what enables us to enjoy what is in the light. Only those born of the Spirit can enjoy this blessed portion. This action of the Father is expressed as now being complete, for present sharing in the portion referred to, and is not limited to future glory. The words "in light" are not to be construed as so limiting the thought; for the children of God are spoken of as now being light in the Lord, and so are already called to share that portion in light. Compare John 3:21; 8:12; Eph. 5:8,9 (New Trans.); 1 Thess. 5:5; 1 John 1:5-7. This portion in light is the revelation of God in Christ, for the enjoyment of which the Father has made believers fit, so that their fellowship is with Him and His Son, as led by the Holy Spirit. To this also are attached purposes of glory which await future accomplishment. See those passages which speak of the Christian's inheritance, co-heirship with Christ, the kingdom and glory.