Calendar:May 16th to June 15th

DAILY BIBLE BEADING:. ……. May 16th, Psalm 24; May 31st, Psalm 39; June 15th, Psalm 54.

GOOD READING:…. "The Minor Prophets," by H. A. I. Pages 180-212.

MONTHLY BIBLE STUDY CLASS:Colossians, 1:12,13.

Our Daily Bible Reading

The psalms we read this month carry us through the first book (Ps. 1-41), and well into the second which includes Ps. 42-72. Let us first say a word about those which conclude the first book (24-41).

We mentioned last time how psalm 24 triumphantly closes the beautiful series which begins with the deep sorrows of the Cross (22), in which our blessed Lord is so wonderfully set before us. The remaining psalms of this first book fall into two sections. First, 25-39 give us the results which flow from the atonement accomplished. Throughout, the soul's moral exercises find expression in mingled prayer and praise. With the confession of sin and realized helplessness there is the yearning for and pursuit of holiness. Salvation is thankfully acknowledged, and Jehovah's mercy, kindness, and truth declared. The soul's confidence in God increases, though trouble and affliction abound, and the enemy's power and subtlety are keenly felt. In this happy confidence God's house is known and entered as a secure sanctuary. In the faith which thus lays hold of Jehovah, the judgment of the wicked is foreseen and foretold, as in Ps. 28, 35 and 37. Note the sevenfold characterization of Jehovah's voice in Ps. 29.

Life out of death is suggested in Ps. 30. The next gives an intimation of the sorrows and sufferings of Christ; then come the blessedness of forgiveness and salvation in the 32nd. Out of this comes the exultation of the two following psalms.

In the 40th and 41st psalms, which close this first book, the Cross is again before us. It is Christ in perfect obedience, yielded up to God as a whole burnt-offering, answered by resurrection, so that a new song is given to those who seek God and love His salvation. Such consider the poor, chief among whom is that poor and afflicted One (2 Cor. 8:9), who is the central figure in Ps. 41; only, it is rather the expression of unbelief looking upon Him in the lowly place He took; with this is brought out (in contrast) the portion of faith and of unbelief.

With psalm 42 we enter the 2d book, or main division of the Psalms. This is truly similar to Exodus in theme, for the great subject is, generally speaking, Israel's ruin and oppression and the Redeemer who comes out of Zion; at the end there is the glorious kingdom of the Son of David. Prophetically, it is the believing remnant whose voice is heard, giving expression to their exercises amid the terror of those coming days of "Jacob's trouble." which is also the time of world-tribulation, when the antichrist shall be received by the apostate part of the nation. There is much here that refers to the period of which our Lord speaks in Matt. 24.
The first eight psalms (42-49) are linked together, presenting the ruin, oppression and helplessness of the people, but also bringing into view the mighty Deliverer whom faith sees as girding on His sword (45) and robed with glory. Ps. 46 gives the blessed result – Israel is brought through the storm into blessing. Next we see universal dominion realized (47); all opposing power being overthrown, Zion is the centre of all blessing (48). Ps. 49 is a moral summing up, based on the preceding, showing that power and abiding glory proceed from God alone. The next six psalms (50-55) may also be linked together. First, we have God as righteous and requiring righteousness; and lastly (55) we see the great apostate and his company, from whom the righteous so greatly suffer. Between these opposites the confession of blood-guiltiness is heard (51); prophetically it is the remnant's voice owning the national guilt concerning their slain Messiah. Fittingly, there follows in graphic language the characterization of the wicked one to whom the unbelieving nation will turn (in fact the way for him is preparing at this very time), and the company of workers of iniquity associated with him. In the midst of the rise and progress of these forces of evil, the voice of faith will be heard as in Ps. 54.

Our Good Reading

This month we read the prophecy of Obadiah, and the book of Jonah. The latter is really a biography, underlying which is a great prophetic message which applies to both Israel and the nations, while the prophet himself is in certain respects a type of Christ.

The following structures are given as a guide to the contents of these two books.

Obadiah

This prophet deals primarily with Edom, yet his view reaches on to the glorious end when "the kingdom shall be Jehovah's." The calamities which fell upon Jacob, as chastisement from Jehovah because of the nation's sin, gave Edom opportunity to satisfy long cherished hatred toward his brother. This is answered by the announcement of Edom's doom. For additional utterances as to Edom compare Isa. 34; 63:1-6; Jer. 49:7-22; Ezek. 25:8,12-14; 35. The sections are:

1. (vers. 1-4). Pride and self-sufficiency which Jehovah will utterly abase.

2. (vers. 5, 6).Unsparing judgment.*

*The thought is, thieves would have only taken what they wanted, grape-gatherers would have left a gleaning, but Jehovah's judgment will search out even Edom's hidden things.*

3. (ver. 7). The destructive work will be- from within to the very border.

4.(vers. 8-10). Complete prostration.

5. (vers. 11-16). "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" (Matt. 7:1).

6. (vers. 17-21). Final victory for Jehovah's people.

Jonah

In the wide scope of this book we find instruction concerning God's creative power, providential control of the elements of nature-winds and waves respond to His word. The physical and the psychical realms are equally under His control.

Jonah's history witnesses to Jehovah as the moral Governor in human affairs and in Nature as well.

It shows man's sinfulness and responsibility to God, who takes account of his ways, judges according to righteousness, yet in sovereignty shows mercy upon repentance. It is in many details a striking manifestation of God in ways of government and grace. It shows His object in Israel's special call and place as a witness to Himself, that through her history the nations might come to know Him in His true character. The divisions are:

Div. 1. (ch. 1:1-16). Jehovah's power in government among men, morally and providentially.

1. (vers. 1-3). Command and rebellion.

2. (vers. 4,5). God disobeyed brings strife and loss; nature, subject to His command, is used to teach man the folly of his own way.

3. (vers. 6-16). The cause of judgment through which Jehovah becomes known and revered.

Div. 2. (ch. 1:17-2:10). "Salvation is of the Lord."

1. (ver. 17). All things in God's hand.

2. (vers. 1-9). The lesson of dependence learned through judgment.

(a). 1-3. God acknowledged.

(b). 4,5. Under judgment, but not without hope.

(c) 6. Realized depths and restoring power.

(d) 7. Acknowledged weakness to which the sanctuary is open.

(e) 8, 9. Blessing through obedience.

3. (ver. 10). Sovereign power and restoring grace.

Div. 3. (ch. 3). Discipline made effectual.

1. (vers. 1-4). The renewed command and obedience rendered.

2. (vers. 5-9). The warning heeded.
3. (ver. 10). The sentence reversed. Div. 4. (ch. 4). God's patient ways in the discipline of His servant.

1. (vers. 1-5). Disappointed pride finds God contrary to its self-will.

2. (vers. 6-9). The worm that would destroy and God's sheltering mercy!

3. (vers. 10,11). The Divine attitude:outreached toward all and for all.

Our Monthly Bible Study Class

We did not complete last time our study of Col. 1:12, 13, having touched only on something of what the Father has done. Two other things are mentioned:He has delivered us and translated us.

Deliverance relates to the enemy:we are brought out of Satan's kingdom in which we were-the system of darkness which stands in opposition to the light and blessing in which we are brought and made fit by the Father's grace. "Darkness" applies to our unconverted state in which unfruitful works were wrought (Eph. 5:8,11; Rom. 13:12-14), the light is hated because it reproves the evil.

The physical illustrates the spiritual in this as in so many other things. Our deliverance is from what is morally and spiritually characterized as "darkness." Man's world-system is such, and back of it are those spiritual powers spoken of in Eph. 6:12. Paul was commissioned to preach the gospel that men might be turned from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God. In this darkness there is no true knowledge of God, no spiritual relationship with Him, for it is a state of subserviency to another authority-to "the god of this world." But the gospel of the glory of Christ received in the heart brings out of this and introduces into that sphere of blessedness of which the term "light" is descriptive.

Thus it is said of believers that they are "not of the night, nor of darkness," but "of the day," and are "light in the Lord" (1 Thess. 5:5; Eph. 5:8). As Israel was delivered from Pharaoh and out of Egypt, so that both his power to hold, or title over, them was completely broken, so believers are freed from the power of darkness.

Thus we are translated into the kingdom of the Son of God's love. What sweet constraining power characterizes the authority under which the believer is thus placed! Here righteousness, joy, peace, and hope of glory form the portion enjoyed; and, practically, the result is "the fruit of the light in all goodness and righteousness and truth, proving what is agreeable to the Lord," not having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reproving them (Eph. 5:9-11). This calls our minds back to what has already been considered, our walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing. John Bloore