Calendar:Sept. 16th to Oct. 15th

DAILY BIBLE READING:……. Sept. 16th, Psalm 147; Sept. 30th, Prov. 11; Oct. 15th, Prov. 26.

GOOD READING:… ."The Minor Prophets," by H. A. I. Pages 328-358.

Our Daily Bible Reading

The last five psalms (146-150) form a grand finale of praise. First, over against the vanity and nothingness of man we have the celebration of God's creatorial power, His abiding faithfulness, and His abounding mercy. He is known as Jehovah, the God of Jacob-which refers to the lessons of that man's history. In the next psalm Israel's regathering, and Jerusalem's blessing are in view. Thus the praise is for the nation's millennial blessing received from Him who governs all creation. The 3rd psalm of this series calls for praise to the Lord, from the highest heaven down to the creeping things of earth.

Next comes praise for power given to the saints in subduing evil, who are thus associated with the King whose enemies are made the footstool of His feet. The book closes with a final summons that everything, whether instruments of man or created beings, should render praise to Jehovah. This indeed will be when Israel fully restored, enemies subdued, the government of all the earth shall be in the hand of Him who is from everlasting to everlasting-Jesus the same yesterday, to-day, and forever.

Our reading this month takes us well through the book of Proverbs, in which divine wisdom is given to guide and preserve us in our earthly path, in which the fear of the Lord is of first importance. The book may be divided into sections according to their different literary character:

1. (Chs. 1-9). In this, after a brief introduction (1:1-7), the sense is carried through consecutive paragraphs, and the blessings received through dwelling with Wisdom are presented.

2. (Chs. 10-29). Here we get the contrasts made by Wisdom. The sense is confined to the separate verses.

3. (Chs. 30). Here groups of objects are set before us. By this means Wisdom teaches the true character of many things relating to life.

4. (Ch. 31). In this section, beginning with verse 10, is an acrostic composition in which Wisdom presents one example of subjection to her teaching.

This book has a wealth of practical instruction and warnings which may well be carefully and prayerfully read again and again. Its general character has been well summed up in the statement that it gives "laws from heaven for life on earth."

Our Good Reading
This month we commence the first part of Zechariah's important prophecy. A contemporary of Haggai together they ministered to the remnant-reproving their indifference, comforting them in difficulties, and giving promises as to the future. Zechariah's ministry embraces the course of God's dealings and purposes in relation to His earthly people from the captivity to the Messiah's advent in glory and power, overcoming all enemies, and setting up the kingdom of which Daniel had already spoken.

The following structure covers the first six chapters which form the first division of the book.

Div. 1. (chs. 1-6.) Sovereign grace in various operations through which Jehovah's purposes of blessing and glory come to complete realization.

1. (chs. 1-3.) Jehovah alone sufficient; from Him all help and blessing must come.

(1) ch. 1:1-6.The moral preface.

(a) vers. 1-3.The divine call to repentance. (6) vers. 4-6. The appeal to experience.

(2) chs. 1:7-2:13. The work of salvation for Israel. (a) 1:7-17.The Man among the myrtles:God comes in power to help His people in response to intercession for them.

1:(7-11). The need for divine intervention, 2:(12). Intercession.

3:(13-17). Assured relief and restoration. (6). 1:18-21. The four horns and smiths:God's judgments and deliverances; He makes all things to work together for good.

(c). ch. 2. The man with the measuring line:the manifestation of God on behalf of His people; their return, restoration to favor, and glorious exaltation, 1:(1-5). Jehovah's manifestation in glory, 2:(6-9).Deliverance through judgment, 3:(10-12).The full blessing.

(3). ch. 3. Joshua, the high priest, in Jehovah's presence, and the coming of the branch (or sprout) announced-it is a sanctuary lesson showing the inward work essential for the accomplishment of the foregoing promises.

(a), vers. 1-5. Accusation, but there is forgiveness with Jehovah.

(6). vers. 6, 7.The call to obedience to which promise is attached, (c).vers. 8-10. The branch, through whom the full blessing will be realized.

2. (chs. 4-6). The features of Jehovah's ministry in relation to His people, and His government in connection with them and the Gentiles, which issues in the setting up of "the branch" in kingly and priestly power, so that "the latter glory" (compare Haggai 2:9, N. Tram.) of the rebuilt house shall be greater than the former.

(1). ch. 4. Divine Order and power are maintained through royalty and priesthood, by which all blessings are brought in and maintained.
(2) chs. 5:1-6:8. Evil searched out and judged, whether in connection with God's people or the nations at large.

(a) 5:1-4. The flying roll:the book of prophetic woes consequent upon the broken law, because of which both divine and human rights have been violated.

(b) vers. 5-11. The woman in the ephah:a symbolic representation of the apostate people in captivity to commercialism (ephah) and false religion (woman), unrepentant, and sealed to their doom (the talent of lead)-a judaically decreed blindness (Isa. 9:9-12). This is historically identified with the ungodly influences of Babylon (Shinar), upon which Jehovah's overwhelming judgment has been pronounced. (c) 6:1-8. The four chariots-"the four spirits of the heavens"-the divine agencies of providential government among the nations. Four shows they universal in their scope.

(3). chs. 6:9-15. Christ manifested in His glory as King and Priest-the One in whom the fulness of civil and religious power is mediatorially vested according to the divine will.

For lack of space the lesson-study on Colossians has to be omitted this month.