Calendar:Oct. 16th to Nov. 15th
DAILY BIBLE READING:………Oct. 10th, Prov. 27; Oct. 31st, Ecc. 2; Nov. 15th, Isa. 6.
GOOD READING:. .. . ."The Minor Prophets," by H. A. I. Pages 359-389.
Daily Bible. Reading
Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon form the major part of our reading for this month. These books are a great contrast to each other.
In the first we have Solomon, as specially endowed with wisdom, and having exceptional resources with power to use them, putting fully to the test all that is "done under the sun." He enters into every form of experience, and his quest results in pronouncing "Vanity and vexation of spirit" upon all of man's varied activities.
This book gives us the testing of the whole system of things built up by men, and it is proved not to possess the satisfying and abiding portion which the human heart needs. How good to turn from this to the blessed Son of God and receive from Him the gift of living water which always satisfies, and as an upspringing well gives the joy and blessings of eternal things-those which are above where Christ is sitting who is our life. He is not of this world.
It is that blessed Person, our Saviour, the One to whom we belong, who comes before us in the Song of Solomon, than which there is no more beautiful picture of spiritual affections. Though primarily referring to Israel, and the forming of relationship between her and Christ as Messiah under the new covenant, so that it figures the intimacy and blessing into which the true Israel will be brought in the days of the coming kingdom, yet since the Church is now brought into the blessing of new covenant grace, so that as to relationship there is what is common to both, it has its application to the Church and her glorious Head, who as the Beloved nourishes and cherishes it as His Bride. Viewed in this way, and meditated upon in the soul's secret communion with the Lord, much that is precious and touchingly suggestive of the divine affections, whether in the Lord or as produced through grace in His people, will be found presented in this little book.
Our Good Reading
This continues in the prophet Zechariah, and covers chapters 7 to 10 inclusive.
Chapters 7 and 8 form the second division, and present certain moral lessons drawn from the past. These are applied to the time then present and the future. They serve to illustrate both the holy government and rich grace of Jehovah, the latter especially, in the salvation and blessing here foretold. The occasion for this instruction is given by the people's inquiry as to observing the annual fasts which commemorated special calamities in their past history.
In chapter 7 we get Jehovah's rebuke for hypocrisy and rebellion. The lesson is that He must be sanctified in those that draw near to Him.
The first part of the next chapter (vers. 1-17) gives Jehovah's comfort and instruction for the remnant. It deals with the salvation and establishment of Judah and Israel in the land under God's blessing and through His power.
The next section (8:18-23) speaks of the day of revival when Israel's fasts shall be turned to joyful feasts, when, as Isaiah says, it will be "the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness."
The remainder of the book (chs. 9-14) forms the third division. It gives in considerable detail the various circumstances and events which bear a relation to the glorious accomplishment of those promises concerning the future destiny of the covenant people, and the city of Jerusalem in particular-promises which have been already given in the earlier chapters.
In the first section (chs. 9, 10) we have Jehovah displaying His might in judgment upon all that offends, so that His people are delivered and made strong in Him. In chapter 9 Jehovah's power smiting the oppressor is the prominent feature. Chapter 10 presents the salvation-blessings of the people, who are brought through conflict and affliction to strength and increase as the redeemed of the Lord.