Calendar:Nov. 16th to Dec. 15th.

DAILY BIBLE HEADING………… Nov. 16th, Isa. 7; Nov. 30th, Isa. 21; Dec. 15th, Isa. 36.

GOOD READING…. ."The Minor Prophets," by H. A. I. Pages 390-421.

Daily Bible Reading

Isaiah may rightly be considered the chief of the prophets. He is exceeded only by Jeremiah in the length of his book, which is much broader in vision, and filled with brightest gospel announcements. He deals with God's purposes of blessing in their universal relation, bringing out His majesty and glory in a very special way- Isaiah gives us some of the great prophecies concerning Christ. For example, note chapters 7,9,11, 32, 40, 49, 53, 61, and 63, in which we find the truth of His perfect humanity, divine glory, lowly service, rejection, kingly place, redeeming love and power, complete victory over evil, and His glorious kingdom.

Along with such unfoldings of grace, Isaiah sets forth the righteousness and holiness of God, and, of necessity, His "strange work," that of judgment.

He exposes the moral state of God's people, showing in detail how they had departed from His revealed will and followed the ways of the nations, while also we see that God spares a faithful remnant with whom the law and the testimony are found. With them, too, is found that broken and contrite spirit in which Jehovah finds pleasure and with which He dwells. This remnant is mentioned as early as chapter one (ver. 9). Again in chaps. 6:13; 8:16-18; 24:13-15; 17:6-8. In the closing chapters (50-66) the voice of this remnant is heard either in confession, mourning over abounding evil, expressing expectance of the coming deliverance when the Redeemer shall come out of Zion, or sounding the note of victory in faith's anticipation, or finally when actually realized in kingdom-glory.

Chapters 1-12 form the first division of this book, in which Israel's complete failure, through independence and rebellion, spite of God's care and bountiful provision, is particularly presented in chapter 5. Hope of blessing is found alone in and through the Son given who, in the full power of the Spirit, will bring to final accomplishment God's purposes for Israel.

Beginning with chapter 13 a great series of judgments are pronounced on the nations, reaching to universal proportions in chapter 24. This second division closes with another presentation of Israel's deliverance and glory under Messiah.

The third division (chs. 28-35)shows the people weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and found wanting. Then after the purging work of judgment, in which the fire of God's holiness consumes the dross, the ransomed of the Lord shall sing their songs of everlasting joy, "and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

Our Good Reading
This month we finish reading Zechariah, commencing with chapter 11 which is the second part of the last division of the book. As already mentioned, this last (third) and main part (chs. 9-14) gives a picture of the future period of power and glory upon which Israel shall enter through Jehovah's manifestation on her behalf, this finally bringing in divine blessing for all the earth.

In chapter 11 we find this is accomplished through Jehovah's preservation of a remnant out of the mass of the nation which in its unbelief despised the good and true Shepherd, submitting to the evil and false shepherd upon whom utter destruction is visited.

The three last chapters (12-14) shows the way in which full victory is realized, and the blessing of Jehovah's presence enjoyed. The repentance and purification of the people come first, then Jehovah's manifestation in delivering power, judging the enemies, making His city and people the center of world-wide blessing.

An Excerpt

"After being cooped up in the city so large a part of the summer, the children are nearly wild with delight at being in the country once more. Our dear Una skips about with a buoyancy I have never seen in her; and as to our boys I scarcely see them except at meal-time and bedtime. They just live out-of-doors. They follow the men at their work, asking all sorts of questions which Mr. B– reports to me at night with delighted laughter. People ask me how it happens that my children are all so promptly obedient and so happy-as if it chanced that some parents have such children, or chanced that some have not! I am afraid it is only too true, as some one has remarked, that "This is the age of obedient parents!" What then will be the future of their children? How can they yield to God who have never been taught to yield to parental authority? And how fitted will they be to rule their own households who have never learned to rule themselves?" -From "Stepping Heavenward."