Calendar:Sept. 16th to Oct. 15th.

DAILY BIBLE READING:…….. Sept. 16th, Micah 4; Sept. 30th, Haggai 2; Oct. 15th, Mal. 1.

SUPPLEMENTARY READING… .Sept. 16th, Romans 1; Sept. 30th, Romans 15; Oct. 15th, 1 Cor. 14.

Again, in the tender mercy of our God, we are brought very near the close of this wondrous Old Testament, only a few chapters in the prophet Malachi remaining after our present month's reading. This was the "Scripture" upon which our blessed Lord fed, and which He so constantly used in His teaching and unfolding the mind of His Father. It was the inspired word of God for Him, with which He met the assaults of Satan, and the opposition of men. To it He referred during His entire public ministry, reminding His hearers that, "The Scripture cannot be broken," and, after His resurrection He reviewed with His disciples, on the way to Emmaus, the testimony "in all the Scriptures" concerning Himself, His suffering and His resurrection. For Him there was no question that Moses wrote of Him; that Jonah's narrative was infallibly true, as was the entire volume; that David wrote in the book of Psalms of Him who was his Lord. What folly, and worse, then is the denial of the infallible perfection of that Word. Need we wonder that when Modernism begins to pick flaws in that Word, it goes on to deny the absolute, essential holiness and the divine nature, the Godhead of Him who in lowliness took the servant's form, the Man Christ Jesus.

Nor let us be satisfied with an orthodox confession of the inspiration of the Old Testament Scriptures, but seek to learn their meaning, and pray that their sanctifying work may be carried on-in God's grace, in our hearts.

Of the Minor Prophets, for our present month, Nahum may be considered as a kind of supplement to Jonah, where mercy is given to Nineveh upon their repentance. Nahum goes on after that mercy, and shows the inevitable judgment which will come upon the city which again went on in-iniquity, after so signal an act of sparing mercy had been shown. The significance of his name has been given as "Consolation." Judgment is ever God's strange work, but it must be all the more inexorable, where pronounced by the lips of "Consolation." "How often would I have gathered thy children together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings." It reminds us of "the wrath of the Lamb"-the very One whose tender love took Him to the cross-when every offer of that love is finally spurned, how fearful is the retribution, which man wilfully chooses.

Habakkuk, "Embrace," is thought to have prophesied about the same time as Jeremiah. His three chapters might be called a progress in God's delivering mercy. Chap. 1 shows the appointed rod of God's chastening in the cruel and relentless Chaldeans. In chap. 2 the prophet is upon his watch-tower, waiting for the answer of mercy. Here occur the thrice-quoted words, "The just shall live by faith." Faith lays hold upon God, who in infinite mercy has found a shelter for His repentant people. Chap. 3 celebrates that deliverance, in the majestic prayer and psalm, which gives Him His place of glory, and shows His unfailing faithfulness for His people's blessing.

Zephaniah, "Jehovah hath guarded," begins his book during the reign of Josiah-with denunciation against Judah for their iniquity. The surrounding nations will also be visited with the smiting hand of God. Then in the midst of wrath, we have God's unfailing remembrance of His mercy (chap. 3:14-26).

Haggai, "Festive," is the smaller of the prophets of the restoration. The people are back in their own land, and have begun to rebuild the temple, but they are hindered by opposition and specially by their own lethargy and selfishness. His two brief chapters are most stirring and pungent-suited for all times when our hands are hanging down, and the knees feeble. The close speaks of the bright days to come.

Zechariah, "Whom Jehovah remembers"-also prophesies at the time of the restoration. The first part of his prophecy is devoted to a number of striking visions, foretelling the future glories of God's kingdom (chaps. 1-6). Their fasts are to be turned into feasts (chaps. 7,8). The closing chapters contain some marvelous and direct predictions of the holy person of our Lord, Hiss rejection and suffering, and the final blessing (chaps. 9-14).

Malachi, "My messenger," closes the Old Testament, with solemn warning for the indifference of the people, and marks out the remnant who "feared the Lord" and "who thought upon His name." The closing verses link closely with the opening of the New Testament, giving the promise of the coming of the forerunner of our Lord.

Those who have been going on with these readings in a regular way should have gathered up many most valuable lessons, and, if they have used a note book, should have helpful material for future reference. May the Lord richly bless our daily reading of His Word.

Extract from a Missionary’s Letter