THE HERALD
of Christ's Kingdom
VOL. XXVIII DECEMBER 1945
NO. 12
Table of Contents
In Retrospect
Making a Foolish Choice
God's Understanding Love
The Magnificat
I Shall Be Satisfied
Christians Chastened and Scourged
A Blessed Season of Fellowship
On Holy Ground
Feasting Upon the Manna
Encouraging Messages
Forgotten Workers
"Now is
our salvation nearer than when we believed. - The night is far spent, the day is at hand" - Rom.
13:11, 12.
THE YEAR
hastens to its close. There is a feeling of expectancy in the air, a sense of impending
events fraught with significance for all the world. The long hoped-for dawn
of peace has but found man faced with the stark realism that his very existence itself is
now endangered by the power of atomic fission. The brave voices proclaiming the opening of
an "Atomic Age" with second industrial revolution a thousand times more swift
and far reaching than the industrial revolution of the nineteenth century cannot stifle
the ominous undercurrent of warning in the expressions of others. It is clearly
recognized that the moral progress of man has not kept pace with his scientific advances.
He has become a menace to himself. The urgency of a moral
regeneration is so apparent that a recent writer has said:
"We're
not good enough for knowledge
such as this. We've got
to be better people now -- more generous, more fair, more, willing to cooperate with
persons of whatever race color or creed, We must kill hatred, and foster love,
and make this a better planet. And there is not a minute to lose."
Some are
seriously urging a "moratorium" for science, an estoppage of research for a
period to permit mankind to
"catch up" as
it were, but it is too late. Another has written:
"Scientists
have put their feet upon the road and they must follow it. They believe there is no
stopping, just as there is no turning back. Make no mistake about it; they are desperately
frightened. They have
loosed the genii from the bottle and they cannot put him back."
"The
world appears
To toll the death bell of its own decease,
And by the voice of its own elements
To preach the general doom."
From this
atmosphere surcharged with the apprehension long foretold in the Scriptures to obtain in the latter days, we turn to meditate
upon the words of our text -- words of significance nineteen centuries ago, and how much
more now. For we do indeed stand at the portals of a new
day. Even the natural man has begun to apprehend
this. What then of us who are in the very ante-chamber of the King's Banquet Hall.
Solemn
thoughts move us. The Church's course is almost run. The great "Mystery [Secret] of
God" is almost finished. But a short time is left for the remaining "Feet
Members" to adjust one another's wedding robes, to add the finishing stitches to
their wondrous embroidery, to be ready for presentation "faultless, before the
presence of His glory with exceeding joy."
EARTH'S NIGHT OF WEEPING
It has been a
long night; long for the Church, but longer
yet for the "groaning creation." Six thousand years of travail -- six thousand
years of sin and death! Who shall measure the tears that have flowed, the anguish of human
hearts as they stumbled down the "broad road" -- "having no hope and
without God in the world." That first act of disobedience -- what a train
of evil has followed in its wake! With man's alienation from his Creator, the light of
God's favor was removed and a terrible, night. was ushered in wherein
"darkness covered the earth and gross darkness the people." The whole panorama
of human experience in the light of God's Word can be likened
to a mighty drama so tremendous in scope as to be a "spectacle to angels."
What moving scenes and mighty characters are unfolded to our view as we look back over the pages of
history! Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Elijah
--grand Old Testament characters -- pass before our view with precious lessons as we
meditate on their relationships to the Creator. And then after 4000 years of
"night," a "light" bursts forth upon this world which shall never be
extinguished.
"This
shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall
praise the Lord. For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven. did the
Lord behold the earth; to hear. the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are
appointed to death; to declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and His praise in
Jerusalem; when the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord. -
Psalm 102:18-22.
And the
astonished shepherds hastened to Bethlehem to see Him who should fulfill the wondrous
words of the angel still ringing in their ears and burning their hearts: "I bring you
good tidings of great joy which shall be unto all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the
Lord." Sweetest story ever told -- the story of Divine love! "The Life was the Light of men" and as He
gathered about Him His "little flock" opening to them the Scriptures, the great
Plan of God began to unfold with "wheels within wheels." During all the dark
ages of the past, when God seemed to have almost forgotten His creatures, His Plan for their future blessing had been silently but grandly working
out, though during all those ages the mysteries of His Plan had been wisely hidden from men. However, the buffetings and sufferings
under the dominion of evil have given them an experience which will be greatly to their advantage when they
are brought to judgment in the Millennial Day. The full meaning of that Sacrifice on
Calvary remains "to be testified in due time" to the world at large. Only a favored few, to "as many as the
Lord our God shall call," the consecrated saints of this Gospel Age has it been
"given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven."
"Happy Zion! What a favored lot is
thine!"
THE DARKNESS OF THE MIDDLE AGES
As we
continue our retrospect, we pass on into the period when the "falling away"
corrupted the Gospel Message and the light of Christ and the Apostles began to be
obscured. Strange and terrible does it yet seem. The transformation of pure and primitive
Christianity into medieval Popery, the metamorphose of that Kingdom of Heaven brought in
by the Son of God into the Papal monarchy of Innocent III is indeed a terrible and woeful wonder. Yet
amidst this signal corruption of divine truth and manifestation of human evil we may
discern. the restraining and chastising hand of God. Thomas Gill has well written:
"A
journey through History is a walk with God -- a journey full of
interest and wonder for every open-eyed traveler even if unaware over whose domain and in
whose company he is walking; but how beset with wonder, how steeped in, solemn awe and
solemn delight for each explorer cognizant of the divine region and conscious of the
divine Companion! The charm of
striking scenes, the awe of
mighty events, is heightened and deepened by the conviction of their relation to the
purposes of the All-wise Disposer, of their subserviency to the good pleasure of the
Almighty and Benignant Ruler. The pain inspired by the evil and portentous personages of
history is lessened by the contemplation of them as ministrants of God's wrath and
executers of His judgments, as those whose hearts He hardens and whose wickedness, He
overrules for the fulfillment of His purposes and the manifestation of His glory; while
delight in valiant and godly souls, in true heroes and noble martyrs, rises into a loftier
height when they are regarded as rejoicing fellow-workers with the Lord, as faithful
servants of His will and gladsome ministers to His glory. The way is sometimes exceeding
dark; the crimes and horrors of some periods in history oppress and overpower us; God
seems to hide awhile His face from us. But the journey is pursued; we reach higher ground;
we look back, we look around; our God shines
upon us again; and we bow before the manifested might and majesty of the Moral Governor.
Falsehood and Tyranny have won a crushing victory over Truth and Freedom; evil seems
triumphant and supreme; the Good Old Cause, the very cause of God Himself, seems
vanquished; when lo! a, mighty man is raised up, a baleful power is stricken down; a
terrible chastisement is
inflicted; a great deliverance is wrought; we are
uplifted into solemn sympathy with the Divine Avenger; we rejoice in a glorious
manifestation of the Divine Deliverer; we are gladdened by a sweet visit of the Divine
Consoler."
These words
written in contemplation of the Apostasy and the Reformation are echoed by Milton:
"I do
not know of anything more worthy to take up the whole passion of pity on the one
side and joy on the other than first to consider the foul and
sudden corruption, and then after many a tedious age, the long deferred but much
more wonderful and happy reformation of the Church in these latter days."
So have holy souls rejoiced in the continued gleams
of divine light even in the darkest of hours. God has never left Himself without
witnesses who manfully and courageously showed forth
the Gospel Truth, and the record of the Reformation struggle remains one of the brightest
pages in history.
THE TIME OF THE END
A century ago
saw the work of the various Bible Societies increase marvelously. The Bible became the
possession of all who desired it and knowledge of things divine increased proportionately,
culminating in the great Adventist movement of 1844.
But it was not until 30 years later that the full measure of spiritual truth began to be
seen in all its glory.
It has been
suggested that as the High Priest in the ancient Tabernacle service every morning and
evening trimmed and replenished the lights of 'the lampstand in the Holy, so in the beginning and ending
of the Gospel Age a fuller and brighter illumination has been provided the saints in these
two periods. In any event it is a matter of record that the wonderful outpouring of divine
truth at our Master's First Advent has been repeated at His Second. For we do indeed live in the "days of the Son of Man";
the time of the setting up of the long awaited Kingdom of God. Seventy years ago it
pleased God to raise up a mighty servant "set for the defense of the Gospel." As
we look back upon that faithful life -- forty
years of service for the King -- during which the Lord poured forth such a coordination of
Truth as had not been since the days of the Apostles, we thank God for that
ministry and for the vessel He used to glorify Himself. The memory of Charles
T. Russell remains sweet and precious as we continue, to draw knowledge, comfort, and
inspiration, from his abundant writings. Since his passing, almost coincident with the
beginning of the dissolution of the framework of society, the grand Harvest message shines
forth with undiminished lustre though with decreasing volume. This is to be expected, for
the Truth is not in organizations but in individuals, and He
must increase while we decrease. Of individual effort there can be no
slackening, but as regards the Truth Movement we may expect it eventually to disappear.
We may be reaching the final phase of earth's travail, and knowing the Church's
glorification must precede the blessing of the world, we are above all interested in
her change. Hear the thought provoking words of that wise servant in this connection:
"Though
we may be sure that this 'change' of the last living members of the Body of Christ will not take place until the work committed to them in the
flesh is accomplished, we are informed, . that
ere long our work will be cut short -- gradually at first, and then, completely and
finally, when 'the night cometh, when no man can work.' And the gloom of that 'night' will
be dispelled only by the Millennial sunrise. When our work is done, and that night closes
in around us, we may expect not only to see the
storm-clouds grow, much darker, but also to hear and to feel the rising 'winds' which will
culminate in a wild hurricane of human passion-a
whirlwind of trouble. Then, having finished our appointed work, it will be our part to
'stand,' patiently, until our 'change' comes. - Eph. 6:13.
"How
long the Lord may be pleased to let His saints stand in enforced idleness so far as His
work is concerned, we do not know, but probably only long enough to let faith and patience
have their perfect work. Here these virtues will be most fully developed, tested and manifested. This test of patience will be the
final trial of the Church. Then 'God will help her, at the dawning of [her] morning' (Psa.
46:5, Leeser's translation) -- not the morning which is to dawn on the world at the
brightness .f her rising with her Lord as the sun of righteousness, but at the dawning of her morning, in
which she is to be changed to the nature and likeness of her Lord. Her orning is to
precede the Millennial morning.
"That
this dark night is already approaching we are made aware not only from the Scriptures but
as well from he ominous signs of the times; and the fate of the Church then, so far as her
human career is concerned, seems outlined in the closing pages of the lives of Elijah and
John the Baptist. The beheading of the one, and the whirlwind and fiery chariot which bore
away the other, probably indicate violence to the last members of the Body of Christ. Yet
Zion need not fear; for God is in the midst of her, and will help her. Her consecration is
unto death, and her privilege is to prove her faithfulness: 'The disciple is
not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that
he be as his master, and the servant as his Lord.'"
THE DARKNESS IS PAST --
THE TRUE LIGHT NOW SHINETH
Our
retrospect has brought us to these, our own momentous days. The period of Evil is almost
ended, the Kingdom is at the door.
"The
world is grown old, and her pleasures are past;
The world is grown old, and her form may not last;
The world is grown old, and trembles for fear --
For sorrows abound, and judgment is near!"
And we, the "living who remain,"
"We're
now but in creation's vestibule,
And acting the mere prelude unto joy
Immortal, universal."
O weary and
care-worn souls, look up and behold the glorious vision! It is no mere dream of delight to
be presently swept away by the never-failing stream of wee: nay, it is the joy that is set
before us. And, if we but cleave to the Lord with purpose of heart, He, by His almighty
power, will bring us safely to it, though, perhaps, through much tribulation. Does not the
very thought of His promises lighten the burden of the cross? Sorrows, conflicts, and
perplexities may be thickening around us: let them only cause us to cry with greater
earnestness: "Thy Kingdom come!" In the sick chamber, or the place of
heart-breaking toil; in the lonely garret, or the full house in which we must sojourn as
strangers among ungenial spirits; by the newly opened grave, or in the forsaken home;,
wherever the load of human anguish presses most heavily, let us, even in sorrow, rejoice
that the time of suffering will soon be over, and then God shall wipe away all tears from
our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there any more be mourning, nor
crying, nor pain.
"Wherefore,
beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in
peace, without spot, and blameless."
"Now is
our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at
hand."
- W. J. Siekman.
"If thou wilt be a servant unto
this people this day, and
wilt serve them, and
answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be
thy servants for ever." - 1 Kings 12:1-7.
Th s was the
wise advice given by the old men, but King Rehoboam did not heed it, but acted harshly
according to the counsel of the young men. In forming an estimate of his conduct, however,
we should remember that his mother was a heathen woman addicted to the worship of idols.
King Solomon had been trying to please her and his many other wives by building various
temples to false gods. So, then, it cannot be wondered at that with such a father and
mother Rehoboam did not turn out very well, for great is the power of heredity. No doubt
he thought that if he granted the requests presented to him at this time, he would have to
keep on granting further requests ad infinitum. The best policy therefore seemed to be
to be harsh with the people and intimidate them. So he said, "My father chastised you
with whips, I will chastise you with scorpions."
This was a
very unwise choice, for the elements of unrest and dissatisfaction were much in evidence. Had Rehoboam been wise, he would have
discerned the condition that prevailed and would have used more tact and diplomacy in
dealing with the situation. The fact is that a test had arisen, and the king failed to see
that it was a test. Being proud and arrogant, he thought he could do whatever he pleased.
It is a great
mistake for any one to take such a course. Today there is a testing going on among the
Lord's people, as well as among the people of the world. Throughout the earth indeed
the elements of discontent are manifest on every hand. If the world's rulers were wise,
they would decrease the burdens on the people instead of increasing them. But these
rulers act according to worldly, not divine, wisdom. Consequently a great disruption is
now looming up. Then among the Truth people some are making demands on others that the
Word of God does not make. They are setting up false tests. They have set a straight line,
and claim that all those on one side of that line are in the Truth, and all those on the
other side are out of it. Those who do not agree with them, they beat with scorpion
tongues. This is very deplorable. It surely manifests a lack of the spirit of love, and
without that spirit no person will ever win the Divine Kingdom.
Are we
enabled by divine grace to discern the tests of the present time? Our faith and love will
be tested to the full. "Not every one that saith
unto me. Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of
My Father which is in heaven." And the will of God is that we continually manifest
faith and confidence in Him and thus prove our love for Him; and that we love the
brethren. "If ye do these things, ye shall never fall."
- Walter Sargeant.
"I have loved
thee with an everlasting love."
- Jer. 31:3.
FAITH ALONE
can interpret life's complex experiences. Only a heart rich in faith can find an answer
to the enigma of pain and suffering. But bearing with patience the trials which for the
present are not joyous, but ofttimes grievous, such faith' sees that in a willing
submission to all of God's will there is a likeness to Jesus in the acceptance of bitter
experiences as a cup poured by the Father's hand. If the cup be a painful trial,
submissive faith, looking far beyond the brief, moments of affliction, can visualize
eternal ages of glory to follow -- "after we have suffered a while." When trials
are viewed thus, the unseen realities beyond the veil are made so real to the mind that
"faith becomes an affirmation that sees eternal truth as present fact."
This full assurance of faith
comprehends much! To really know the One whom we have believed is to have a full measure
of confidence in Him at all times. and under all circumstances. Such abiding faith we
need, in times of trial when. the pressure is particularly great, even though we know that
these frequently represent His chastening hove; and we need this faith also when
meditating on the gracious provision God has made for us in our inability to reach up to
the perfect ideals He has given us to cherish as life's true objectives. We know that to
those who love Him aright, the promise is that if they will hold fast in faith, pray on in
hope and love, and day by day follow on to know the Lord and the power of His
resurrection, God will hold the heavenly inheritance secure for them. He is able to keep
all they have committed to Him. He knows all the roughness of the toilsome way over which
each one is led by His hand, and because of this, His judgment will be according to the
trials endured, the weaknesses faithfully striven against, and according to the
unquenchable yearning of the heart for His perfections.
God
understands! He knows how we long to give ourselves wholly over to His molding hand to be
fashioned in harmony with His will for us. He knows how thoughts will wander away from the
heavenlies, and the mind drift along the easy trend of mundane things. But He also knows
our desire to have every thought and act brought into subjection to His perfect mind.
This, then, is our joy, our rest and peace. Since God understands us altogether, it is
ours to believe He accepts us in the Beloved One as we are, and loves us with a constant,
and everlasting love. On the strength of His promise we are to believe He holds us in His
own right hand, and from that hand none may pluck us, neither will He let us go. It
follows then, that the larger our vision of His grace becomes, the wider reaches to
which our faith extends, the greater the measure of our love, and the deeper our gratitude
of heart, the more blessed will be our comfort and joy in God's understanding love. Every
lesson learned through the obedience of faith will be an added preparation for the happy
hour of heaven's unfolding illuminations by which all life's mysterious ways will be made
plain, and all complexities. disappear. Faith will be lost in sight and prayer give
place to praise.
Though the
eternal realities are only seen as yet by the eye of faith, yet how full of heartening
power our partial vision can become! Visions of glory to follow are given us in various
ways, and these become to us as beckoning hands enabling us to endure as seeing Him who is
invisible. They come to us like the voice of Jesus, saying amid the winds and waves,
"It is I, be not afraid." Only let us believe that these assurances are for our
appropriation and we will find it becoming more and more true as our loving Savior said,
"My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Ere long it
will be no more an occasional fleeting glimpse through breaks in overhanging. clouds, but
the fullness of vision amid heaven's cloudless, sightless glories. If we will go on
letting patience have her perfect work in us, watching for the tokens of God's overruling
in all our way, the hope will grow even more glorious, the cloudy intervals between the
sunshine will become less frequent as faith grows stronger, and the days of heaven on
earth be a greater foretaste of that which is yet to be ours when the end of the way is
reached. On our Father's face there is an unfading smile of love which our hearts can know
and feel, and in that smile we have the assurance that in all the way we take while
delighting in His will, He knows, and loves, and cares. He always understands.
"He
giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase:
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
When we have
exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end off our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.
His love has
no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again."
"How
high is His love?' His high as the heavens;
As high as the throne of His glory must be;
And yet from that height He hath stooped to redeem us-He so loved the world and He so
loved me."
- J. J. Blackburn.
"And the angel said unto her, Fear
not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy
womb, sand bring forth a son, and shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall
be called the Son of the Highest: amid the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His
father David: and He shall reign over the. house of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there
shall be no end." -
Luke 1:30-33.
FOR OUR Christmas meditation we have
selected the words recorded in Luke 1:46-55. These, the exalted utterance of a humble
Jewish maiden, were invoked by the inspired greeting of her kinswoman.
For,
"it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe
leaped in he womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she spoke out with a
loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? And, lo, as soon
as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which
were told her from the Lord." - Luke 1:41-45.
Moved by the
deepest emotion, Mary breaks out in an ecstatic song, to. which we owe the earliest and
grand-st of our hymns,. the Magnificat. Like Miriam, Deborah, Hannah; or Judith, she
utters a song of joy. In the words of Geikie: "The whole hymn is a mosaic of Old
Testament imagery and language and sows a mind so colored by the sacred writings of h-r
people that her whole utterance becomes, spontaneously, as by a second nature, an echo of
that of prophets and saints. It is
such as we might have expected from the lips of some ideal Puritan maiden in those days in
our own history, when men were so deeply read in the oracles of God that their ordinary
conversation fell into Scriptural phrases and allusions, and their whole life was
colored by the daily contemplation of superior beings and eternal interests. Mary, like
them, must have, lived in a constant realization of the presence and special providence of
One with whose gracious communications to her people she had thus filled her whole
thoughts. A Jewish puritanism, of the loftiest and most spiritual type, must have been the
very atmosphere in which she moved, and in which her child was hereafter to be trained.
With the
extremism which has developed into Mariolatry, we of course, have no sympathy. But we can
and do honor one whom God has thus honored nd to whom the angel could say: "Hail,
thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And
while not countenancing the generally accepted doctrine of "the Immaculate
Conception" of Mary,* which attempts to establish faith in our .Lord's mother as
immaculate, spotless, perfect; and admitting only that she was a member of Adam's race in
the same sense as all other members of it -- that her life was derived from the Adamic
stock with inherited human weaknesses and blemishes and was unavoidably, like all others,
under the sentence of death -- our esteem for this gentle maiden of marvelous faith,
submission, and obedience remains undiminished. Truly, "henceforth all .generations
shall call her blessed." However, it is not the Virgin mother's person but rather the
spiritual emotion and eloquence of her Magnificat that is our immediate concern and to
which we now turn for detailed consideration. Each exulting strain of that song which
anticipated the first Christmas will refresh our spirits as we recall our own cause for
joy and gratitude to, "the Giver of every good and perfect gift."
------------------------------------------
* For a full treatment of this subject see
Scripture Studies; Volume V Chapter 4.
"SING FORTH THE HONOR OF HIS NAME"
"And
Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my
Savior." - Luke 1:46, 47.
How natural
for her mind, imbued with its religious heritage, to raise itself in adoration of her
God. The intimation made to her was one which she could hardly grasp in, its full
significance. Her Son was to sit upon the throne of His father David, and reign over the
house of Jacob, founding a kingdom which should endure for ever. The gratitude within,
welled forth in notes of heartfelt praise. And to us who know the full significance of
that wonderful event, Mary seems to speak in the Psalmist's words: "O magnify the
Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." Our echoing words of praise have
already been written for us: "Blessed be Thou, Lord God of Israel our Father, for
ever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the
victory, and the majesty: for all that is in, the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine
is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art exalted as head above all.. Both riches and honor
come of Thee, and Thou reignest over all; and in Thine hand is power and might and in
Thine hand -- it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee,
and praise Thy glorious name." We may all say: "My soul shall be joyful in the,
Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation." - Psa. 34:3; 1 Chron. 29:10-13; Psa. 35:9.
"WHO REMEMBERETH US
IN OUR LOW ESTATE"
''For He
hath regarded the low estate] of His handmaiden; for, behold, from
henceforth all generations shall call-me blessed." -- Ver. 48.
For
centuries had the pious women of Israel each cherished the hope
that of her might be born the long promised Deliverer. And now this incomparable honor, worthy of
the greatest Queen, had become the lot of this humble maid. Well might she rejoice at the goodness
of God. And is it not so with us? What shall we say as we consider our own even greater portion? Hath not the Lord
considered our "low estate"? "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that
not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called, but God
hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and
base things of the world, and things which are despised, bath God chosen, yea, and things
which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that, no flesh should glory in His
presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and deliverance: that, according as it is written,
he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Cor. 1:26-31.) As of our glorious
Forerunner it is written (Psa. 72:17), "All nations shall call Him blessed," so
of those "born in Zion" we read: "Blessed and holy is he that bath part in
the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests
of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years." - Rev. 20:6.
"THE LOVING KINDNESS OF GOD"
"For He
that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name. And His mercy is on
them that fear Him, from generation to generation." - Ver. 49, 50.
God had thus
favored Mary because she feared (reverenced) Him, for His mercy is on such, from
generation to generation. We marvel at her calmness and poise at the strange
announcement of the angel. Her answer is the ideal of dignified humility, and meek and
reverend innocence: --"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to
thy word." We echo Elisabeth's words: "Blessed is she that believed."
As we turn to
consider our own portion in the Lord's inheritance it is with the joyful testimony:
"The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly
heritage." For have we not prayed to Him-"Show me Thy Ways, O Lord; teach me Thy
paths. Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee
do I wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, Thy tender mercies and Thy loving kindnesses; for
they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions:
according to Thy mercy remember Thou me, for Thy goodness sake, O Lord." - Psa.
25:4-7.
And did He not hearken to us? "This poor man cried, and the Lord
heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." (Psa. 34:6.) "I waited
patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also
out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established
my goings. And He bath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our. God: many shall
see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man that. maketh the Lord his
trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God,
are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to usward: they
cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are
more than can be numbered." - Psa. 40:1-5:
"THE LORD'S ARM EXALTED"
"He hath
showed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the , imagination of their
hearts." - Ver. 51.
What a depth
of wisdom lies hidden in these words, far beyond their primary significance to the humble
soul that uttered them. She had indeed been told that her child, from its birth, should be
called the Son of the. Highest, and 'the Son of God. But the human mind is slow to grasp
great truths, and needs to grow into a comprehension of their meaning: it cannot receive
them in their fulness till it has been educated, step by step, to understand them. Long
years after this she only partially realized the import of such words. In her Son's youth
she was perplexed to know what was meant by His answer (Luke 2:50), when He stayed behind
in the Temple; and years after that she failed, once again, to realize her true relations
to Him. (John 2:4.) Nor does she seem to have risen to the full sublimity of her
position, and of His, while He lived, though the deathless love of a mother for her
child brought her to the foot of the Cross. - John 19:25.
Not so with
us, however, to whom the "Arm of the Lord" has been revealed. We have grasped
the full import of that birth in Bethlehem and recognize in Him "the Dayspring from
on high that hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the
shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:78, 79.) "O
sing unto the Lord a new song; for He hath done marvelous things: His right hand, and His
holy arm, bath gotten Him the victory." (Psa. 98:1.) "The voice of rejoicing and
salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth
valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth
valiantly." - Psa. 118:15, 16.
MESSIAH OF NATHAN'S LINE
"He bath
put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He bath filled the
hungry with good things; and the rich He bath sent empty away." - Ver. 52, 53.
Through His
Prophet Jeremiah God had
said: "Behold the day
is coming, that I will raise unto. David a Righteous Branch, and a king shall reign and
prosper. In His days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is His
name that Jehovah proclaimeth Him, Our Righteousness." - Jer. 23:6, Young's
translation.
This Branch
had been expected to be a lineal descendant of David through the royal line of Solomon, but a comparison of various Scriptures
proves this not to have been the Lord's will, inasmuch as Solomon is shown to have
subsequently lost God's favor. (See Psa. 132:11; 1
Chron. 28:5-9; 1 Kings 2:4; 1 Kings 11:9-13.) Consequently we find that our Lord's descent
from David is through the humbler line of Nathan as traced by Luke (3:31) who' styles
Joseph "the son of Heli," that is, the son-in-law of Eli. By birth, Joseph was
the son of Jacob, as stated in Matthew 1:16. By inspiration Mary expresses this truth in
her song of thanksgiving: "He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree." The diadem and crown were removed
from Zedekiah, the last king of the line of Solomon, to be given, to him of the line of
Nathan whose right it is -- the Son of David who also is his Lord.
We also, dear brethren, have been the recipients
of grace because of the rejection of those whose primary portion it was. For it is
written: "Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath
obtained it, and the rest were blinded." "Behold therefore the
goodness and severity of God: on then which fell, severity: but toward thee, goodness, if
thou continue in His goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." (Rom. 11:,7,
22.), "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are
called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the comnnonwealth of Israel,
and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of
Christ." (Eph. 2:11-13.) "Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on
high; who humbleth Himself to behold the things
that are in heaven, and in the earth! He raiseth up
the poor out, of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; that He may set him
with princes, even with the princes of His people." - Psa. 113:5-8.
"GOD'S PROMISES SURE"
"He
hath holpen His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; as He spake to our fathers,
to Abraham, and to his seed for ever." - Ver. 54, 55.
Two thousand
years.. had elapsed since God's great promise to Abraham, that in his seed all the nations
would be blessed. With prophetic insight Mary recognizes a decisive step in the
fulfillment of God's unchanging purpose, and closes her song on this note of joy. Later,
when her babe was born, the aged Simeon who had also waited for the "Consolation of
Israel," took Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said: "Lord, now lettest
Thou Thy servant depart in peace,, according to Thy word:, for mine eyes have seen Thy
salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; alight to lighten the
Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel." - Luke 2:29-32.
Today we
have reached a crucial period in the history of the world. The lofty spiritual
sentiments of the Magnificat find little real response in the weary hearts of men. In this
day of crass materialism, faith in God is well-nigh extinct. Men do not look to Him for
help in their present world-wide distress. "Nevertheless we, according to His
promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2
Pet. 3:13.) In the not far distant future there is to be a stupendous change in this
earth's affairs and the astonished masses of mankind will behold the full realization of
the glorious hope breathed forth in the song of the humble maid of Nazareth --
"Great joy which shall be unto all people." Again shall be heard those words of
the heavenly host, now to be echoed by all humanity:
"GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, ON
EARTH, PEACE, GOOD WILL TO MEN."
- W. J. Siekman.
"Not
here! not here! not where the sparkling waters
Fade into mocking sands as we draw near;
Where in the wilderness each footstep falters,
'I shall be satisfied,' -- but oh! not here!
"Not
here, where all the dreams of bliss deceive us,
Where the worn spirit never gains its goal;
Where, haunted ever by the thoughts that grieve us,
Across the floods of bitter memory roll.
"Satisfied!
satisfied! the spirits yearning
For sweet companionship with kindred minds --
The silent love 'that here meets no returning --
Inspiration which no language finds.
"Shall
they be satisfied? the soul's vague longing --
The aching, void which nothing earthy fills?
Oh! what desires upon my soul are thronging
As I look upward to the, heavenly hills!
"'Thither
my weak and weary steps are trending.
Savior and Lord! with Thy frail child abide!
Guide me toward Home where, all my wandering ending,
I shall see Thee, and ''shall be satisfied."'
"For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth,
and scourgeth evens son whom He receiveth."
- Heb. 12:6.
CARELESS WRITERS may pile up words
without any addition to the thought; but those who wrote under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit were not so wasteful.. (Prov. 18:9.) There are, however, in the Scriptures many
passages which upon a surface examination might lead us to suppose the writers had thus
erred. The text under consideration is one of this kind. Many, interpreting it, make no
difference between the two clauses, which teach two distinct and important truths. This
difference is indicated both in the words "chasten" and "scourge,"
and in the words "loveth" and "receiveth." Chastening and scourging do
feel much alike, but, according to the Greek words as well as the
English, the cause and intent are quite different. Scourging indicates wrong-doing for
which punishment is being meted out; chastening is educational, and implies need, not
necessarily wrong-doing. The synonyms of the Standard College Dictionary make this
distinction regarding the English. Having defined "scourge" as "to
punish," it continues: "Punish is distinctly retributive in sense; chasten, wholly corrective and merciful in intent and result."
"Chasten" is defined as "1. To discipline by pain or trial. 2. To moderate;
soften. 3. To refine, purify. 4. (archaic) To chastise." "Discipline" is
defined: "1. To train to obedience or subjection. 2. To drill, educate. 3. To punish
or chastise." It is understood that words are used in their first meaning by
discerning writers unless they place something in the context to indicate otherwise. On
examination of the Greek words we find the definitions given above are good translations
of the original.
George Ricker Berry defines (1) paideuo (translated in the King James Version, chasten) "To train a
child; hence, (1) to instruct, (2) to correct, to chasten." Strong's definition is:
"To train up a child, i.e., educate, or (by implication) discipline (by
punishment)." Thayer gives the following: "(1) As in classic Greek properly to
train children. Passive, to be instructed or taught, to learn: followed by an
infinitive; to cause one to learn. (2) To chastise or castigate with words, to correct. To
chastise with blows, to "scourge." As an illustration excusing this last
definition, "to scourge," which would fit no where else in the New: Testament
nor in Classic literature, Thayer cites the passage which we are considering and Luke
23:16, 22, where Pilate said, "I will therefore chastise Him, and release Him, and
again, "I have found no cause of death in Him: I will therefore chastise Him, and let
Him go." In these verses Thayer evidently overlooked the fact that Pilate has just
said, "I have found no fault in this man." The reason for Pilate's choosing the
mild word which has no thought of punishment in it in classic Greek -- and in the New
Testament so far as we have been able to discover -- is manifest. The classic definition
as given by Liddell and Scott, is:
(1) To bring up, rear a child; (2) to
train and teach, educate . . . (3) To chasten, discipline. In this entire passage
(Heb. 12:5-7) Young in his "Concise Critical Comments on the Bible" uses the
word "instruct" and its derivitives instead of "chastise," etc.
For the other word, mastigoo, we find the following definitions: Berry: "To scourge."
Strong: "To flog." Thayer: "To scourge. Metaphorically, of God as a father
chastising and training men as children by afflictions." Liddell and Scott: "To
whip, to flog."
The difference in the intent of the rest
of the two clauses in which we find these words, chasten and scourge,
is just as apparent. "Whom the Lord loveth He rears as children," includes all
His creatures from the Logos down through the ranks of the angelic host and the lowliest
of the human family; but the other clause, "and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth," has one very important omission. The Logos was His only begotten
Son, therefore not "received'' as were we of a later begetting, selected for that
purpose from an alien family. Nor did He ever deserve any scourging. When Jesus came to
John the Baptist to receive immersion at his hands, His cousin, not knowing of any
baptism other than for the remission of sins, and knowng that Jesus was righteous, would
have turned Him away had not Jesus insisted. (Matt. 3:13-15.) His insistence was not
because He had any sins of which to repent, but because He did always those things
that pleased the Father (John 8:29); His meat, was to do the will of Him that sent Him. -
John 4:34.
As to the other word, paideuo, though He had far less to-learn than we, yet, strange as it sounds
to us, Jesus
"learned obedience [Thayer gives as the
"proper and primary significance listening"] by the things which He suffered." (Heb. 5:8.) Under the difficult
conditions of this earthly existence, He learned to listen for the heavenly Father's voice
when every circumstance was contrary to all the conditions of the many millenniums of
His previous existence, and as He never could have learned in the
sacred courts of heaven. When He was thus "completed" (literal Greek, ver. 9),
"He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him."
Through our frequent waywardness we learn what it is to have earthly clouds come between
us and the Father's face. He who knew no sin, obedient unto death, even the death of the
lowest of sinners, through the fulfilment of Psalm 22:1, completed His lessons in
"attentive hearkening" (Strong's). (Phil. 2:8.) The sad story of one man's
disobedience by which we were all made sinners, is at last" on the cross
counterbalanced by the
complete obedience of One through whom the many shall be constituted righteous. - Rom.
5:19, Diaglott.
Jesus came
down from heaven, "not to do His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him"
into conditions under which He could be tested (and trained) in all points. (John 6:38;
5:30.) In the verses following this statement is recorded His assurance that it is the
Father's will that of all which He had given Him He should lose nothing, but should raise
it up again at the last day. Evidently they, too, must have a faith that will manifest
itself in obedience (verse 40,): "For this is My Father's will, that every one who fixes
his gaze on the Son of God and believes in Him (literal: into Him) shall have the
life of the Ages, and I will raise him to life on the last day." (Weymouth.) Thus the
requirement for the, Church is the same as for her Lord -- they, too, must learn attentive
hearkening by the things which they suffer; they must be "strangers and
pilgrims," must conduct themselves honestly, honorably, as true citizens of the
heavenly Kingdom, though their walk is among heathen (1 Pet. 2:12) whose
heathenish schemes and practices are a continual test of their faithfulness to the laws of
the heavenly government. Here criticizing, judging, hating, jealousies, backbitings,
slander, and all the rest of the evil progeny of Satan are made easy, and only in the
power of His might can their onslaughts be defeated, and devoted to the purpose for which
our all wise Instructor
has permitted them -- for
our training, the chastisetisement of Hebrews 12:6. The resultant character will', be
chaste and beautiful, not because of the size or quality of the individual's brain; but
because of the skill of our Teacher, and of our having faithfully kept ourselves in
submission to His instructions, gratefully accepting His corrections.
If one of us,
admiring a painting in some art institute and desiring to have a copy in our own home,
should carry our paints and brushes to the institute and make. a copy, what we would have
to hang on our walls would be only a feeble imitation. If, however, while we were at
work, the artist who produced the original should ask permission to take the brush, there,
would be no hesitation about giving.way to him. Should we do this and should there be no
suggestions or, restrictions on our part, the result would be not a copy, but another masterpiece, the
"very image" of the original. Why should any one hesitate to give way to the
great Creator? Fruit-bearing is the easy, the natural result, of abiding in the Vine.
Failure to
bear in mind that "every son whom He receiveth" must have not only scourgings,
but, as one "whom the Lord loveth" will also have trying experiences, is often a
cause of needless discouragement "Our heavenly Father designs that various kinds of
trouble shall come upon us, that these may develp and prove our characters. It is a part
of the divine plan to permit us to have experiences of affliction. (Psalm 119:67, 71, 75;
34:19, 20.) . . . We are each
to demonstrate our
willingness to suffer according to His will, and often to suffer unjustly. Our Lord
set us an example of cheerful, patient submission to God's will. We are to walk in His
footsteps. And we have the example of the Apostles, when trials and difficulties and
persecutions came up on them; and the example of other saints all down the Age.
"Trouble
is not necessarily a sign of the disfavor of God. On the contrary, we know that many are
the afflictions of the righteous and that 'All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution.' The truth will cost them something. Faithfulness to the Lord will cost them much. As
the Apostle says, 'If ye be without chastisement [discipline, training], then are ye
bastards and not sons.' (Heb.. 12:8.) If God gives peace of heart, who can upset the one
who is thus in harmony with God, in whom this peace of heart is ruling? This, then,
is the greatest blessing of all. And He grants this peace to those who are faithfully
striving to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. We have a Refuge which none but His only can
know. No harm can reach us within this shelter; no storm can shake us from our moorings,
for we are securely anchored to the Rock of Ages. 'And we know that all things work
together for good to those who love God, to the called according to His purpose.' (Rom. 8:28.) And as Job's
after blessings far outweighed his brief trials, so it will be with the Lord's saints
today."
"Did our
Lord have any fears? Yes, . . . . 'He offered up prayers and supplications with strong
crying and tears, unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He
feared.' ... Though His words were few because no words could express the emotions of His soul, His
chastened spirit was all the while making intercession for, Him with groanings that
could not be. uttered. (Rom. 8:26.) Yes, 'He was heard in that He feared,' the fear was
all taken away, and, strong in the strength which God supplied, He felt that He was able
to offer the acceptable, sacrifice, to meet every jot and tittle of the requirement of the
law in doing it, and hence that His salvation out of death, His resurrection, was sure.
"Though
He was a recognized Son, and hence perfect, without sin,, the Apostle speaks of Him as
being made perfect -- as being perfected in some sense through a process of
experience -- of experience of humiliation and suffering. In what sense, then, we
inquire, was He perfected? The answer is implied in the words -- 'Yet learned He obedience
by the things which He suffered; and, being made perfect [in this lesson], He became,'
etc. Although He was-a recognized Son of God in whom the Father was always well pleased,
and one who had never disappointed in the slightest degree the fondest hopes of that righteous Father; although He had always
recognized the Father as the source of His being, and the fountain of all wisdom,
goodness, and grace, and as that superior Being to whom He
owed the deepest gratitude for life and all its manifold blessings, in whom also dwelt all
wisdom and honor and glory and power, and whose perfect will was therefore the supreme
law, the expression. of the most perfect righteousness and truth; the profoundest wisdom and the deepest love and grace; to
whom therefore, was due the most loyal and loving obedience at all times and under all
circumstances; and although He was a Son who had always
recognized and delighted to do the Father's will; yet He was not counted perfect in the
sense of that established and demonstrated character which was the necessary requirement
for the priestly office to which He was called. For this office He must be proved beyond
all peradventure by the severest tests, and that before many witnesses, in order
that all might know the strong foundation upon which they could build their
hopes. It was for this purpose that His sense of loyalty was put to the severe test which
it met in Gethsemane. Possibly even our Lord Himself did not realize the strength of His
righteous character until brought face to face with this, last trial. There He. was
tried and proved to the uttermost, and under the fiery ordeal His character, always
perfect to the full measure of its testing, gained by divine grace its glorious
perfection of completeness. [Is it surprising that we who are so far from perfection
should also need to be "tested in all points"?]
"Thus, through suffering, He
learned obedience to the perfect will of God down to the lowest depths of
self-abnegation; and God permitted it so to be, because such proving was necessary, both
for the development and manifestation of that perfection of character which would be
worthy of the high exaltation to which He was called.
"It should ever be borne in mind
that perfection of being and perfection of character are two different things. Perfection
of being is the work of God, while perfection of character is the work of the intelligent
creature, wrought out in obedience to divine
law and under the divine direction and supervision. Adam was a perfect being, innocent,
free and glorious in his prestine beauty; but
in the work of character building he soon failed, and hence lost his
perfection. Character cannot be developed wholly without trial. It is like a plant: at
first it is very tender; it needs an abundance of the sunshine of God's love; frequent
watering with the showers of His grace; much cultivating through the applied, knowledge of
His character as a good foundation for faith and inspiration to obedience; and then, when
thus developed under these favorable conditions, it is ready for the pruning hand of
discipline, and is also able to endure some hardness. And, little by little, as strength
of character is developed, the tests applied to it serve only to develop more strength,
beauty and grace until it is finally fixed, developed, established, perfected -- through
suffering.
"In the case of our Lord, this
valuable plant of character, perfect in its infancy, maintained its perfection
through all the tests applied to it, until it was finally made perfect in completeness,
being established, strengthened, settled.... 'And being made perfect, He became the
author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.'" -
R5879, R1806, R1807; April 1, 1916; May 1, 1895.
Inspired by the faithfulness of the
Ancient Worthies listed in the eleventh chapter of this Epistle, "We must put away
our own grossness, as athletes rid themselves by severe training of all superfluous flesh.
Then we must also put away from us the sin that surrounds us, that quite besets us, on all sides,
whether in the world or in the Church, as runners must have the course cleared and the
crowd of onlookers that press around removed far enough to give them the sense of
breathing freely and running unimpeded in a large space." (Expositor's Bible.) Faith
alone will deliver us from the overwhelming pressure of the world's sin. Ours is a "furlong
race," with the Judge in sight at the end of the course. On Him the contestant must
fix his gaze that his course may be a straight one, for He is our goal. We must not only win to
gain the crown, but must be worthy to wear it. when He bestows it. There can be no
winning if the race is run uncertainly (1 Cor. 9:26); no worthiness if anything less than His. perfection is our goal.
"Wherefore lift up your listless hands, strengthen your feeble knees; make straight
paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather
healed." - Heb. 12:13, Centenary Translation.
"O blows
that smite, O wounds that pierce
This shrinking heart of mine!
What are ye but the Master's tools,
Performing work Divine!
How blest that
all these seeming ills
That draw my heart to Thee
Are each a proof that Thou hast set
Thy seal of love on me!'"
- P. E. Thomson.
How rich in
joy and blessedness is the fellowship of those who know the salvation that is in Christ
Jesus! Truly, it is like the "precious ointment upon the head" and "as the
dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion!: for there the Lord commanded the blessing,
even life for evermore." When the meaning of Malachi 3:16, 17 can be associated in
the memory concerning a. gathering of brethren, in which the presence of the Lord was
assuredly experienced, those thus privileged to gather in His, name, under the
influence of His Word and Spirit, have special reason for believing themselves "kept
by the power of God unto salvation," and being made ready for a final gathering, into His immediate presence.
By such experience they may know that they have entered into the true unity of the Spirit,
the oneness for which Jesus prayed on behalf of His people.
All of this
may be much in the minds of those who gathered in Atlantic City over the weekend of
October 6 and 7. From first to last it was an occasion of spiritual refreshment. It was
the largest gathering we have had in Atlantic City--the little hall being well,
filled at the first session. In discourse, in praise and testimony, and in the intervals
of fellowship between the several sessions, the spirit was that of a oneness of interest
in the great privileges of Christian life. So much so was this, true that it can be
believed that in the "book of remembrance written before the Lord for them that
feared Him and that thought upon. His name," a record has been made of this very
helpful and blessed season of spiritual association. The subjects discussed by the several
speakers were of a character consistent with the solemn possibilities of these very
important times; and such
words in season, how
good they are!
The first
speaker taking for his theme "God's protection," drew some very helpful lessons
from Psalms 122 and 34. We were reminded of the wonderful and powerful I agencies
appointed by God for our protection. "The anger of the Lord encampeth round about
those that fear Him." One such angel accomplished the destruction of Sennacherib's
army of 185,000 in a single night. Why, therefore, need we fear since these same powers
are provided for our protection and deliverance. Because of he completeness of our
protection through past years, an the safe-keeping which is still cur favored lot, the
language of our hearts should be that of Psalm 34:1: "I will bless the Lord at all
times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."
The next
theme presented was of similar strain, being, "Who shall harm you, if ye be
followers of that which is good?" (1 Pet. 3:13.) If we are followers of that which is
good, we need have no fear what evil men may say or do concerning us. But the emphasis is
on our being followers of that which is good in God's sight. Attention was drawn to a yet
more helpful reading of other manuscripts: "Who is he that will harm you if ye be
imitators of the good One?" This means that our lives, much more than, our preaching,
enter into the matter of being kept under the shadowings of God's care. And what joy can
be ours in knowing that eventually these who may have spoken against us as evil doers will
yet glorify God on our behalf. Some day God will bring forth our righteousness as the
light, and our judgment as the noonday.
The next
theme was framed in the words, "Our Expanding Vision." Once again we
had occasion to realize how greatly we have been favored in being enlightened by the Word
and Spirit of God. To us has been given a revelation of the wonderfulness of God's
character as revealed in His Word, and in all creation. The boundless universe in which we find ourselves calls forth our
adoration and praise. Then as we review the magnificent and unfailing purposes of God.
contrasted with the puny and ineffectual schemes of men, what gratitude should be ours for
the light so graciously given to us. To meditate on God's great expansive purposes is to
say in heartfelt confidence, "Who shall not reverence Thee, O Lord, when all Thy
righteous acts are made manifest."
Following these themes discussed on
our first day together, the second day of feasting began with a very encouraging and
thought-provoking discourse on the subject, "Left over to the coming of the
Lord." (1 Thess. 4:15.) It would seem that all present must have felt a fresh impulse
to lift up their heads rejoicingly in the conviction that deliverance for the Church is
near. It was truly a word in season, well calculated to keep us "looking for that
blessed hope," with confidence, and with increased desire.
Then came a
helpful presentation of the ever needed doctrine, "The ministry and power of the
spirit." The Holy Spirit must never be denied its place in our lives if we are to
reach attainments necessary to divine approval. The depth of spiritual life therefore
depends upon the degree of our consecration to Gods will. Each one must be "filled
with the Spirit." Capacities may differ, but all must have the Spirit to the full measure
of individual capacity. A good illustration was used to make this point helpful: Clear
water can be poured into many vessels, some very beautifully designed, some common and
without special beauty, some large, some quite small, but each can contain a full measure
of the same pure water. Likewise is the filling of the Spirit possible to every one called
of the Lord into present privileges.
The program
concluded with remarks based on Matthew 25:10: "And they that were ready went in with
Him to the marriage: and the door was shut." Reference was made to what had been said
by a previous speaker concerning prophetic fulfillments taking place in these present
days; and this being manifest to all of us, what importance is associated with each day
of our lives. The things by which readiness for an abundant entrance is assured are things
of the heart. It was pointed out that the lamps of the foolish virgins were evidently as
'well trimmed as those of the wise, but a well-trimmed lamp meant nothing without the
vessel filled with oil. Likewise a well marked and understood Bible without a rich
possession of the Holy Spirit means nothing but disappointment. The life of Christ as He
lived it among men must be carefully studied, and His example faithfully followed. The
power of His resurrection must be known in daily experience if we are to be found on the inside of that door, which once
closed. will never open again. This means living very close to the Lord, for
"The light, the oil, the robes we wear, are all from Him alone."
-- Contributed.
In giving a
report of the convention held in Hallowell, Maine, October 27 and 28, it seems well to begin with the date of the arrival of
Brother John T. Read on the 24th. At Belgrade that, evening he gave a most helpful and
impressive talk on the 32nd Psalm, and also sang for us.
On Thursday evening there was a meeting in Augusta, when Brother Read's subject was the 51st chapter of Isaiah.
The
convention opened Saturday afternoon at two o'clock. Eleven of the Boston friends arrived
in two cars, and four from New York in one car in time for the opening service, which
cheered our hearts. Brother J. H. Sonntag of Dorchester, Mass., who had been invited to
serve at the convention, arrived by train, also in time for the opening meeting. Brother
Gilbert E. Kemp, of Boston, acted efficiently as Chairman.
Brother Read
delivered the first discourse which was very admonitional, followed by Brother John E.
Dawson who spoke on the end of the Gentile Times. After the evening meal, the friends had
an opportunity in a testimony meeting to express their gratitude to the Lord for their
privileges and to voice their feelings for each other in their mutual endeavors. Their
faces shone with the joy they felt in their hearts.
After the
testimony meeting Brother DeGroot gave a talk in which he stressed the holiness of our
Christian walk, even the hall in which we met was "holy ground," he said,
because the Lord and His people were there, even though that same hall would be used for other purposes
later. The closing service of the evening was in the nature of a symposium. Brother
Webster, of Medford, Mass., spoke on Faith, Brother Bridges, on Hope and Brother Smith, on Love, each for
fifteen minutes, to the edification of all.
Sunday the
morning devotion began at 9:45, followed by a talk by Brother DeGroot. His subject was,
"God All in All," bringing us to that fitting climax of 1 Corinthians 15:28: "Then shall the Son
also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under
Him, that God may be all in all." Brother Dawson followed,
and our hearts responded to his emphasis of love of the brethren.
In the
afternoon Brother Sonntag gave a discourse on "The Potter and the Clay," which
was much appreciated. His illustrations impressed the lesson on, our minds.
The public
discourse, delivered by Brother Read on. the subject, "The Desire of All Nations at
Hand," was refreshing to us who know the "Old, Old Story" as well as to a few strangers who gave close
lose attention to the discourse.
Brother
Read's ministry of song during the convention, added much to the pleasure and profit of
all. In closing we want to mention his service at Pittsfield, Monday
afternoon following the convention. The two sisters there and ourselves were stirred to
greater faithfulness and were much encouraged by his talk on "God First."
Thus closed a
very sweet season of fellowship and we' are thankful to God for the spirit of
oneness that prevailed and the ,blessings He poured on
us all. "Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in
Christian love."
- Contributed.
The Gary, Indiana convention held on
September 15 and 16, proved to be a very enjoyable and blessed season of
fellowship and feasting upon the manna from heaven as it was set forth by the various
speakers.
The Gary
Class, consisting mostly of young Polish brethren, had secured a very excellent hall,
equipped with a laud-speaker system that made it possible for all present to distinctly
hear all the speakers. Everything" had been well arranged. Considerable effort was
put forth to take care of the comfort of the friends, and the local brethren must have
felt well rewarded in the splendid attendance at all the sessions, fully 200 or more being
present on Sunday.
The speakers,
Brothers Obenland, Read, Jarmola, Poskonka, Miskovitz, Moyle; DeGroot, Morehouse and Siekman, had
chosen subjects hat were edifying and instructive, and their ministry was much appreciated by those present. Besides
the discourses there was a Bethel service on Sunday to start the day, and a testimony
meeting led by Brother Stromberg at the beginning of the afternoon session. The public
meeting attracted about 20 visitors, and in all, 18 requests for reading matter were
received.
The final
service of the convention was a love feast, which seemed to add a finishing touch and
benediction to what all felt was an inspiring and blessed season.
-- Contributed.
Dear
Brethren:
Greetings in the Master's name. We wish to share our joy with you by letting you
know what a blessing the convention„ has been to us all. Yes, it is more than words
can express. We have been feasting on the messages that were given by the dear brethren
from God's Holy Word, and our hearts are encouraged to press on come what may. As the morning lesson points out how God cares for the small things, such as the lilies, it makes us know He cares for such small ones as
we.. We here cannot tell the Lord how much we thank Him for the gathering I together of
His people with our little Class here in Atlantic City, to refresh our hearts, and we pray
His rich blessing may attend yourr efforts in His service unto the end of life's journey.
With much
Christian love,
Brother
and Sister S. C. -- N. J.
Dear
Brethren:
Greetings to
all the Lord's people at the Institute.... Enclosed you will find One Dollar to renew my
subscription to the "Herald" for another year. I am more than glad to let you
know that I have found the "Herald" just as interesting, informative,
doctrinally sound, and faithful to the only creed that we as Bible students have --
the Bible.... I like the scholarly, yet understandable style in which the
"Herald" articles are written. As to holding to the teachings of the Present
Truth, I believe that ,the "Herald" stays as close to the teachings of our
Pastor, as he would have, had he lived into these days. Neither have I found the
"Herald" guilty of building "new fences" within the Lord's sheep fold,
and thus causing divisions amongst the Lord's sheep.
In closing I
pray that the Lord may continue to use you in the blessing of the household of faith in
the days to come.
Your
brother in Christ, C. A. L. -- Ill.
My dear Brethren:
Rejoice in
the Lord alway, and again I say Rejoice. I wish you to know that one day I found four
pages of a magazine, "The Herald of Christ's Kingdom," which I read and saw many
good things in it -- truths which the Lord gave us in these last days by His faithful
servant. Especially I was glad to see on the second page, in harmony with Brother.
Russell's will, five brothers as Editors --three to read and approve each article. Also I
was glad to notice that you have meetings in various cities.
I wish to
have some copies of the First Volume in Brief, also of the "Herald." I shall be glad to hear from you and of
the work you ate doing, and to cooperate in any way you may suggest. I was at one time in
the United States and received the truth there in 1916. I have followed the Truth
throughout the, years, walking in the narrow way, in which I trust to prove faithful unto
death and be found worthy of a share in bringing blessings to all mankind . . . . Since
1935 I have been in Athens. I am a watchmaker, but to me the one thing above all others is
the preaching of Christ's Kingdom which is at hand. I send my regards and love in the Lord
to you all. The Lord be with you.
Your brother
in Him,
D.
C. -- Athens, Greece.
Dear
Brethren:
I must thank
you for your kind letter of April 5th, which reached me on the 2nd instant only.
My family and
I always look for the "Herald," and you may be assured that it is always most
welcome and much appreciated. Yes, we certainly wish to be continued on your mailing list.
Very recently one of my daughters, aged twelve, remarked that she finds the articles in
the "Herald" very clearly expressed and, that it is not confusing, as some others. So you will see that the "Herald" is giving
us, young and old, wholesome and sustaining food. May God bless and make it the mean of
still greater blessings . . . .
I keep a keen
watch on our small Class, especially our Indian brethren, and I very sincerely pray that
God will not permit Satan to disturb our present harmony. Would it be possible for you to
send me an extra copy, of the "Herald" each issue for the use of the Class, as
my copy often comes back to me in an unfit state for filing, after passing through so many
hands. Our small Class is steadily increasing and we have had the pleasure of adding
four new members to our number, two of whom were Roman Catholics. Praise God for His great
mercy in thus blessing the work here, and we one and.all solicit your prayers on our
behalf. Two of our Indian brothers have gone out on a tour, and so far as we learn God is
blessing their labors.
All our
Indian brethren, my family and I, unite in sending you all our warm Christian love, and we
shall always be glad and encouraged to hear from you as often As convenient.
Your brother
and servant in our glorious King's service,
J.
B. R. -- Bangalore, S. India.
Dear
Brethren:
Your latest
shipment of some 1,000 tracts, "When the . Morning Cometh," is at hand and at
this writing is already distributed. The tract was received with unanimous delight by
the young people. They like the subject matter and say it is just right for distribution.
Altogether they have put out some 7,000 tracts. The stock here in our Book Room, every
one's private supply, and all of those which you sent us are out-and they are begging for more.
I do not know
whether you are at the present time in position to supply their eager demand to continue
this service. What with scarcity of help and printed stock it may be impossible for you to
send us more tracts. They are being carefully and prayerfully placed, each district
covered being made the subject of special prayer for the Lord's guidance before it is
entered. The work has brought some results, not great, but encouraging. If you cannot send
us more, we will understand the situation and hope the time may soon come when
conditions will make it possible to continue, if this be the Lord's will.
Thanking you
very sincerely for your cooperation, I am Yours very truly,
T.
B. -- Wis.
"Help those women which labored
with me, whose names are in the book of life." -- Phil. 4:3.
"They
lived, and were useful; this we know,
And naught beside;
No record of their names is
left, to show
How soon they died.
They did their work and then they passed away,
An unknown band;
But they shall live in endless day, in the
Fair, shining land.
"And
were they young, or were they growing old,
Or ill, or well,
Or lived in poverty, or had they wealth of gold
No one can tell.
Only one thing is known of them-they faithful
Were and true
Disciples of the Lord, and strong, through prayer
To save and do.
"But
what avails the gift of empty fame?
They lived to God;
They loved the sweetness of another Name,
And gladly trod
The rugged ways of earth that they might be
Helper or friend,
And in the joy of their ministry
Be spent and spend.
"No
glory clusters round their name on earth;
But in God's heaven
Is kept a book of names of greatest worth,
And there is given
A place to all who did the Master please,
Though here unknown.
And there lost names shine forth in brightest rays,
Before the throne.
"O take
who will the boon of fading fame,
But give to me
A place among the workers, though my name
Forgotten be;
And as within the Book of Life is found
My lowly place,
Honor and glory unto God resound
For all His grace."
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