The Watchtower, September 15, 1923

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Otwa the earth distress of nations with perplexity; the sea and the waves (the restless, discontented) roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear and for lookinfct* coming upon the earth (society); for the powers of the heavens (ecclesiasticsm) shall be shaken. . . When ye see these things begin to come to pass, ttal know that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Look up, lift up your heads, rejoice, for your redemption draweth nigh.—Matt. 24:33; Mark 13:29; Luke 21:25-31.

THIS JOURNAL AND ITS SACRED MISSION

THIS journal la one tf the prime factors or instruments in the system of Bible instruction, or “Seminary Extension”, now being presented in all parts of the civilized world by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, chartered A. D. 1884, “For the Promotion of Christian Knowledge”. It not only serves as a class room where Bible students may meet In the study of the divine Word but also as a channel of communication through which they may be reached with announcements of the Society’s conventions and of the coming of its traveling representatives, styled “Pilgrims”, and refreshed with reports of its conventions.

Our “Berean Lessons” are topical rehearsals or reviews of our Society’s published Studies most entertainingly arranged, and very helpful to all who would merit the only honorary degree which the Society accords, viz., Verbi Dei Minister (V. D. M.), which translated into English is Minister of God’s Word. Our treatment of the International Sunday School Lessons is specially for the older Bible students and teachers. By some this feature is considered indispensable.

This journal stands firmly for the defense of the only true foundation of the Christian’s hope now being so generally repudiated •—redemption through the precious blood Of “the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom [a corresponding price, a substitute] for all”. (1 Peter 1:19; 1 Timothy 2 : 6) Building up on this sure foundation the gold, silver and precious stones (1 Corinthians 3: Ills; 2 Peter 1:5-11) of the Word of God, its further mission is to “make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which. . .has been hid In God, ... to the intent that now might be made known by the church the manifold wisdom of God”—“which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed”.—Ephesians 3:5-9,10.

It stands free from all parties, sects and creeds of men, while it seeks more and more to bring its every utterance into fullest subjection to the will of God in Christ, as expressed in the holy Scriptures. It Is thus free to declare boldly whatsoever the Lord hath spoken—according to the divine wisdom granted unto us to understand his utterances. Its attitude is not dogmatic, but confident; for we know whereof we affirm, treading with implicit faith upon the sure promises of God. It is held as a trust, to be used only in his service; hence our decisions relative to what may and what may not appear In its columns must be according to our judgment of his good pleasure, the teaching of his Word, for the upbuilding of his people in grace and knowledge. And we not only invite but urge our readers to prove all its utterances by the Infallible Word to which reference Is constantly made to facilitate such testing.

TO US THE SCRIPTURES CLEARLY TEACH

That the church is “the temple of the living God”, peculiarly “his workmanship” ; that its construction has been in progress throughout the gospel age—ever since Christ became the world’s Redeemer and the Chief Corner Stone of his temple, through which, when finished, God's blessing shall come “to all people”, and they find access to him.—1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; Ephesians 2 :20-22 ; Genesis 28 :14 ; Galatians 3 :29.

That meantime the chiseling, shaping, and polishing of consecrated believers in Christ’s atonement for sin, progresses ; and when the last of these “living stones”, “elect and precious,” shall have been made ready, the great Master Workman will bring all together In the first resurrection ; and the temple shall be filled with his glory, and be the meeting place between God and men throughout the Millennium.—Revelation 15 : 5-8.

That the basis of hope, for the church and the world, lies in the fact that “Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man,” “a ransom for all,” and will be “the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world”, “in due time”.— Hebrews 2:9; John 1:9; 1 Timothy 2:5, 6.

That the hope of the church is that she may be like her Lord, “see him as he is,” be ‘ partaker of the divine nature,’ and share his glory as his joint-heir.—1 John 3 .2 ; John 17:24; Romans 8 :17 ; 2 Peter 1: 4.

That the present mission of the church is the perfecting of the saints for the future work of service; to develop in herself every grace; to be God’s witness to the world; and to prepare to be kings and priests in the next age.—Ephesians 4:12; Matthew 24: 14; Revelation 1: 6; 20:6.

That the hope for the world lies in the blessings of knowledge and opportunity to be brought to all by Christ’s Millennial kingdom, the restitution of all that was lost in Adam, to all the willing and obedient, at the hands of their Redeemer and his glorified church, when all the wilfully wicked will be destroyed.—Acts 3 : 19-23 ; Isaiah 35.

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Editorial Committee: This journal is published under the supervision of an editorial committee, at least three of whom have read and approved as truth each and every article appearing in these columns. The names of the editorial committee are: J. F. Rutherford, W. E. Van Amburgh, J. Hemery, G. H. Fisher, R. H. Barber. Terms to the Lord’s Poor: All Bible students who. by reason of old age or other infirmity or adversity, are unable to pay for this journal, will be supplied free if they send a postal card each May stating their case and requesting such provision. We are not only willing, but anxious, that all such be on our list continually and in touch with the Berean studies. _____________________________

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PITTSBURGH CONVENTION

Following the annual meeting there will be a convention of the Bible Students at Pittsburgh November 1 to 4, inclu-sivs. at which a number of the Pilgrim brethren will be present. On Sunday, the 4th, a public meeting will be addressed by Brother Rutherford in the Syria Mosque. For further information concerning accommodations for the convention please address C. H. Stewart, Secretary, 317 Grace Street, Mt. Washington Sta., Pittsburgh, Pa.

ANNUAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, as provided by law and the charter of said Society, will be held at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, Fifth Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at 10 o’clock a. ra., Wednesday, October 31, 1923, to transact any business that may properly come before the said convention, ineluding the election of officers. Form of proxy is furnished with this issue of The Watch Tower for all shareholders. Further copies may be had by addressing the Secretary.

(Signed) W. E. Van Auburgh, Secretary.

September 15, 1923.

WORLD-WIDE WITNESS

October 21 will be the next world-wide witness. We had first suggested that this be October 14, on account of New York’s big meeting, which we anticipated at that time, but which has been set for one week later. Subject: “All Nations Marching to Armageddon, But ^Millions Now Living Will Never Die.”

SPECIAL RATES TO THE NEW YORK CONVENTION

A special rate of one and one-half fares has been granted by the railroads to the New York Convention on what Is known as the certificate plan. When purchasing your ticket you pay full fare from the starting point to New York. The agent will give you a certificate upon request, which will enable you to purchase a ticket from New York to your starting point at one-half the rate you paid coming to New York. Certificate must be deposited with the secretary of transportation, Brother R. II. Barber, upon arrival. Further particulars will be announced in the next issue of The Watch Tower.

AND HERALD OF CHRISTS PRESENCE

Vol. XLIV

September 15, 1923

No. 18

THE BELOVED OF GOD

"Judas, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are catted, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ."—Jude 1, R. ]'.

IN HIS letter to the Corinthian brethren (2 Corinthians 13:11) the apostle Paul calls our God ‘•'the God of love and peace”; and in his first Epistle the beloved St. John goes a step further and makes the declaration that “God is love.” (1 John 4: 8) 'Phis is as we should expect. We find ourselves in a universe that abounds with blessings bestowed in profusion upon a million forms of life. Are there a million forms? We do not know; but if, as is claimed, there are 15,000 forms of beetles known and classified, each one of them rejoicing in his own peculiar structure and environment, then we may be sure that the total number of designs of animate beings, visible and invisible, is large, far into the thousands anyway.

2Naturally, we human beings rejoice most in our own human life. Our eyes are adapted to the discernment and appreciation of colors, all of them pleasing to the eye. Mosaic manufacturers make 15,000 colors; and it is estimated that the trained eye can detect a million colors. And beyond the border line of human vision there are the many shades of ultra-violet rays, all of them beautiful, too, no doubt, to eyes that are made to see their riches.

3The variety in sounds is as great as in colors, possibly greater. The ear is constructed in the form of a harp with 2,700 chords of various lengths, attuned to catch and analyze the vibrations that are coming from the throats and wings of birds and other creature's, the movements of air, water and all the thousand and one manifestations of activity everywhere about us. These things all seem to have been designed to interest and entertain us; and no doubt this is largely true.

4There is another field of odors about which most of us know but little, because our senses have not been trained. We only know that a trained dog will trace a man infallibly by the characteristic odor left in the ground over which he has walked, and that insects will detect for many miles odors which most human beings cannot detect at all.

“There are other fields of interest in touch and in taste, all giving exquisite joy to their happy possessors. All these gifts came from the one source, from the great Giver of every good and perfect gift. They are provisions that the God of love has made for the blessing of his creatures. Without doubt there are joys in plant life, as there are in forms of life above and beyond the human which we know exist, but of which we have no clear comprehension. The higher the organism, the higher the capacity for enjoyment. But the Author of all joys is the God of love. God has bestowed these blessings because it is his nature to bless others. Blessed be his holy name forever and ever.

GOD’S LOVE FOR OUR RACE

cWhile it is proper enough and reasonable enough to conclude that our Creator is happy in the bestowal of his blessings upon his creatures, yet it would not be proper nor reasonable to conclude that he would be unhappy without them. He was happy, perfectly so. when he was alone. Hence his blessings upon humanity are all the more remarkable. Here is a race that has spurned his protective care. It is a fit subject for destruction. God could be entirely happy if no such race existed; and yet “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”—John 3: 16.

’This great act of love on the part of the Creator was no ordinary thing. It was the most extraordinary thing that has ever happened in the universe; and God wishes us to understand it so, and to know that our whole existence as a race is directly due to his doing for us what none of us or all of us put together could in any possible way do for ourselves. Leeser’s translation of Psalm 49: 7-9 puts the matter well: “Of those that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves of their riches, no one can in any wise redeem his brother, nor can he give to God redemption money for himself; for the ransom of their soul is too costly.”

sThis is the same thought expressed by St. Peter when he says that we were redeemed not with such corruptible things as silver and gold but with something infinitely more precious, even “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” —1 Peter 1: 18,19.

GOD’S LOVE FOR ISRAEL

The first direct mention of God’s love for his people I>rael is in the book of Deuteronomy., though it is many times previously implied. All the fathers, except Moses and Caleb and Joshua, had died in the wilderness; and Moses was encouraging their descendants to obedience and to the assurance that even if disobedient, and repentant afterward, the Lord would hear their voice if they would but turn to him. He reminds them of the fact that God is a merciful God, a covenant-keeping God, a Deliverer of those that trust him; and that these blcsings to them are “because he loved thy fathers.” (Deuteronomy 4:37) He would not have the living think that the dead are forgotten, or counted as enemies; for “the Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them” (Deuteronomy 10:15), even though they had proved disobedient at Kadesh (at the time of sending out the spies) and, like Moses himself, had been denied the privilege of entering the promised land. They will enter it in due time, and be blessed by their chastisements received in the long ago.

10A little later Moses tells the people that are then before him that the Lord loves them, and that the reason he loves them is that he loves them (What better reason can anybody give for loving anybody that he truly loves?) and because he would keep his promise to their fathers. The words are: “The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number tbnn any people; for ye were the fewest of all people [when sojourning in Abraham alone] : but because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”—Deut. 7: 7, 8.

“Moses tells us that it wras because the Lord loved Israel that he turned the curse of Balaam into a blessing (Deuteronomy 23:5); that he loved the tribes as a whole (Deuteronomy 33:3, Leeser), and that he specially loved the tribe of Benjamin (Deuteronomy 33 : 12)—probably to be understood in an antitypical sense.

12We find David in the Psalms making frequent reference to himself as the Lord’s “beloved” (Psalms GO: 5; 108 : G) and to God’s love for “Mount Zion” (Psalms 78: 68; 87: 2) ; and these we are to understand in both senses, typical and literal. David was a type of Christ and “beloved” in that sense; but he was beloved on his own account also, “a man after God’s own heart” because of a generosity that did not and would not harbor ill will against anybody. David also mentions God's love for Israel as a whole.—Psalm 47: 4.

THE WITNESS OF THE PROPHETS

13The prophets had some unpleasant duties to perform in their warnings of impending calamities as a result of disobedience, but they had pleasant duties, too; and although we are to understand that their messages of hope and comfort are the heritage of spiritual Israel, we need not forget that they belonged to fleshly Israel also.

“When the prophet Isaiah says: “Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee” (Isaiah 43:4); and when he says again: “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his lo\e and in his pity he redeemed them, and carried them all the days of old” (Isaiah 63: 9)—the context in both cases shows that fleshly Israel is the one directly spoken of.

“’Right at the time when the Lord by the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah is accusing Israel of going after false gods he calls her “'my beloved” (Jeremiah 11: 15) ; and right at the time when he is naming her of her impending captivity for seventy long years, he comforts her with promises of restoration to “w own land and says: “l’ea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness haie I drawn thee."— Jeremiah 31: 3.

ICThc prophet Hosea, in the words of Brother Rii'<ell, “says some very bad things about some very bad people.” aud in the third chapter is caused to marry an unfaithful woman, an adulteress, thus to illustrate God’s faithfulness toward Israel even in her unfaithfulne.-s—the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel "who look to other gods.”—Hosea 3:1.

“How tender is the message of Jehovah toward Israel in the later words of the same prophecy. "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. ... I taught Ephraim also to go | as a loving parent teaches an infant to walk], taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man. with bands of love: and 1 was to them as they [the kindly caretakers of the dumb animals] that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat [food, temporal and spiritual] unto them.” —Hosea 11:1, 3, 4.

“The Lord through the prophet Malachi is drawing Israel’s attention to the evil way m which they ha\e complied with the requirements of the law. Their offerings should have been of the best of their flocks, to illustrate that the best we have is none too good to lay at the feet of him to whom we owe our all; but they were hiding away their choice animals aud offering polluted bread and, from their animals, the blind and lame and sick. In these circumstances the Prophet says: "I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? ... A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honor? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, 0 priests, that despise my name.”—Malachi 1: 2-6.

“Nehemiah tells us that Solomon “was beloved of his God’’ but sinned through the folly of what Nehemiah styles “outlandish women.” (Nehemiah 13:26) Daniel seems to have been on the very highc.t pinnacle of divine favor; for three different times the angel of the Lord assured him that he was “greatly beloved." (Daniel 9:23; 10:11.19) We have reason to believe that this favor with God was Daniel’s throughout his vhole life, and will be his in the kingdom. When these ancient worthies and their comrades come into power during the Millennium they will be “beloved for the fathers’ sakes” (Romans 11: 28) ; and throughout their whole administration of the earthly phase of the Lord’s Millennial kingdom their separate establishment from that of the rest of mankind will be "the beloved city,” over which God will jealously watch and which he will defend when the insurrection takes place at the end of that age.—Revelation 20: 9.

GOD’S LOVE FOR HIS FIRST-BORN

20There are special reasons why God would have a special love for his first-born, Jesus our Savior and Redeemer. We have but to think of the ages, perhaps millions of years, during which they were bosom companions, to realize something of how dear they were to each other. In the sayings of the wise man, under the personification of Wisdom, our Lord is made to declare: “Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way. before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; whim there were no fountains abounding with water. Before tlio mountains were settled, before the hills was f brought forth ; while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there : when he set a compass upon the face of the depth; when he established the clouds above; when he strengthened the fountains of the deep; when he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment; when he appointed the foundations of the earth : then I was by him. as one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; rejoicing in the habitable part of the earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.”—Proverbs 8: 22-31.

zlHow well this is exprosed! Jehovah’s delight was with his first and last creation; and Jesus’ delights were with his own creation, and specifically’ with the sons of men. The Father furnished the plans and specifications for building the first man, even to numbering the hairs necessary to make a perfect creature; and our Lord carried out the plans to the letter, and has been interested in man’s welfare from that moment to this. What a thrilling moment it must have been for him when that perfect thing, the result of his exquisite workmanship, first breathed, and opened his eyes, and began the exercise of those powers which made him once and will make him again the ruler of all the earth, an earthly likeness of the Creator!

--We can get a good idea of the tender love of Jehovah for our Lord if we think about Abraham’s love for Isaac. Abraham had waited long for Isaac’s birth; Jehovah waited for an eternity before the creation of the Logos. Abraham had seen Isaac come to maturity, blossoming out into magnificent young manhood. Jeho-\ah had witnessed the expanding powers of the Logos, and had seen the starry heavens, and all the forms of life which give witness to his capacity. Abraham had always the obedience and love and companionship of Isaac. Jehovah had come to think of Jesus “as one brought up with him.” Abraham’s heart was specially touched with love for Isaac when the message came to him, “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which 1 will tell thee of.” (Genesis 22:2) Jehovah knew from the beginning that the time would come when this obedient, loving and always faithful companion would have to be offered up for the sins of others. Did not the knowledge of Jesus’ coming sufferings make him more precious in Jehovah’s eyes? Assuredly so. What loving human parent, knowing that one of his children must die because of the transgression of another, would not look with specially tender eyes upon that one! This is one of the lessons we may take from the statement respecting Jacob (who, in some sense of the word, was a type of Jehovah), that “Israel loved Joseph [type of Christ] more, than all his children.”—Genesis 37: 3.

-’"The heavenly’ Father was making no experiment when he sent the Son to be the savior of the world. Through the Prophet long before he had said: “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation.” (Isaiah 28: f 6) St. Peter quotes these words (1 Peter 2; G) and applies them to our Lord. What words of comfort and reassurance these must have been to our Ixird Jesus in his dark hours in Gethsemane and from thence until it was all finished at Calvary! Looking back we can now see that the same Prophet, when foretelling the overthrow of mystic Babylon at the hands of him whom Cyrus typified, was speaking of Jehovah’s love for Jesus when he said: “The Lord hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.”—Isaiah 48 : 14.

NOT SLOW TO TELL HIS LOVE

-‘The heavenly Father was not slow in giving testimony to his love for the Anointed One. No sooner had Jesus become the Christ, the Anointed, by going down into Jordan and being baptized, than the heavens (the deeper things of God's ’Word) "wore opened unto him. and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”—Matthew 3:16,17.

25Later the heavenly Father bore this same precious witness not only to Jesus himself but to three chosen ones from among the disciples, Peter, James and John, on the mount of transfiguration. What a wonderful experience, what a strengthening experience, it must have been to Jesus as well as to these chosen ones when “a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Matthew 17:5) To St. Peter this experience was the most convincing of all evidences that Jesus was the Son of God. He refers to it in 2 Peter 1:17.

26Jesus knew that he was the specially loved Son of the Father. Matthew, Mark and Luke have recorded the parable of the Vineyard, how the servants were sent, one after another, for the fruits, and were turned away empty and how, “having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son” (Mark 12:6); but it is particularly in John’s Gospel that we find Jesus specially referring to this love.

27In John 3: 35 it is recorded that “the Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand”; in John 10:17, “Therefore doth my Father love me”; in John 15: 9,10, “As the Father hath loved me, so have 1 loved you: continue ye in my love; . . . even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” And in John 17: 26 our Lord prays to the Father “that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

GOD’S LOVE FOK SPIRITUAL ISRAEL

2Slt is easy to comprehend the reasons for God’s great love for his well beloved first-born. There are not so many reasons for him to love us. But he does love us, and all the expressions of love to natural Israel come with peculiar force to apply to those whom natural Israel typified. And there are some expressions in the Old Testament itself which cannot well be taken to apply to any except the spiritual house.

29For example, when the Psalmist says: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15), it seems evident that he is referring to the sacrificial death of the house of sons. When Jeremiah refers to “the precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold” (Lamentations 4:2), it is apparent that the spiritual house is referred to; for we know that gold is always a symbol of the divine nature. When it is said of Israel: “He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye” (Zechariah 2: 8), it seems evident that this also shows just how Jesus’ brethren appear in the Father’s eyes.

20The love of the new creation as such did not begin actually until there was such a new creation; but Jesus, so to speak, saw that such a new creation was to come and knew that the Father would have a special love for it when it did come. Shortly before the end of his ministry he said to the beloved apostle Judas, the* author of the Epistle from which our text is taken: “If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23) And because the apostles were already, in advance, showing a family love (phileo), the Father already loved them in kind even before the spirit was given. “For the Father himself loveth [phi.leo\ you, because ye have loved \phileo] me, and have believed that I came out from God.”— John 16:27.

31The apostle Paul addresses the saints in Rome as “beloved of God” (Romans 1:7); he is well assured that “God commendeth his love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8); he is “persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God.”—Romans 8: 38, 39.

32But as in the case of our heavenly Father’s love for the Lord Jesus, we found the most evidences in the writings of the apostle John, so we find in the case of his love for the church. “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, nut that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” —1 John 3:1; 4:9-11,16.

PRINCIPLES OF GOD’S LOVE

33An examination of the Scriptures shows that there are but three things that Jehovah is said to love. There surely are other things, but the importance of these three is so great that they are mentioned while the other things are passed by. These three things are justice, mercy, and humility. How evidently, then, the Lord would have his people cultivate these three things assiduously.—Micah 6: 8.

34Six times the Lord tells us that he loves justice and those that practise it. (Psalms 11: 7; 33: 5; 37: 28; 146: 8; Proverbs 15:9; Isaiah 61: 8) Sometimes the word is rendered “righteousness” and sometimes “judgment,” but plain and simple justice is the thought. The Lord loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7) Generosity is a form of mercy. And “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace [love, favor] to the humble.” (James 4:6) Would you have God’s love? Be just toward all. Would you have God’s love? Be merciful toward the erring and the needy. Would you have God’s love? Remember "when thou wast little” (1 Samuel 15:17), and do not take yourself, your words, your opinions too seriously. Think soberly.

35Jehovah’s love is of the rare sort that does not hesitate to chastise, to wound deeply, if thereby the loved one is to be brought to a proper course. When about to send fleshly Israel into the seventy years’ captivity, he does not hesitate to say, “I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies” (Jeremiah 12: 7) ; and every Christian knows full well the force of the promise that “whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”—Proverbs 3 :12.

36Jehovah’s love is not the demonstrative, shallow kind. It is the deep love that floweth like a river. “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest [margin, be silent] in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17) He will be silent while his plans of love are working out. He will rejoice when they come to fruition. Everybody in heaven and in earth will rejoice then, even including the Father himself, as this scripture shows. Then God will be “all in all”—everything to everybody. Then all will be God’s happy family, united forever in love, with Jesus, the beloved Prince of Peace, the fairest of ten thousand and the most beloved, Head over all.

PRESENT DUTIES

37Sixty centuries ago God planned for the new creation. Nearly nineteen hundred years ago he actually began that new creation when his beloved Son Christ Jesus was begotten to the divine nature. Throughout the age his little ones have been chosen and developed and are now being tested for their faithfulness and love. Their journey has been through a vale of tears ; for it pleased the loving Father to permit them to suffer, that they might be made perfect in sympathy and in loving kindness toward all. But amidst all the trials and tears that have lined their pathway, the Lord Jehovah has exercised his loving power in their behalf, turning their sorrow and tears into joy. His love planned it all, and his beloved Son has executed his plan because of his love for the Father.

3STruly St. John has said: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” To be loved by the eternal God, what a blessed privilege 1 To have the love of Jesus all the way, what a precious possession! Then what should we do?

2°Love begets love. As the children of God, begotten by his spirit of love, we have our minds illuminated and the eyes of our understanding opened, that we might learn of and appreciate his character. It is our duty and privilege to grow in his likeness and in the image of our dear Lord and Master. All his children should see to it, then, that they dwell together in peace and love. Now all such may ‘with open face behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,’ and while so doing be changed into the same image from glory to glory, even by the spirit of the Lord.

40The study of the character of Jehovah and his beloved Son Christ Jesus is vitally essential to transformation into his likeness. As his glorious image is mirrored upon our minds, our hearts respond in greater love to him, and we are moved to put forth our hand and do with our might whatsoever we find to do, to his glory. The new creation is God’s organization on earth, otherwise designated as Zion. Since Pentecost she has been the light of the world. Now her King has come unto his temple, and a voice from heaven is saying unto her: “Arise and shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” (Isaiah 60:1) Zion’s love and loyalty can now be shown by advertising to the world the presence of the King and his kingdom. Then let us say to Zion: “Let not thine hand be slack.” Ye are now the beloved of God, kept in the hollow of his hand for Jesus Christ. Be glad and rejoice in the joy of thy Lord, who is now putting in order his kingdom. “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”—Zephaniah 3:17.

QUESTIONS FOR BEREAN STUDY

Are there possibly’ a million forms of life enjoying the blessing of God? 1f 1.

Tell us something about the trained eye’s capacity for discerning colors. 1f 2.

Tell us about the structure of the ear, and its capacity for discerning sound waves U 3.

What about the scuse of smell? Can we detect all odors? If 4.

Where do all these gifts come from, as well as touch and taste? Who is the author of all joy, and why? | 5.

Could God be happy if humanity did not exist? Why are God’s blessings upon humanity remarkable? If G.

What is the most extraordinary thing that has happened in the universe? If 7.

What was the price of our redemption? If 8.

How is the love of God manifested? How are his mercies made known? U 9-11.

How does David speak of himself as the Lord’s beloved? Why? if 12.

What was the nature of the prophets* unpleasant duties? Their pleasant duties? U 13.

Did God love the Israelitish nation? Where is it so stated? If 14-16. How did God show his tenderness for the house of Israel? If 17. What is the Lord’s reproof through the prophet Malachi? is.

How many times did God send word to Daniel that he was greatly beloved, and how? Will Daniel be in great favor in the kingdom? 1f 19.

Is it manifestly proper that God should have a special love for his first-born Son? If 20.

Why should there be exquisite joy on the part of Jesus (Logos) at Adam’s creation If 21.

What is the correspondency between Jehovah and Jesus, and Abraham and Isaac? Why? If 22.

Why were the words of Isaiah 28:16 comforting and reassuring to Jesus in the darkest hours of his experience? if 23.

Did God tarry in declaring his love for his obedient Son? If 24. Did God want witnesses of his love for Jesus for our benefit? r 25. Did Jesus know the Father loved him? To whom did he declare it? If 26, 27.

Why does God love us, the spiritual house? If 28, 29.

By what statements do we know the Father loves the uew creation? What should be our attitude toward God? If 30-32.

What three things does God love? Where are these things found? If 33, 34.

Can true love correct and chastise and otherwise render needful punishment? If 35.

Is true love demonstrative? If not, in what way does it manifest itself? If 36.

Why has the Christian’s journey been through a vale of tears? What was the purpose? If 37.

What is the blessed privilege and precious possession of the Christian? If 38.

What is necessary in order for us to have our minds so illuminated that we may know God? H 39.

How may we be transformed into the divine likeness? What is our present privilege? 1 40.

PRAYER-MEETING

TEXT FOR OCTOBER 17

“Praying always . . . in the spirit . . . for all saints." Ephesians 6: IS.

PRAYER is a most blessed privilege enjoyed by the Christian. No new creature in Christ can make progress in the narrow way who neglects prayer.

If he is beset by many trying circumstances, weighed down with many burdens, he finds consolation and relief by bearing this burden unto the Lord. If perplexed in the way he should go, he can ask with confidence the Lord’s guiding hand; for the Father has promised to direct in the way they should go those who trust him. If approaching the performance of a duty that is important, such as the presentation of the message of the Lord, he can go to the Father through the Son with confidence, asking the Lord to bless the message according to his wisdom, and can know that God will do so to his own glory. If the windows of heaven are opened and the Lord’s blessing poured out upon him, he can come to the Father through the Son with great rejoicing and thanksgiving in his heart, and tell his joy to the Lord.

Not only is this privilege of prayer individual, but the Lord has graciously privileged each one of the saints to pray for every other saint; and in this text the Apostle admonishes each member of the body to pray always in the spirit for all saints. This does not mean that one is to be constantly on his knees; but each day and each hour of the day as he goes about his duties he can do so in an attitude of prayer to the Lord, asking not only that he be guided himself, but that God will guide, direct, and bless all of his saints and keep them in the unity of the spirit, that they may be an honor and a glory to his name. To thus pray in the spirit means that he will have the spirit of the Lord, which is the spirit of love; and his prayer for the brethren will be prompted by an unselfish interest in the spiritual welfare of his brethren. It helps him to keep in mind that blessed unity of the saints—their oneness of purpose and their oneness of hope. It enables him the more faithfully to look out for the interests of his brethren and therefore for the interests of the kingdom.

The prayer circle thus enjoined upon the saints forms a bulwark against the adversary through which he cannot break; and where all the saints are always praying in the spirit, the adversary cannot overwhelm them; for they are dwelling close to the Lord, abiding under the shadow of his wing. To such the promise is made: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. . . . There shall no evil befall thee. . . .For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”—Psalm 91:1,10,11.

Prayer has been properly defined as the heart’s sincere desire, expressed in words or unexpressed. God

TEXT COMMENTS

knows the secret intent of the heart. If each saint has a pure heart toward his brethren, praying the Father’s blessing upon them, then he must consistently be watching for an opportunity himself to bless them. This unity of purpose, unity of heart, and unity of interest in each other in the spirit of the Lord will lead ultimately to the complete transformation of all such into the image or character likeness of our Lord.

TEXT FOR OCTOBER 24

"Stand fast in one. spirit."—Philippians 1:27.

GOD having foretold through his prophet the development of the seed of promise Satan the opposer of God, having had a knowledge of this fact from the beginning, has opposed the development of the Christ. The Apostle had in mind this opposition when he wrote to the church: “Stand fast.” He knew that the adversary would violently assault the Lord’s followers and resort to every possible means to disrupt their unity. His admonition is to beware of this and prepare for it. He assures such that there is no cause to be terrified by the adversary. The followers of Christ should see to it that they never directly or indirectly lend any aid to the adversary, but always stand shoulder to shoulder, presenting a solid and united front, battling for the cause which they love better than this life.

But how shall they stand last? St. Paul answers: “In one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” The spirit controlling the body must be the holy spirit, therefore the spirit of love; and this is the tie that binds firmly together all the body members in Christ. They must have one mind ; namely, the mind of Christ, being entirely submissive to the Father’s will, which means a complete devotion to his cause and a watchfulness for the interests of each other. Every one must, as opportunity is afforded, faithfully proclaim the gospel of the King and advertise his kingdom. All doing this with one mind and one spirit experience a gradual transformation into the likeness of the Lord and Head. They are bound together by ties of love, which binds as no other tie can bind.

“Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love.”

TEXT FOR OCTOBER 31

“Worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus"—Philippians 3:3.

FROM this text and the context we are advised of the true position of the Christian. His worldly ancestors are of no importance and would add nothing to his chance of gaining the kingdom. The fact that he may have once been held in high esteem or occupied a position of honor amongst men of the

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world is of no value. That vhieh is of value is the spirit of the Lord, which means the absolute and complete devotion to the Lord and his cause. Such a new creature in Christ Jesus is of the real circumcision and worships God in spirit and in truth, rejoicing always in the Lord Jesus Christ. His heart is honestly and really devoted to the Lord and his cause. He esteems it a great privilege to bear the reproaches of them that reproached Jesus while joyfully delivering the message of the King, that others might know of the Lord's plan of salvation. He rejoices in the fact of the King’s presence, and that the kingdom now at hand will bring relief to the millions of creation, weighed down and groaning in pain, waiting for the deliverance that shall come through Christ and him alone. His one purpose is to press forward for the prize- of the high calling, that he may receive the approval of Jehovah and of the Lord Jesus; and to this end he gladly forgets the things that are behind. His worship of God in the spirit is true and sincere, looking forward to that day when he may stand in the presence of the Lord and receive his approval.

“Happy object of Ills grace, Destined to behold his face.”

There is nothing that can separate him from the love of God and his devotion to his kingdom. Thus beholding by faith the character of the Father and the Son, he is transformed into the likeness and image of the Head of the new creation.

ISRAEL IN THE MIDST OF THE NATIONS

----October 21----Joshua 1:1-4; Isaiah 2: 2-4; 19: 23-25; Ezekiel 5; 5----■

GOD'S SUPERVISION AND CARE OK ISRAEL—ISRAEL TESTED AND FOUND WANTING—ISRAEL AND THE WORLD FINALLY RECONCILED.

“Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.”—Isaiah 45:22.

TUB passage from which the Golden Text is taken declares that God's purpose is to have all men brought to a knowledge of the truth concerning himself, and that he will invite all the ends of the earth to look to him and be saved. There can be no question of God’s good purpose towards men ; he intends that no evil power shall stand between him and the expression of his good-will to them. Continuing our missionary studies we have today Israel in the midst of the nations.

2Our studies have already shown us that God purposes that his blessings shall go through his chosen people, Abraham and his seed; and that the seed is composed of two classes: those after the spirit, gathered out of the nations between the two advents (Acts 15:14), and those according to the flesh, the faithful gathered almost exclusively out of Israel in the days previous to the coming of Jesus, and including Abraham himself. Thus while it is true that men must look to heaven for salvation, it is no less true that they must look to Jerusalem; for their blessing will come in God’s appointed way through Abraham and his earthly seed raised to life and made princes in the earth (Psalm 45:10), with the restored nation of Israel as their servants, who again live in the land of promise. For that land is forever associated with the chosen family, as our lesson today unmistakably shows.

JThe passages of Scripture set for today’s study are amongst others, Deuteronomy 4:5,6; 8:7-10: Isaiah 2: 2-4; 19; 23-25. These tell of Israel's entrance into their land under Joshua and, after an interval of 3,500 years, of the still future gathering of the peoples to Jerusalem to be taught of Israel. These scriptures continue the thought already found repeated that God will have the peoples of the earth seek him for their salvation; and that the true view of missionary work is not so much that God's people must go abroad in the earth to endeavor to bring men into harmony with God as that they are to be ready to teach the people about God whenever the nations of earth are ready to be taught, which coincides with the time when God has cleared the error of false teaching out of the way.

4The Lord (Ezekiel 5:5) says that Israel is set in the midst of the nations. Apart from any special prophetical meaning, Ezekiel probably understood that to oe true in the literal sense; for he would know of the great countries Assyria and Babylon, north and east of Palestine (indeed he wrote his prophecies while captive in Babylonia) ; of Egypt on the south, from which land God had a thousand years before delivered Israel; and of the central position of the land of Israel in relation to these. Ezekiel had a wide knowledge of the then known world and of its trade. Ono has only to read his account of the trade of Tyre (in chapter 27) to discover his very7 intimate knowledge of the movement of the world’s trade as it centered in that port, the market of the nations. But he could not know that the last word which could be said after the whole land surface of the world had been explored was still that the land of Israel is in the midst of the nations.

5This word is as true now as it was in Ezekiel’s day though, as every schoolboy knows, the map of the world is now very different from that which was conceived then. Plazzi Smyth says that the great Pyramid of Egypt is in the center of the land surface of the earth; and when the great distances of the earth are taken into account, the land of Israel is seen to be in comparison only a very short distance from the Pyramid.—Vol. Ill, Studies in the Scriptures, pages 323-326.

cOur last lesson was of Israel as a missionary nation. Now we see Israel placed amongst the nations as their tabernacle was in the center of their camp, in the place which provided the readiest access for all the tribes. Here we note the same arrangement on a grand scale; for as the tabernacle in the camp or at Shiloh, or the temple at Jerusalem, was the center to which the tribes might go rather than a point from which the priests and Levites might go out, so Israel amongst the nations is centered that all the peoples of the earth may find them. (Isaiah 2:2-4; Zechariah 14:16-19) It was, of course, of set purpose that God thus arranged for his people to be geographically centered in relation to the nations. It follows that Israel is not only a special people for God on behalf of the nations, but that they are specially set in the midst of the nations for the convenience of their service.

GOD’S SUPERVISION AND CARE OF ISRAEL

’God had this purpose from the first. When at the end of the wilderness journey Moses reviewed God’s dealings with Israel during the forty years of sojourn and travel since leaving Egypt, he bids them “remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee. When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.”—Deuteronomy 32:7-9.

8After the flood when the nations divided the earth amongst themselves, they thought to go wherever they would; tor all the earth was before them. They took their choice; but, all undiscemed by them, the divine will controlled their goings. The Most High over all the earth is Jehovah the God of Israel, though then Israel existed only in the mind of God; and he did not permit either the nations or their rulers to do just as they pleased.

9This name, the Most High, by which Moses here speaks of Jehovah, is the one used whenever the great and wide purposes of God among the children of men are in view. It was the Most High who gave the nations their inheritance. It was the Most High who made Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and king over all the earth; and who, by his prophet Daniel, revealed himself to that remarkable man and, by the strangest experiences, caused him to see that the Most High ruleth amongst the children of men; even as he says : “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me; and I blessed the Most High; and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation; and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”—Daniel 4:34,35.

io“ihe earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof,” says the Psalmist (24:1) ; but in a very special way the land of Palestine is God’s. It is a beautiful thought that of the whole earth which he purposed for mankind (Genesis 1 : 26-28), and which ultimately he will give to the children of men (Psalm 115:16), and which in the kingdom of peace he gives to his Son for its restoration (Psalm 2:8), that there is one portion which he specially reserves for himself. —Leviticus 25: 23; Deuteronomy 32: 43; 2 Chronicles 7: 21; Psalm 85:1; Joel 2:18; 3:2.

11 Of the families of the earth God reserved one for himself—Abraham and his chosen seed; and in his own time and way he brought his chosen family to dwell in his own particular portion of the earth. They and the land are especially his and are under his care and protection. The elect, whether of the church, spiritual Israel, or of Abraham's earthly family Israel, are Jehovah’s (Deuteronomy 32:9; Ephesians 1:18); and the chosen land of promise is his. When therefore the Son prays for his inheritance, the Father says: “Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations [the non-elect] for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.”—Psalm 2: 8.

12The land which God chose for his people is a goodly land, pleasant, and fertile (Deuteronomy 8:7-9), and much varied both in its topographical features and in its fauna and flora. So varied is its climate from north to south, and so varied are its natural characteristics and its produce, that it may almost be said to be a miniature of the earth, of which it is the center. The land seems to have slurred the condemnation which came upon the people; but it also is to be restored, and will become as the garden of the Lord. (Isaiah 51:3) When in the land Israel was protected from its enemies; for on every side it had natural barriers. On the north were the mountains of Lebanon; on the south, the “waste howling wilderness”; on the west the great sea, with hardly a natural harbor, thus making It very difficult for any sea force to attack the land; while on the east the Jordan with its deep valley was their protection. And the country was self-sustaining. Israel needed no foreign trade to keep it going. It is as if God wanted to keep the people to himself. The two and a half tribes discounted one natural barrier; for they chose the east-side of the Jordan and left themselves, and therefore the other tribes, comparatively exposed to attack. It was a choice not to Israel’s advantage, and certainly rather to their own hurt.

ISRAEL TESTED AND FOUND WANTING

13Israel entered this wonderful land in a wonderful manner, as became God’s chosen people going into God's land. The swollen Jordan gave way for them; for as soon as the feet of the priests touched its brim the waters receded. The Psalmist speaks of Jordan as if it turned timid at the presence of the ark of the covenant. “What ailed thee, . . . thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?” he says. (Psalm 114:5) When they had settled in the land, there was no provision made for national life except that simple ordinance which God had directed; namely, that three times a year the males of Israel should go to the place which God should choose, that they might keep the three ordained feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. They had no temple, nor king, nor any center of government. They were just a company of people living together in harmony, having mutual interests and hopes. Nor was provision made for teaching other nations; for their life was to be a witness to the nations of a happy people with good laws, living under the beneficence of their God and enjoying his arrangements for them, so that the people might say: “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” (Deuteronomy 4:6) They were there as Abraham had been, to learn by experience to prepare themselves for the time for God’s “forward movement.”

“Their loyalty was tested, and only few held faithful to the hope of Israel. The formalities of their worship and the necessary ceremonies put their leaders off the true purpose of their calling. Their minds became filled with outer things; they forgot both the ideal which God had proposed and the covenant which he had made with them. They became self-satisfied in their attempts to keep the law and in their much profession. The people were misled, and they perished for lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6) They proved that they had neither the faith of Abraham nor his loyalty to God. It could not be said of Israel, nor given as a summary of their national life, that they lived or died in faith; and of all Israel during the whole period of God’s favor to them only a remnant was gained. The prophets who were sent from time to time to remind them of their waywardness and to denounce their sins saw that God would ultimately restore them and bring them to their designed place. (Joel 2:25) Each prophet proclaimed the times of restoration (Acts 3:19-21), with their first blessings for Israel and then for the nations through Israel. (Isaiah 2:2-4) Isaiah sees Israel restored (ch. 1:26) and at the same time the kingdom of God “established upon the top of the mountains.”

“The laws of nature seem to be reversed; for the Prophet speaks of the peoples as great waters flowing up to Jerusalem for help. What has happened to the nations that they then urge each other to go to the people they have so long despised? The answer is, Trouble and need; for nothing but sore need will ever make the haughty Gentile turn for help to the Jew, and liecause they see that Israel is getting from God that which they, the Gentiles, need. As they seek they find that the loving God is speaking to them through the channel he has appointed, and they will accept him as their God and will learn his ways, and find life and happiness and lasting peace. But it is only when Israel is restored that the prophecy can be fulfilled; and it is only then that the nations will heed Israel.

ISRAEL AND THE WORLD FINALLY RECONCILED

lcAnother of the passages included in our study, Isaiah 39 : 23-26, tells of Israel in harmony with its two great oppressors, Egypt and Assyria, though except in the outstanding case when Israel was in bondage in Egypt oppressed by the cruel Pharaoh, Egypt was never so bitter an oppressor of the chosen people as Assyria. Assyria assumed a different relationship. An arrogant and fierce people seeking world power, God allowed them to chastise Israel (Isaiah 7:20) Because of unfaithfulness and their sins of idolatry. The Assyrians conquered Israel and almost destroyed the land; for they came as an overwhelming flood. (Isaiah 8:7,8) But the Prophet foresees a time when these two great empires Assyria and Egypt, who were enemies of each other, and both enemies of Israel, would live in loving harmony. There would be intercourse between them, and Israel in their midst would be happy with both. This can only mean that both Assyria and Egypt would become worshipers of Jehovah, the God of Israel.

1TIt is a singular fact, too interesting to pass by, that after all these years, about 2,700 since Isaiah wrote, these nations, Egypt, Israel, and Assyria (Mesopotamia) are linked together, if not with mutual intei-ests yet by reason of the fact that the British Empire in following out its general policy has assumed a suzerainty over each. But Isaiah’s vision looks beyond the lands of Egypt and Assyria and the peoples of his day. In the symbology of Scripture these great world-powers represent phases of the whole world, particularly the world as it is in these days of the second advent, when the visions of the prophets are being fulfilled.

lsEgypt, as has been so frequently shown, represents the world of men and their arrangements and institutions as distinct from God’s people, who are “not of the world.” (John 37:14) But when Egypt is mentioned in connection with other countries, as in this case, it represents the more material aspect of human life—men enjoying the earth and all it will give them, and without any particular respect for their Creator the beneficent Giver of all good. Assyria represents another phase of human activity; it has more of the political aspect of men’s relationship to the earth. It represents the grasping for power which has been shown by sucli extremes as Kaiserism on the one hand and Bolshevik rule on the other hand, those political schemes which would bring the earth into subjection and would dominate mankind. When the judgments of the Lord have done their work (Isaiah 26:9), and men have learned to know God they will drop all ideas of empire, of nation ruling over nation, and of bringing masses of men into subjection by force of arms or by any despotic power; for they will learn war no more. They will also learn to use all the products of the earth for the benefit of all. The day of great commercial schemes will be past, and the profiteer no longer permitted to exploit his fellow men. In other words, all the energies of the race will be devoted to the general interests of all.

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