The Bible Year

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 16, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 14.

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Assignment for March 19 to 25

March 19: Judges 13 to 15.

March 20: Judges 16 to 18.

March 21: Judges 19 to 21.

March 22: Ruth.

March 23: 1 Samuel 1 to 3.

March 24: 1 Samuel 4 to 7.

March 25: 1 Samuel 8 to 10.

For Further Study

Review the books of Judges and Ruth. Make a list of the six servitudes of Israel, with the judges raised up to deliver and defend them. Outline the book of Judges under the heads: (1) Preface; (2) Deliverances; (3) Narratives.

To Think about as You Read

March 19: Am I awake to the first subtle weaving of Satan's snares?

March 20: The duty of walking in all the light we have.

March 21: The evils that follow when every one does what is “right in his own eyes.”

March 22: The blessing of loyalty and obedience.

March 23: Do I listen when God's voice speaks to my heart?

March 24: The wonderful power of God.

March 25: Am I choosing another than God to rule over me?

The Book of Ruth

“The book of Ruth is properly a continuation of Judges, and was so classed in the Old Testament until about the middle of the fifth century after Christ. It is very important because it gives the lineage of David through the whole period of the Judges. We have here an exquisitely beautiful picture of the best family life of the times.”

The time covered by this book is about ten years. Its authorship is uncertain, but it is quite generally attributed to Samuel. From expressions in the book, some have thought that it was written when kings had begun to reign. Ruth is the third of the historical books.

Practical Lessons

Joshua is the book of conquests, Judges the book of deliverances, and Ruth the book of love. It shows how filial devotion and trust in God are rewarded; how all the trials and sorrows of life “work together” for good to those who love the Lord; and that our God is no respecter of persons, but “in every nation” those who fear him are accepted by him. “The incorporation of Ruth into the canon of the Old Testament may be regarded as an intimation of the future call of the Gentiles to the gospel of salvation.”

How God Speaks to Man

“In prayer, we talk to God; in the Bible, God speaks to us. The first disciples heard the words of divine truth as they dropped directly from the lips of the Great Teacher. They could bring their questions right to him, and he would answer them. They could ask him what he wanted them to do, and he would tell them. When they were in sorrow, the words of comfort fell, warm and tender, from the very lips of the Son of God into their sad hearts. One of his friends sat at his feet and listened reverently and lovingly to his instructions; another leaned his head on the Lord's bosom and whispered his confidential questions and received answers; an inquirer came by night to him, and had a long talk with him about the way to be saved.”

“Those were wonderful days when God himself was on this earth in human form, speaking in the tones of actual human speech the words of life, and answering men's questions with his own lips. We cannot any more hear the divine voice as men heard it then. Yet God still speaks. We can still sit at the Teacher's feet and hear his words. We can still rest our head on his bosom in our sorrow, and listen to his assurances of love. We can still ask him how to be saved, and get a plain, clear answer. God speaks to men in his written Word.”

—J. R. Miller, “In His Steps,” pp 64, 65.