p. 7 | OUR BIBLE BAND

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 7, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 22.

OUR BIBLE BAND

Schedule for Week Ending June 18 Sunday June 12 Isaiah 28-30 Monday “ 13 “ 31-35 Tuesday “ 14 “ 36-39 Wednesday “ 15 Micah 1-7 Thursday “ 16 Nahum 1-3 Zephaniah 1-3 Friday “ 17 Habakkuk 1-3 Obadiah 1 Sabbath “ 18 Psalms 42-45

CHAPTER 28 deals with the fast-fading kingdom of Israel, like a beautiful flower crushed and broken, the cause of which is found in the sins of her people and prophets. What mighty lessons are given in these chapters 28-31 against trusting in men! How vividly are man’s frailties portrayed! Even Hezekiah, great and good king that he was, fails in giving God the glory for his healing, and instead of revealing the riches of God’s grace and power to heal, he shows the earthly riches which he has himself gathered, arousing the cupidity of the Babylonian ambassadors who afterward despoil the kingdom. We leave the latter part of Isaiah until a later time, inasmuch as it is filled with prophecy relating almost wholly to the days of the Christian dispensation.

MICAH (“who is like Jehovah”) was born in a little village southwest of Jerusalem, and was a contemporary with Isaiah, whose prophecies his own greatly resemble. The fourth and fifth chapters contain very definite prophecies concerning the birth of Jesus, and the seventh chapter the wonderful lesson for God’s people in any age, and especially in the last days.

“NAHUM” means “rich in comfort;” born perhaps at Capernaum, which means “Nahum’s village.” He seems to have prophesied about the time of Josiah and the downfall of Nineveh, 606 B.C. The great burden of his prophecy is the fall of Nineveh.

THE meaning of Zephaniah’s name is “Jehovah hides.” He also prophesied about the same time as Nahum and before the fall of Nineveh. One great characteristic of his prophecy is the world’s judgment, the great day of God’s wrath.

HABAKKUK prophesied just a little later than the last two mentioned prophets, about 604 to 600, in the reign of Jehoiakim, right in the middle period of the career of Jeremiah. The burden of his prophecy is against the Chaldean nation, and through them false Babylon in all ages. Connect Habakkuk 2:14 with the last part of Hebrews 10. Note the tremendous invectives against the rich who rob their fellows. A wonderful song is the last chapter, filled with power and pathos.

OBADIAH, “servant of God,” the shortest book in the Old Testament, is a vigorous prophecy against the Edomites.

THE week closes with Psalms 42-45. Very helpful and encouraging are these psalms, songs of joy and cheer and help after the strong, faithful denunciations of the prophets. Psalm 45 is a prophecy of Christ and His wonderful work and triumph.