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OUR BIBLE BAND

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 10, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 18.

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OUR BIBLE BAND

Schedule for Week Ending May 21
Sunday — May 15 — 2 Kings 21-23 Monday — May 16 — 2 Kings 24, 25           Proverbs 1 Tuesday — May 17 — 2 Kings 2-4 Wednesday — May 18 — 2 Kings 5-7 Thursday — May 19 — 2 Kings 8-10 Friday — May 20 — 2 Kings 11-13 Sabbath — May 21 — 2 Kings 14-16
THE last five chapters in Kings and the first sixteen in Proverbs constitute our lesson for the week. The books of Kings close with the wicked and weak reigns of the kings of Judah. There is one bright chapter in that history, however, and that is the reformation conducted under the good king Josiah supported by his godly priests and counselors. Connect chapter 23 with the 13th chapter of 1 Kings. Note how Josiah fulfilled the prophecy of the man of God to Jeroboam. Hundreds of years they had waited for the fulfilment of that prophecy, but at last it came just as the Lord declared it would.
THE chronological place of the book of Proverbs belongs to a great extent to the time of Solomon; but it seemed best to close Kings in our reading so that we might get the connected history, and then take up the book of Proverbs, which is wholly a series of practical sayings and instruction, pertaining not at all to the historical part, but to the practical part of life. Most of them were probably written and brought together in the days of Solomon himself; some of those in the latter part of the book are said to have been copied out by the scribes in the days of Hezekiah, and there seem also to be wise sayings from others.
ONE needs to read the book of Proverbs more slowly than he does the historical matter. It is worth while to stop and think over some of the deep philosophy that is revealed in these eminent sayings. There are some passages that it is not well to read in a promiscuous assembly of men and women, such as the last part of chapter 5, some parts of chapter 7, and the last of chapter 9; and yet the instructions given therein ought to take hold upon the human heart of both men and women, and warn them against the sins that are there condemned.