Our Bible Band

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 29, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 38.

Schedule for Week Ending October 9

		Morning	Evening
Su.	Oct. 3	Isa. 17, 18, 19	Eph. 5:17-33
Mo.	“ 4	“ 20, 21, 22	“ 6
Tu.	“ 5	“ 23, 24, 25	Phil. 1
We.	“ 6	“ 26, 27	“ 2
Th.	“ 7	“ 28, 29	“ 3
Fr.	“ 8	“ 30, 31	“ 4
Sa.	“ 9	“ 32, 33	Col. 1

Suggestive Notes

Our Old Testament readings begin with Isaiah 17 and close with Isaiah 33. Chapter 17 is a prophecy against Damascus, at that time one of the great merchant cities of Asia, and one of the most ancient, if not the most ancient, of Syria. It lay at the foot of the southeast range of the Anti-Libanus Mountains; hence enjoyed a temperate climate, cooled by mountain breezes. The valley in which it is situated was very fertile, and is referred to again and again in the history of the Bible, as also in its prophecies.

For a time Benhadad of Damascus exercised a lordship over Israel, but the Lord declared that Damascus must come down. Assyria captured the city, laid it waste, and took its inhabitants captive. But by the time of the Medo-Persian supremacy, it had again been built up, and is now a city of 150,000 inhabitants, of whom about 130,000 are Mohammedans, 15,000 nominal Christians, and 5,000 Jews. Chapter 18 is a prophecy of the southern part of Africa, altho there are those who believe that it refers to the New World.

Chapter 19 is a chapter concerning Egypt, and evidently refers to the preaching of the Gospel both in Egypt and Assyria in New Testament times. Various prophecies follow, in chapters 20, 21, 22, concerning Assyria, the wilderness of the South, Idumea, and Israel. In the 23d chapter Tyre becomes the burden of the prophet; and in the 24th to the 27th are prophecies concerning the earth, its destruction and desolation on account of sin, and the deliverance of God’s children. Chapters 28 to 33 are prophecies concerning Israel, and Israel as typical of conditions in the Christian age.

Our New Testament Readings begin with the 17th verse of Ephesians 5 and conclude with the first chapter of Colossians. The last of Ephesians contains practical instructions concerning the whole family, and sets forth the intimate relationship between Christ and His church. It closes with a splendid appeal to the Christian soldier.

The epistle to the Philippians was written by the apostle Paul while in prison in Rome. The city of Philippi was an important town of Macedonia on the great highway from East to West. It was named after Philip II of Macedonia. In Paul’s time it was a Roman colony. In this place Paul was at first maltreated. Acts 16:22-24. Compare this passage with Phil. 1:30. While in need in Thessalonica, the Philippians sent aid to him several times. One of the reasons for writing the epistle was to acknowledge this aid. It is really one of the most touching letters. The apostle seems to pour his heart out to his friends, and entreats them to be of one accord and one mind. A marvelous lesson is given us concerning the humility of our Lord Jesus Christ as an example to the Christian. The third chapter especially is wonderfully instructive and encouraging.

Paul’s epistle to the Colossians, the first chapter of which falls into our lesson, was written to the inhabitants of the city of Colosse. The city was situated in Southwest Phrygia on the River Lycus, a great trade route to the East. It was a great, prosperous city in the fifth century before Christ; but it gradually diminished in size and importance as Laodicea, ten miles farther down the river, grew.

The church at Colossae seems to have been founded by Paul’s “fellow servant” Epaphras. One of the things that called out the epistle was false teachers who sought to engraft upon the belief of the Christians in Colossae a Jewish philosophy, and to induce them to pay more attention to outward forms, worship of angels, etc. It was written in all probability in the year 61 A.D. It is wonderfully similar in many respects to the epistle to the Ephesians, of marvelous depth and richness of thought. The first chapter, after its opening greeting, tells of the wonderful burden of Paul for the church, and from that proceeds to speak of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fulness which dwelt in Him.