OUR BIBLE BAND

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 10, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 44.

Schedule for Week Ending November 20, 1909

	Date	Morning	Evening
Su.	Nov. 14	Lam. 3, 4, 5	Heb. 10:19-39
Mo.	“ 15	“ 1, 2	“ 11: 1-19
Tu.	“ 16	“ 3, 4	“ 11:20-40
We.	“ 17	“ 5, 6, 7	“ 12
Th.	“ 18	“ 8, 9, 10	“ 13
Fr.	“ 19	“ 11, 12, 13	James 1
Sa.	“ 20	“ 14, 15	“ 2

Suggestive Notes

Our Old Testament readings include the last three chapters of Lamentations and the first fifteen chapters of Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a contemporary with Jeremiah. Jeremiah prophesied in Jerusalem; Ezekiel in the land of captivity. His name means “God strengthens.” He belonged to the priest tribe; was taken captive with others by Nebuchadnezzar in 597 B.C., taken to Babylonia, where he was settled near the River Chebar. His prophetic work extended over not less than twenty-two years.

It is a very striking book, interspersed with mighty symbolic visions, poems, and disclosures of the future. It is rich in striking lessons of spiritual things. The reader of Revelation will note the similarity between the visions recorded in the first and tenth chapters of Ezekiel and those in the fourth chapter of the former book. The four living creatures represent God’s agencies in His work in the earth; not a living foundation for His throne, as is sometimes said, because the careful reader will see that the throne was above the firmament, while the living creatures were upon the earth. The four creatures are the same that tradition tells us were the four standards under which Israel encamped; the lion the standard of Judah, the man of Reuben, the ox of Ephraim, and the eagle of Dan. The vision clearly indicates that whatever may be taking place in this earth, God’s power and wisdom are over it all, and what may seem to men to be utterly confused, is working out God’s plans, and is guided by Him. Even the wrath of man is made to praise Him; and what can not be so used, He will restrain.

The second and third chapters tell us something of the early experience of Ezekiel. He did not assume to prophesy; he did not wish to go on his mission, but God gave him to understand that He would be with him.

In chapter four is a key to the use of time prophetically, showing that in prophecy a day is a symbol of a year. The eighth to the tenth chapters are very striking prophecies of the future, in which Israel is used as a symbol of the last days.

The ninth chapter is a parallel with the sealing work shown in Revelation 7.

Our New Testament lessons begin with Hebrews 10:19 and close with James 2. Very rich in spiritual lessons are the closing chapters of Hebrews, as well as instructive in regard to the types of the Old Testament, notably the types of the priesthood, all centering in our Lord Jesus Christ.

What lessons of faith, too, are given us in Hebrews 11.

The book of James was not written by James the brother of John, who was slain by Herod, but one who is sometimes called “James the brother of the Lord,” of whom Paul says he was a pillar in the church at Jerusalem. Gal. 2:9. He is the one who presided in the council at Jerusalem. Acts 15:13-29. For his piety he was called “James the just.” According to Josephus he was stoned to death by the order of Annas the high priest about 63 A.D. His epistle speaks for itself; tremendously strong in its practical applications, and also prophetic, in its last chapters, of the times in which we live.