OUR BIBLE BAND

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 16, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 23.

Schedule for Week Ending June 26, 1909.

Day	Month	Date		Morning	Evening
Su.	June	20	Esther	1, 2	Acts 5:1-21
Mo.	"	21	"	3, 4, 5	" 5:22-42
Tu.	"	22	"	6, 7, 8	" 6
We.	"	23	"	9, 10	" 7:1-21
Th.	"	24	Job	1, 2	" 7:22-43
Fri.	"	25	"	3, 4	" 7:44-60
Sa.	"	26	"	5, 6, 7	" 8:1-25

Suggestive Notes.

Our Old Testament lessons include the whole of the book of Esther, with seven chapters of Job. The book of Esther covers a striking period in the history of the Jews under the reign of the great Persian king Xerxes, called in the Bible Ahasuerus. It opens with an account of the first world's fair of which we have any record, lasting six months; shows how in the providence of God a Jewish maiden was brought to the throne of Persia; how the Amalekites, the wicked and sworn enemies of God's children, were in the favor of the king, with Haman, the Prime Minister, at their head; Haman's plotting against the Jews to destroy them; and the overruling power of God in saving them from their enemies.

One remarkable thing about the book of Esther is that it does not mention the name of Deity either by noun or pronoun. This is explained on the supposition that the Jews wanted to do nothing that would in any wise offend their Persian conquerors. We are told, however, that in a hidden way the name of God occurs over and over.

The book of Job is probably the oldest book written, and is thought by some to have been written by Moses when he was in the land of Midian. The original language of the book shows that it is among the oldest, ancient words being used that are not found in other parts of the Scripture. It is a wonderful lesson of God's dealing with His children, of the human misunderstanding of God's purposes and the consequent misjudgment. God was trying Job not simply for his own good, but for the good of those who should live after. Job's friends, like many of later ages, thought that prosperity was an evidence of God's favor, and at once accused Job of sins secret and otherwise as the cause of his affliction. The early trials which came upon the old patriarch did not seem in any wise to shake his faith, but the later, perplexing, tantalizing, continued pain of his boils and the even worse conversations of his friends led him almost to despair. This is developed more fully as we proceed with the magnificent poem.

Our New Testament lessons continue the reading in Acts, beginning with the fifth chapter and closing with the twenty-fifth verse of the eighth chapter. The record itself is very clear. Great events and the wonderful power of God's word in working upon hearts are clearly set forth.