OUR BIBLE BAND

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 30, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 25.

Schedule for Week Ending July 10, 1909.

			Morning	Evening
Su.	July	4	Job 28, 29	Acts 13:1-25
Mo.	"	5	" 30, 31	" 13:26-52
Tu.	"	6	" 32, 33	" 14
We.	"	7	" 34, 35	" 15:1-21
Th.	"	8	" 36, 37	" 15:22-41
Fr.	"	9	" 38, 39, 40	" 16:1-21
Sa.	"	10	" 41, 42	" 16:22-40

Suggestive Notes

Our morning readings in the Old Testament complete the wonderful book of Job, chapters 28 to 42 inclusive. It is impossible to give anything like an analysis of these chapters. We can only touch upon some of the gems here and there. One of these is found in the twenty-eighth chapter, especially the last part which treats of wisdom; telling us where it can not be found, and yet the way in which the simple can find it. We find Job still defending himself. He knows that he has committed no open sins against God. He is earnest and anxious that God should manifest Himself to him. In these later chapters we have the argument of Elihu in which he tries to convince Job that he is not so very great himself, while God is everything. To this Job makes no answer, and no comment whatever is given upon Elihu's plea; but in the thirty-eighth chapter we have the Lord answering Job, pointing out the mighty works of God, showing the infinite power and wisdom of God in His creation, and by contrast, of course, showing how exceedingly small Job is. The lesson is that if these things are true in a material sense, which Job can only in a measure comprehend, how likely they are to be true in God's moral dealings with the children of men. How little Job can understand of the great purposes which God has where eternal life itself is at stake.

But the last chapter of the book closes with a happy ending indeed. Job has learned the wonderful lesson that God is infinitely wise and infinitely good, while he himself is utterly unworthy and of small account, and he truly repents and humbles himself in dust and ashes. Job's friends must also repent of their accusations against the old patriarch and are humiliated by the fact that they are accepted only as Job prays for them; while Job must turn from his hard feelings which they have stirred up in his heart; and he finds his captivity turned when he prays for his friends. And yet Job is not beneath the Lord's notice, for God in His goodness turns the captivity and makes his latter end far more prosperous than at the beginning. Connect with this the admonition of the apostle: “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful.” James 5:11.

For our evening devotions we have a continuation of Acts from the beginning of the thirteenth chapter to the close of the sixteenth; a varied record of the ministry of Paul and Barnabas; of the homesickness of Mark; Paul's ministry at Antioch to Jews and Gentiles; his ministry at Iconium, at Lystra, at Derbe, and their persecutions; the first apostolic council at Jerusalem; visiting again at Derbe, Lystra, Troas, Philippi; the call of Timothy; their persecutions, and the wonderful work God wrought through them. It is all of interest.