p. 128 | Questions by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 21, 1884

Questions.

By Editor

An aged pilgrim sends the following queries: 1. What are we to understand from the book of Job? 2. How or in what light are we to regard the Psalms?

1. The book of Job is full of instruction, of a very valuable nature. The references to Job in other scriptures show that he was held in very high esteem by the Lord. See Eze. 14:12-21. The book is a remarkable vindication of the providence of God in the afflictions of his people, and as such has been a source of consolation to thousands of sorrowing hearts. James uses it as an evidence of the faithfulness of God to his patient, waiting ones. It is a book of great value to the church.

2. The Psalms are both devotional and prophetic. In the latter character they have the indorsement of the Saviour himself; Luke 24:44, and other texts. Also of the apostles in their preaching; see Acts 2:25-31; 13:33-35. As devotional reading they are unequaled; they are the devotional part of the Bible. We repeat what we have often said: we pity the Christian who does not love his daily reading in the Psalms. It always seems that there must be some defect in his religious experience. For the benefit of such readers as our querist we will republish in our next an article which we wrote some years ago on the book of Psalms.