Bible Reading Schedule
By Editor
Schedule for Week Ending September 2, 1911 |
|
|
|
|
|---|
| Sunday |
August |
27 |
Zechariah |
5-9 |
| Monday |
" |
28 |
" |
10-14 |
| Tuesday |
" |
29 |
Nehemiah |
1-4 |
| Wednesday |
" |
30 |
" |
5-7 |
| Thursday |
" |
31 |
" |
8-10 |
| Friday |
September |
1 |
" |
11-13 |
| Sabbath |
" |
2 |
Psalms |
73-77 |
Our reading for this week is found in three books. We finish Zechariah, chapters 5 to 14, the first part of which pertains almost exclusively to the work that was then being wrought by God's people in Jerusalem, the latter part looking forward to the final restoration. It has been thought by some textual critics that from the 9th chapter of Zechariah to the close belongs to the book of Jeremiah; first, because of the passage which is quoted from Zechariah and attributed to Jeremiah in Matt. 27:9. This is not found in Jeremiah's prophecy, but in Zechariah. Also from the difference in style. Jeremiah uses "the burden of the Word of the Lord," with which Zechariah 9 opens, while the prophecies in the first part of Zechariah are introduced by the expression "the Word of Jehovah came unto Zechariah." This, however, does not affect its prophecy, altho it would give a different setting in its origin. There are some very hopeful outlooks, in the closing passages, for the people of God who will truly seek Him and grasp by faith the promises of the Spirit. There are also foretold the sad judgments which will come upon all those who reject Him. The book of Nehemiah was probably written by Nehemiah himself. His name means "comfort of the Lord," or "aid of the Lord;" and truly he brought aid from the Lord to Israel. He evidently was born in Babylon, and was the chief cup-bearer of Artaxerxes. The fact that he presented wine to his royal master before the queen, would show that he was in high favor before the king; and tho in the court of an idolatrous master, he seems to have been a true worshiper of God. Hearing of the condition of things and the backsliding of Israel, gave him great concern and sadness, of which the king, noticing, asked him the cause. He told the king the cause of his sadness, and in response to prayer received permission to return to Jerusalem with a colony of Jews in 445 B.C. Here, as governor of Judea, he rebuilt the city walls, in spite of all the opposition of the Samaritans and others, organized the service of God, and returned to Persia in 430. The last day of this week returns again to the Psalms—Psalms 73 to 77, the beginning of Book 3. These are all psalms of Asaph, a noted singer in Israel.