SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Oct 11, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 41.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS

8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak: For He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints; But let them not turn again to folly. 9 Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him; That glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth springeth out of the earth; And righteousness hath looked down from heaven. 12 Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; And our land shall yield her increase. 13 Righteousness shall go before Him; And shall make His footsteps a way to walk in."

(Psalms 126.)

1 When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, We were like unto them that dream. 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing; Then said they among the nations, The Lord hath done great things for them. 3 The Lord hath done great things for us; Whereof we are glad. 4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, As the streams in the South. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 Tho he goeth on his way weeping, bearing forth the seed; He shall come again with joy, bringing his sheaves with him."

Golden Text: "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." Ps. 126:5.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) What are the circumstances connected with this lesson? Note 1. (2) What goodness of God does the psalmist call to mind? Ps. 85:1-3. Note 2. (3) What prayer did he base upon God's goodness? V. 4. Note 3. (4) What questions did he ask? Vs. 5, 6. Note 4. (5) How did he still further plead? V. 7. (6) What should be the attitude of the true seeker? V. 8. Note 5. (7) To whom is God's salvation nigh? and for what purpose? V. 9. Note 6. (8) What follows God's salvation? Vs. 10-13. Note 7. (9) How were Israel at first affected by the Lord's deliverance? Ps. 126:1. Note 8. (10) How did they manifest their pleasure? and how were others affected? Vs. 2, 3. (11) How do they still further plead? V. 4. (12) What is said of the contrite sower? Vs. 5, 6. Note 9.

NOTES.

1. The circumstances which gave rise to these psalms were doubtless deliverance from captivity. If written before, they were prophecy; written after the Babylonian captivity, they are both experience, and prophecy of a glorious deliverance from all sin. They show how God's people were then cheered, and contain lessons for all time, and for us now.

2. Lord, Thou.—In their return they acknowledge God. It is not Cyrus, nor Zerubbabel; nor Ezra. It is the Lord who returned them to the Holy Land, who forgave their iniquity, who covered all their sin, and turned aside the wrath deserved by them. God did everything good.

3. Turn us.—God's people were far from perfect. Division, trouble, carelessness, oppression were in existence. In view of God's goodness, He is appealed to, to finish His work. Success seemed so slow, the time of building the temple so long, that it seemed to them God was angry forever.

4. Quicken us.—Cause us to live. Only life will satisfy the truly penitent. He wants power, and power exists only in life. Only in Christ's life may we truly rejoice.

5. I will hear.—The true attitude of the learner and the penitent is to hearken to God; and faith declares that God will speak peace. Surely He will. He is not at war with us, but with Him. When we surrender all, He will speak peace. Only let us not return to folly, and trail His glory and goodness in the dust.

6. That glory.—God's glory is His goodness, His righteousness, not simply a dazzling brightness. Ex. 33, 18, 19. It must first dwell in the heart of the individual. Where Christ's presence is, there is glory. We may not see it, but if Jesus is revealed, that will be also.

7. Mercy and truth, etc.—This is the condition of the heart where Christ dwells; of the church composed of persons in whose heart Christ dwells; of the land inhabited by such persons. So will the new earth be to all the children of God when delivered from the bondage of sin and Satan forevermore.

8. That dream.—They could not realize its truth. They were surprised, as has been said, that Babylon was overcome, that they should be delivered by idolatrous kings, and that they should be able to return in safety. But they rejoiced, nevertheless. The nations who saw their deliverance, acknowledged God's hand in it all. Surely, they would have been ungrateful not to do it.

9. Sow in tears.—God loves the humble and the contrite worker. The proud He knoweth afar off. The humble worker, with a burden of soul for those Christ died to save, will often weep over their hardness of heart, but let him sow on the precious seed. "Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted."