p. 6 | AN OFT-MISQUOTED TEXT by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 20, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 16.

AN OFT-MISQUOTED TEXT.

By Editor

ONCE more we will call attention to the reading of Hab. 2:2. Probably nine times out of ten, people who attempt to quote it do so in order to show that the truth is to be made so plain that he who runs may read. But this expression and the thought are as different from those of the text as it is possible for them to be. The text reads: "And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run who readeth it." The Word of God is not made plain to people while their minds are otherwise so engaged that they are running in pursuit of something else. They must first stop and give earnest heed to the things that are spoken. If even those who profess to believe the Word fail to give such heed, they may even lose what they have learned. Heb. 2:1. What the Lord would have His servants do is to make the Word so plain that those who read may be impressed to run with the message to others. In olden times important messages were carried by runners, and it was deemed folly for one to run unless he had a definite message. See 2 Sam. 18:19-31. So with the message now due to the world—the Gospel of the coming kingdom—it must be made plain to those who are willing to hear and understand, that they too may join in the good work of its proclamation. This will be the logical effect of the message upon every honest heart. But he who undertakes to run without a proper understanding of the message, may find in the end that, like Ahimaaz, he may have to "turn aside and stand still," while the better work of some less pretentious runner may gain the recognition of the King.