IN order to bring our readings to the even week we give eleven days' reading for the first instalment, after this giving the scriptures for the even week following.
Two historical chapters are given for each week day, four for each Sabbath, and a psalm for more purely devotional reading every day.
The first five divisions of the Bible are called the Pentateuch, a Greek word meaning five volumes. They are also called "the books of Moses," and "the Law," because it is believed that Moses wrote or compiled them. They were written in Hebrew, and are also found in the ancient Greek (Septuagint), Samaritan, Syriac, and Latin versions.
Genesis, the name of the first book of the Bible, is so-called from its first words "In the beginning." It presents before us the story of Creation, the fitting of the earth for man's home, the Fall, the promise of the Seed, the Deluge, the repeopling of the world, and God's providential dealing with His children for more than 2,500 years.
It is not a book of law, tho it can clearly be seen that God's law was in force. It is not a gospel message, tho it shines with Gospel promises and prophecies which God made to His chosen. It is (1) a history of the beginning of things; and (2) a story of God's dealing with the Seed, and the attempts of the enemy to thwart God's plan. It is important to keep these thoughts in mind, not only as we read this book, but in reading all subsequent books; for the great facts of Creation, the Fall, the Seed, the Deluge, run all thru the Bible, and if disregarded the rest of the Bible becomes a tangled mass of sinful humanity, precept, and promise.
From Gen. 1: 1 to 2: 3 we have a general account of creation, the fitting of the earth for man's home, the creation of man upon it, and the institution of the week and the Sabbath. In chapter 2 we have a more particular account of the creation of the first pair, the institution of marriage, the Eden home. These accounts are different, but not contradictory.
Then follow the Fall, the promise of the Seed, Satan's efforts to destroy the seed (in Abel), to corrupt (as with the mingling of the seed of godly men with women of the world); the destruction of the nation of the Seed (as in Egypt). Chapters 6 to 9 give an account of the Deluge; 10 and 11 the scattering of the people and the descendants of Noah; 12 to 26, God's providential dealings with the family of Abraham, the chosen progenitor of the Seed.
The psalms to be read will sing for themselves of every phase of human experience and of God's goodness, love, power, and watchcare.
If any of our Bible-Band members have no objection we shall sign to each of the questions they may ask, their card numbers.
Now that we start with the year let us persevere to the end; let none fall out by the way. May God bless to each one the reading of His word.