Suggestive Notes

Pacific Press Publishing Association

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 35, No. 16.

Schedule for Week Ending November 28, 1908. Sunday Nov. 22 2 Corinthians 5–7 Monday " 23 " 8–10 Tuesday " 24 " 11–13 Wednesday " 25 Nahum 1–3 Thursday " 26 Habakkuk 1–3 Friday " 27 Zephaniah 1–3 Sabbath " 28 Haggai 1, 2 Gal. 1

Suggestive Notes.

As we come to the shorter books of the Bible, we have a variety of reading each week, rendering also necessary much briefer notes to each book. The closing chapters of 2 Corinthians speak for themselves. From the 20th verse of chapter 5 to the first verse of chapter 7 inclusive ought to be learned by every Christian. They are packed full of the most blessed instruction and experiences in Christian life. Chapter 7 refers to the person reproved by the apostle in the first epistle, showing how that reproof worked repentance. Chapter 11 contains the summary of some of the apostle Paul's sufferings, yet in it all he triumphed.

The date of the book of Nahum was probably during the reign of Josiah, about 630 or 640 years B.C. His name means "Rich in Comfort." He was born at Elkosh, which may be the Old Testament term for Capernaum, inasmuch as Capernaum means "Nahum's village." His prophecy is largely against Nineveh, the bloody city; and Nineveh is a type of latter-day conditions.

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Habakkuk prophesied not far from the same time, probably a little later. Some place him as late as the middle of Jeremiah's prophecy. The word Habakkuk means "to embrace." The prophecy is largely against the Chaldeans, who should sweep over the land on account of its wickedness. Various woes are presented against those who are covetous, cruel, intemperate. How clearly last-day conditions are depicted in chapters 1 and 2. The last chapter is a beautiful lyric poem expressing much of the glory of God, and the prophet's trust in His power.

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Zephaniah means "Jehovah hides." How fitting it is that a prophet with such a name should be used to describe the great wrath which should be poured out upon a world by a God who in the midst of it all would be the hiding-place of His people. The burden of the entire prophecy is, The great day of the Lord is near, and hasteth; that the only hope of His children was to repent. It closes with precious assurances to the children of Zion. It was probably written between the books of Nahum and Habakkuk.

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The meaning of the word Haggai is "Festal." He was a Jewish prophet, who came forward in about the year 520 to urge Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple. The work was begun in the very autumn of that year. It is a plain, simple declaration of the duty of God's children, with occasional prophecies of the glory of Christ who was to come.

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With this same week also begins the epistle to the Galatians, written by the apostle Paul to the Gauls, or Celts, who had accepted the Gospel. The entire book is a setting forth of the principles of the Gospel with the one view of meeting the heresies by which false teachers were endeavoring to lead astray the Galatians.