SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES by F. D. Starr

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 16, 1907

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES.

By F. D. Starr

Hebrews.

THO we have so often been overwhelmed with wonder as we have had our attention called to the particular points of excellence of the various books of Holy Writ, yet it would seem as if our astonishment, as we ponder the contents of this book, exceeds anything yet experienced. Words utterly fail to convey any adequate statement of the riches of divine revelation concealed and revealed in this unique book.

This book was written probably somewhere between the years A.D. 62 and 64, for the particular benefit of Hebrew Christians in Palestine, tho we of this age may derive more benefit than any one else from its perusal.

The book has this peculiar feature to begin with, that its first word, according to our English versions, is God. This is a striking peculiarity, tho it is not the case in the original Greek. There we find there are five words preceding the word God. The exact construction of the first two verses of this book is correctly given by Rotherham, thus: "Whereas in many parts and in many ways of old God spake to the fathers in the prophets, at a last stage of these days, He spake to us in [His] Son," etc. The German also follows the original quite closely in placing several words before the name of the Deity here. The Latin, French, Spanish, and Dutch, like the English, have "God" for the first word, however.

The purpose of the book seems to be stated in chapter 6:18, that "we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us." Strong consolation, indeed, is found in this book.

There are great and wonderful things in this book; but it seems that one reason why these things were difficult to utter, was the slowness of heart to understand and believe on the part of those to whom these things were spoken, for we read (5:11): "We have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing." What a serious impediment is our dull comprehension that prevents us from appropriating the blessed truths that glisten from every verse of this inspired composition.

The exaltation of our divine Redeemer is set forth in chapter one, and his humiliation is just as clearly emphasized in chapter two.

The urgent necessity of making use of the present opportunity for salvation, while it is called to-day, is set before us in the third chapter.

Among the many valuable points brought before us in chapter four is a very clear proof of the perpetuity of the Sabbath. This chapter deals with the subject of rest. From verses 1 to 8 "rest" is mentioned six times. In every one of these instances the word in the original is the ordinary word for rest; but in verse 9, in the statement "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God," the "rest" is from the original word meaning to keep the Sabbath, and is correctly rendered in the marginal reading—"keeping of a sabbath." So here we have the positive statement that Sabbath-keeping is not abolished, but that it still remains. Thank the Lord for the Sabbath and for this clear proof concerning its continuance.

The Sanctuary.

The subject of the sanctuary and its cleansing is the leading topic of chapters eight and nine. Much light is here thrown upon this matter of so much vital interest, and we have here a good illustration of the fact that oftentimes matters that are drawn out at full length in the Old Testament, are set before us in a few words and in a very concise form in the New Testament. There is no discrepancy whatever between the two, but in the one we have the matter of the other in condensed form. As stated in the Methodist Discipline, Art. 6, "The Old Testament is not contrary to the New!"

What Christian has not felt a new inspiration in perusing the glowing account of the experiences of the men of faith as recorded in chapter eleven. The climax is reached in verse 35. Before this we have the record of men who were delivered from suffering and death, after this the account of those who suffered all manner of hardships, and died most excruciating deaths. A great contrast, but all died in faith, for it takes as much faith to endure a trial as to be saved from it. Enduring faith is as necessary as conquering faith. In fact, what we need and what we should pray for is, oftentimes, not so much to be delivered from trouble as grace to endure it.

May the closing benediction of this blessed book be ours—"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, thru the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, thru Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Heb. 13: 20, 21. F. D. STARR.