Signs of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 36. (9/7/1904)

Signs of the Times

Sep 7, 1904

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 7, 1904

The Power of God's Word

The Power of God's Word.—The word of God, given us in the Bible, is the revelation of God in human language, the power of God unto salvation to those who believe, the Gospel of the Son of His love.

Creation.—One of the greatest manifestations of the power of God's word is the existence of the material heavens, the earth, created and upheld by the power of God. It is this which the Bible ever presents as the one characteristic of the one true God. The Lord that made the heaven and the earth, or words of similar meaning, are frequently met with in the word of God. The creation is the one great proof of His power and Godhead. See Ex. 20:8-11; Isa. 44:24; 45:18. And these proofs of His power, His glory, as declared by the heavens and earth (Ps. 19:1-6), leave men without excuse (Rom. 1:19, 20).

The True God and the False.—In the contrast which is so frequently drawn in the Word of God between the true God and the false, it is God's power as Creator which is ever brought forth as His distinguishing characteristic. “The Lord is the true God, He is the living God.” Jer. 10:10. “For all the gods of the nations are idols; but the Lord [Jehovah] made the heavens.” Ps. 96:5. “The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He [Jehovah] hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by His discretion.” Jer. 10:11, 12. “Fear God, and give glory to Him; . . . and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14:7. See also Acts 14:15; 17:24-26.

The Agency of the Word.—But all of the creative works of God were wrought through His word. “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” “For He spake, and it was; He commanded, and it stood fast.” Ps. 33:6, 9. It is by the same word that God's works hold together (consist) and are preserved. Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3. Certainly it is this creative power of God, this being able to speak something into existence when it did not exist before, which above all things else makes the Lord “a great God, and a great King above all gods.” See Ps. 95:3-5. The power of every enemy of God is limited in both extent and duration. Their power is confined to present resources, and the only way of adding to their power is by enlisting other voluntary agencies. But God's power is infinite. While He oftentimes seemingly has nothing with which to oppose the enemy, He can bring out of that nothingness unlimited resources by the power of His word. The potency is in the word. He speaks and it is. “God hath chosen the . . . things which are despised, . . . yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are; that no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Cor. 1:27-29.

The Word of Christ.—But all this word of the past was spoken by Christ. It was the Son of God by whom “were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him, and for Him.” Col. 1:16. He upholds “all things by the word of His power.” Heb. 1:3. Of Him the Spirit speaks: “Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands. They shall perish, but Thou remainest; . . . Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.” Heb. 1:10-12.

Why This Revelation?—Why has God given us all this revelation of His wondrous power and wisdom manifested through His Son in the creation of the heaven and earth? Of what use is it to us?—God has revealed this to us that we may have hope: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Rom. 15:4. Man finds himself here a poor lost, condemned sinner, ever joining the long procession which enters the doors that never outward swing. Of Himself He is without

strength, without hope. Well, God has revealed all that He has concerning the power of Christ and His Word that we may know that He who came down to earth, died to redeem us, and lives to save us, is able to do it despite all the powers of sin and death. The creative power of the Son of God is pledged in Him for our salvation. Is not this a well-spring of hope?

ESTHER

By F. D. Starr

BY F. D. STARR.

The golden text of this book is found in the sixth verse of the sixth chapter. “What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor?” Esther is one of the women whom the Lord honored by permitting her name to stand at the head of one of the inspired books. The statement that “fact is stranger than fiction,” is demonstrated in this book. What romance could equal, in thrilling interest, this wonderful narrative?

One peculiarity of the book is, that while it is a part of that Scripture that was written by inspiration of God, yet His name is not referred to in the book. In no way is the Deity mentioned, neither by the use of the terms, God, Lord, Jehovah, nor any other expression. Yet the book reveals its Author no less distinctly than any other inspired productions of Holy Writ.

Written revelation is not the only means by which its Author makes Himself known to men. “The heavens declare the glory of God.” He is revealed in the works of His hands. And there are still other methods by which His existence and His goodness are displayed. His providential dealings with the race constitute another infallible proof of His presence and His power. And it is in this capacity that He most clearly reveals Himself in the book of Esther. Let us carefully note the various incidents of a mysterious and surprising character that reveal the presence of that Providence that “moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.”

In the first place, it was very strange that Esther, a humble orphan, of a despised and oppressed race, should be chosen by Ahasuerus, the sovereign of a universal monarchy, to succeed Vashti as queen. When, on Mordecai’s account, it was determined to annihilate the entire nation of the Jews, the hand of Providence is seen in the selection of the day for the execution of the dreadful sentence. It was postponed about as long as could possibly be done. And how? and why? The Persians were a superstitious heathen people who believed in consulting the gods in regard to every project upon which they entered. So the favored time for exterminating the Jewish race must be determined by casting lots under the direction of these heathen oracles. “In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.” Esther 3:7. So the day designated by lot was not in the next month, nor the month following, nor the fifth, sixth, nor any other month, till we come down to the last month in the year, putting it off about as long as it was possible to do, and giving the Jews a chance, if there were any chance, to get relief from some source. Who can fail to discern the leadings of Providence in this? By this delay, deliverance might be wrought, and was wrought, for the people of God.

We will have a chance here to see how “all things work together for good to them that love God.” Was it not a noteworthy incident that the man who should discover the dastardly plot to assassinate the king, should be the unassuming servant Mordecai? Ch. 2:21–23. Why was it thus ordered?—Because this incident was to constitute a very important factor in solving the problem concerning the deliverance to be brought to Israel.

After the three days of fasting and prayer appointed by the queen and Mordecai, Esther ventured unbidden into the presence of the king. Death seemed to stare her in the face as the result of this action. The Septuagint version says she fainted and fell in the presence of the king, which we can very readily see might be the case, after her three days’ abstinence from food while undergoing such intense mental agony. But again Providence favors the poor afflicted supplicant. The monarch is favorably disposed toward the intruder. The golden scepter is extended, and the trembling queen is granted a hearing. “What is thy request? it shall be given thee to the half of the kingdom,” is the assurance that greets the ears of the queen. Now surely is the golden opportunity for her to tell the king about the terrible death sentence which is hanging over her head, and the heads of all her kindred. But wait; God’s ways are not as our ways. The only request she is led to make is that the king and Haman may come to the banquet that she had prepared for them.

At the banquet the same royal proposition is made that the queen should make her request known, and that it would certainly be granted. But, wonderful to tell, she is providentially restrained from thus prematurely divulging her heart’s desire. Her simple request is that the king and Haman shall come the next day to a similar feast. Now comes in a most wonderful interposition of Providence. “On that night could not the king sleep.” What kept him awake?—Ah, an unseen visitant. But what shall the king do to while away the sleepless hours? The customary way would be to resort to instruments of music, to call in the royal band, but the providential way in this case, is to call for the book of records, from which they should read to the restless monarch. Strange course to be taken, and stranger still that when the royal scroll is opened, the providential selection that is made for the entertainment of the king, is the afore-mentioned record of the invaluable service of Mordecai in exposing the would-be murderers of Ahasuerus.

“What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this?” is the agitated inquiry of the monarch. When he learned that no reward had been given, he decided that his loyal subject should be royally remunerated. The king desires assistance from some one who can suggest some adequate recompense for the one who has saved his life. Learning that Haman was in the court, his services are called into requisition as one capable of devising something commensurate with the services rendered.

While the king had been thinking about Mordecai, Haman’s mind was also occupied with a plan concerning this same humble individual, a plan of the most fiendish design. This suggests to our minds the fact that the eye of Infinite Benevolence, as well as that of supreme malignity is resting upon the humble earth-dweller, who is made a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men, the one to insure his deliverance, the other to accomplish his ruin. Sublime reflection indeed!

The second feast that Esther prepared, furnished the proper occasion for presenting her request, which was that her life and that of her people might be granted. The events of the preceding night had prepared the king to make the proper decision of this question. Had she presented her petition the preceding day before Providence had prepared the way, another decision might have been given. And it is very likely that the project of Haman to hang Mordecai on the gallows would have been granted by the king if his attention had not been providentially called to the faithful service this loyal subject had rendered.

But what shall be done with the man whom the king delighteth to honor? Let us transfer the scope of our view from terrestrial to celestial regions. When the king of glory shall come, before Him shall be gathered all nations, and the King shall say to those on His right hand, “Come, ye blessed, . . . inherit the kingdom prepared for you.” The semblance of royalty indulged for a few hours was the highest honor that earthly power could seem to bestow; but to reign actually through coming ages, is the inconceivable reward to be bestowed by the King eternal.

Let us be faithful to our trust that this divine honor may at last be bestowed upon us. Let us not fail to discern the lesson of the providential dealings of God with His people that the perusal of this book affords us. Remember the King delighteth to honor His faithful subjects.

ABIDING IN CHRIST.

By Ellen G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.

I AM the vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Abiding in Christ is the condition of fruit-bearing. Only as we are united to Him can we accomplish any good work. Without Him, separate from Him, we can do nothing good. In order to have success in the Christian life, it is essential that we realize our continual dependence on the vital current coming from Christ. We are habitually to adhere to Him, and daily to derive from Him the nourishment that will give us spiritual strength. This is our privilege and our source of success.

The connection of the branch with the vine, Christ said to His disciples, represents the relation you are to sustain to Me. The scion is grafted into the living vine, and fibre by fibre, vein by vein, it grows into the vine-stock. The life of the vine becomes the life of the branch. So the soul, dead in trespasses and sins, receives life through connection with Christ. By faith in Him as a personal Saviour the union is formed. The sinner unites his weakness to Christ’s strength, his emptiness to Christ’s fulness, his frailty to Christ’s enduring might. Then he has the mind of Christ. The humanity of Christ has touched our humanity, and our humanity has touched Divinity. Thus, through the agency of the Holy Spirit, man becomes a partaker of the divine nature. He is accepted in the Beloved.

“If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.”

Is not this a positive promise, upon which you may rely? Bring these words into your daily experience, and your faith in Jesus will be a living reality. There is no reason why God’s children should not receive, hour by hour, the fulfilment of this promise.

“These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” The joy that comes from any other source than Christ is valueless. It is a pretense, an emotion that brings no abiding satisfaction. Christ has redeemed us with His own life, and we are to appreciate the sacrifice made for us. We are to claim His promises, resting by faith in the knowledge of the atonement made for us. We are to surrender ourselves unreservedly to Him; for His grace alone has sufficient power to save the soul of the repenting, believing sinner.

Christ’s will is to become our will. Then the fruit that we bear in words and deeds will glorify God. We shall give evidence of our discipleship. The proof that we are children of God will be clearly seen. We shall be moulded and fashioned in accordance with the divine similitude. But unless we place ourselves wholly under Christ’s control, we can not give evidence of a change of heart.

Let Christians remember that the fact that their names are on the church books will not save them. They must show themselves approved of God, workmen that need not be ashamed. Day by day they are to build their characters in accordance with Christ’s directions. They are to abide in Him, constantly exercising faith in Him. Thus they will grow up to the full stature of wholesome, cheerful, grateful Christians, led by God step by step into clearer and still clearer light. Union with Christ is productive of all good.

A New Creation.

It is creative power and nothing less that will save man; for to be saved he must be regenerated, and regeneration is re-creation. The following scriptures clearly show this: “Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:10. “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Eph. 4:24. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature [“creation,” R. V.].” 2 Cor. 5:17. It therefore demands the same power to save man from sin as it did to first create him. Redemption, then, is not a greater act or work than creation, but a similar work. It is the manifestation of infinite power in each case, and manifestations of infinite power can neither be contrasted nor compared by finite mortals.

Power, Wisdom, Love

Power, Wisdom, Love.—God is infinite in all particulars. His infinite power is exercised with infinite wisdom; it is never used unwisely. His infinite power and wisdom are moulded by His infinite love; for love represents His fulness of character, the white light of His life, which, refracted by the various-angled prism of man’s conditions, surroundings, and needs, manifests itself in mercy, goodness, kindness, long-suffering, verity, justice, which to the eye of faith are as beautiful as the bow of promise. What a precious lesson, what blessed comforts there are in this threefold manifestation of God! How they all speak hope to the sinner! How loudly, clearly, impassionately, constantly, sweetly, they bid him look and live! The words of Jesus ring down the centuries, with never a trace of lost power or love: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” “Tho your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; tho they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” “I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.” How God’s word abounds with such loving invitations, with faithful warnings, with wise and holy commands, with promises of infinite power to him who chooses the way of God which is therein revealed! “The words that I speak unto you,” says Jesus, “they are spirit, and they are life.” And Jesus came that men “might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” The heaven-sent invitation, through all of God’s agencies in earth and sea and sky, from the living ones before His throne, from eternal Father and Son, is, Come, COME, “yea, COME, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” And the creative power of God’s word through Jesus Christ will cleanse and save.

Unrepented Sin Grows Worse

By Charles Gallaudet Trumbull

UNREPENTED sin must become worse; it can not stand still or disappear. It never stops itself.—Charles Gallaudet Trumbull.

HOLDING MY HAND.

By L. D. Santee

BY L. D. SANTEE.

“I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee.” Isa. 42:6.

THERE’S a beautiful rest that remaineth, In the city with mansions sublime. No defilement can enter or stain it, From the cares and the shadows of time; And I think, amid life’s keenest sorrow, That I in that city shall stand; But until that wondrous to-morrow, The Saviour is holding my hand.

When the day is the darkest or drear’est, And the tempest beats hard on my head, It is then that the Saviour is nearest, And I from His mercy am fed; And when, in my sharpest affliction I pray as the wrecked one for land, He sendeth His sweet benediction, And I feel the dear clasp of His hand.

I walk through the earth as a stranger; But I go not the journey alone. I toil o’er the mountains of danger; But love’s banner is over me thrown. My faith, all my pathway illumines, As I journey to heaven’s bright strand; And I walk with a strength more than human, For Jesus is holding my hand.

I think of the friends that shall greet me Just ahead on the evergreen shore, When the woes and the trials that meet me Shall pass, and be felt nevermore. Soon will heaven’s bright joys greet my vision, And I, with the blood-washed shall stand; But as long as I stay in earth’s prison, My Saviour is holding my hand.

DEATH AND RESURRECTION.

By W. A. Sweany

BY W. A. SWEANY.

(Concluded.)

From time to time, in various ways, this assurance was repeated to maintain and strengthen the faith of the dying sons of Adam; for faith cometh by hearing the Word of God. See Luke 20:27–38; Heb. 11:8–19; Rom. 10:17. But, in order to strengthen our faith in the assurance of His Word, God gives us illustrative, partial fulfilments thereof. So, when death had “reigned from Adam to Moses” (Rom. 5:14), God deemed it time that a demonstration of His power and of the faithfulness of His promise should be given. To this end a crisis in the great controversy between Christ and Satan, life and death, was precipitated, when Death’s right to the body of Moses was disputed by the Prince of Life. Deut. 34:5–7. Jude 9. Mark 9:1–10.

That faith-inspiring victory of the Captain of our salvation over death and the grave, in bringing Moses, the man of God, from the enemy’s land, demonstrates His ability to release all the captives. The record of this victory so thrills the heart of His people with courage that they can hurl defiance in the face of the foe.

But Satan was not yet crushed. Realizing that the success of his plans was hopeless, while the Son of God lived, he bided his time till He appeared on earth, in human flesh, subject to the power of death. Then the hosts of Satan bestirred themselves, and from infancy to manhood they dogged His steps in the unceasing effort to capture and confine Him in the prison-house of the grave! And at last, on the cruel cross on Calvary’s brow, in an agony that convulsed nature and caused the sun to hide his face, the Lord of life expired, and the fate of the race depended alone on the power of His promise.

The solemnity of heaven, and the exultation of the adversary, can easier be imagined than described, as the Prince of Life, the only hope of the dying race, was Himself laid in the silent tomb. The great stone, and the seal and the sentinels of Rome, that mightiest earthly ally of Satan, re-enforced by legions of evil angels, exhausted the power of the enemy to retain his advantage and follow up his victory.

With wonder and astonishment, mingled with amazement and righteous indignation, the holy angels, who watch with deepest interest the operation of the plan of redemption (1 Peter 1:12), beheld the fearful tragedy. When the sepulcher was sealed and the sentinels stationed, the hosts of heaven and the inhabitants of unfallen worlds watched and

waited, with an intensity of interest never before equalled, for the fulfilment of the promise that would bring to life again their loved Commander, and again demonstrate His power over death and the grave, in a manner not to be doubted, thus making sure the resurrection of the sleeping saints. Be astonished, O ye heavens, and ashamed, O earth, that mankind, of all beings most deeply concerned in the crucial crisis of Calvary, knew not its stupendous significance, nor the crowning culmination thereof, so soon to come.

And so, while the disciples mourned and sentinels slept, the hosts of hell and heaven kept ceaseless vigil over the sealed sepulcher in which centered the destiny of the universe. Consider the conditions! The Commander-in-chief of heaven’s hosts, the Creator of the worlds, the Prince of Life, prostrate and silent in death! The eyes that had flashed with royal majesty and glistened with tears of love and pity, were closed in death’s dreamless slumber. The heart that had thrilled and throbbed at the sight and touch of earth’s wo, was broken and throbless! The hands that made the worlds and formed the stars and grouped the constellations together in kindred beauty; those loving hands whose healing touch had opened the blind eyes, unstopped the deaf ears, loosed the lame joints, cleansed the leper, fed the hungry, caressed the children, and everywhere dispensed blessings to all, are now pulseless and still. Those once active hands now lie pierced and folded on the throbless breast. The feet that had trod the dusty, stony paths of earth—willing feet, tired feet, pierced feet, had reached the journey’s end. Sad scene, solemn situation, intensified by each passing, fleeting moment.

At last the pregnant hours of the second day had passed away, and the dawn of the day when He must, if ever, arise, drew near. A few more brief hours, yea, moments, must decide the fate of the race; for if the appointed time shall pass, and that silent sleeper stir not in His spotless shroud, the travail of the ages is in vain, and the world’s doom is sealed. With tense nerves and bated breath, the angel watchers wait for some sign from the eternal One, who now sat alone on the throne of the universe. And when the supreme moment arrived, Omnipotence spoke, and Gabriel, that mighty, glorious angel who has executed so many important missions to earth, sped forth on the weightiest errand ever entrusted by the Creator to a creature.

With the swiftness of thought he speeds through the abyss of infinite space, and, parting the darkness from his track, he nears the sepulcher. At the presence of his dazzling light and glory, the human sentinels fall as dead men, and Satan’s hosts retreat in fear and dismay. With majestic disregard of the imperial power of Rome, he breaks the seal and rolls away the stone. Then, with a voice thrilling with authority, infinite and eternal, he cries, “Thou Son of God, come forth, Thy Father calls Thee.” While the earth shakes and the rocks rend, the Prince of Life comes forth, and to eternity’s remotest outposts penetrate the triumphant, thrilling words, “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

Take courage, ye dying souls; rest on, ye sleeping saints; for “now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. . . . Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.” “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.” “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” “Even so, come, Lord Jesus,” and come quickly. Amen.

LESSON FROM A DYING COAL.

A COAL of fire when laid by itself soon loses its brightness and its heat; and there are some lessons to be learned from an expiring coal. A writer tells the story of a minister who “called upon a member who had been neglecting the week-night service, and went straight up to the fireplace in the sitting-room, and with the tongs removed a live coal from off the fire, and placed it on the hearth, then watched it while it turned from the red glow of heat to a black mass. The member in question carefully observed the proceeding, and then said, ‘You need not say a single word, sir; I’ll be there on Wednesday night.’” There are multitudes of Christians who to-day are like this dying coal. They are alone. They have forsaken the assembling of themselves together. They have lost the interest they once had, and the power they once possessed. Let such take heed to their ways and turn their feet in the Lord’s testimonies. He bids His people exhort one another, and so much the more as they see the day approaching. They that fear the Lord are to speak often one to another; and tho it is within the power of God to keep alive the flame of Christian love in the hearts of those who are lonely and desolate, yet when persons deliberately disobey the divine commands, and neglect the privileges and opportunities of Christian fellowship and mutual encouragement, it is not strange that the light of the lonely ones grows dim, and the fires of love die out from within their hearts.—Selected.

A STUDY OF THE SOUL.

By William Covert

BY WILLIAM COVERT.

What Is the Soul?

The idea has prevailed with many that man is connected with the future life by means of an entity called the soul. It is held that this soul retains consciousness even when the body is dead. Not this only, but it is also supposed to be responsible for the actions performed by the physical man; and that, for this reason, the soul is called, immediately after the body dies, to answer for the things the body did while living.

Cruden’s Complete Concordance says that the word “soul” in the Scripture, especially in the style of the Hebrew, “is very equivocal.” He means by this that it may be understood in a variety of senses. Truly the word is capable of a great many definitions, and is often used in a manner hard to define. Because of this uncertainty, there exist many theories concerning what should be understood by the term “soul.”

The original word “nephesh” in the Old Testament, from which the term “soul” is translated, occurs 745 times, and is translated “soul” about 473 times. Besides the word “soul,” it is rendered “life” and “lives” 118 times. It is rendered “person” 29 times. It is also translated “body,” “mind,” “will,” “appetite,” “thing,” “breath,” “beast,” “dead body,” “creatures,” “desire,” etc. Altogether it is rendered in more than forty ways.

The word in the New Testament from which the term “soul” is translated, is “psuche,” it occurs 105 times, and is rendered “soul,” 58 times; “life,” 40 times; “heart,” twice; “us,” once; and “you,” once.

Being used in so many ways, it has become for speakers and writers a kind of verbal vehicle for the reception of many doubtful or ambiguous ideas relating to the nature of man especially, and to the attributes of animals generally.

Its first use in the Scriptures relates to the entire Adam, who became a living soul when the Creator breathed into him the breath of life. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” The being who was formed from the dust of the ground is the same that became a living soul. That person or being was man. Whatever man may be said to be, may, as far as this particular text is concerned, be said of the soul; for that soul was man. “The first man Adam was made a living soul.” 1 Cor. 15:45.

But the term soul is often applied to the different attributes of man, and to the lower animals. To determine its true significance, one should examine the connection in which it is used; and even then the meaning may not always seem clear.

The Whole Being.

The following Scriptures are some of the instances in which the word “soul” refers to the entire person or being: “And Abram took Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his brother’s son, with the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan.” Gen. 12:5. “These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padan-aram, with his daughter Dinah; all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three.” Gen. 46:15. “These are the sons of Rachel, which were born unto Jacob; all the souls were fourteen.” “All the souls which came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, . . . were threescore and six; and the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls; all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.” Gen. 46:22, 26, 27. “Who [God] will render . . . tribulation and anguish, upon every soul that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.” Rom. 2:6–9.

A remarkable usage of the word “soul” is found in the 31st chapter of Numbers. The children of Israel had defeated the Midianites in battle; and in so doing captured a great number of people, and gathered in many cattle, sheep, etc. In making disposition of the spoils, the advice given to Israel was to take “one soul” of every five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep. The word is here applied indiscriminately to human beings and to the lower animals captured in war.

Souls Killed with the Sword, etc.

“And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was not any left to breathe.” Joshua 11:11. “The soul that doeth aught presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.” Num. 15:30.

They Do Many Things.

Souls may see, hear, eat, drink, talk, touch unclean things, confess sins, bring offerings to the Lord, find lost articles, take things by violence, deceive their neighbors, and make amends for harm done, etc. See the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Leviticus.

All the Creatures in the Sea Called Souls.

“And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea, and it became as the blood of a dead man; and every living soul died in the sea.” Rev. 16:3.

Every Living Thing Has a Soul.

In speaking of birds, beasts, and fishes, together with mankind, the following words are used: “Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:9, 10.

Souls Die.

In Num. 6:6 the Authorized Version translates that which might be rendered “dead soul,” as “dead body.” The same is also true of Num. 9:6. Cruden translates these texts by using the term “soul” instead of “body.” “He shall come at no dead soul.” “And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead soul of a man.” “He that toucheth the dead soul of any man shall be unclean seven days.” “Whosoever toucheth the dead soul of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel.” Num. 19:11, 13.

The Soul of the Sinner Is Threatened with Death.

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Eze. 18:4.

“Let him know, that he which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:20. Christ says, “Fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matt. 10:28. The testimony from the book of James shows that the conversion of a sinner is equivalent to saving a soul from death. So must the words of Christ as quoted above, show that the soul that is not converted will be punished with death. That is, to destroy a soul in hell is equivalent to visiting the penalty of death upon that soul. This agrees with the apostle’s testimony in the case, which says, “The wages of sin is death.”

Souls Affected by Food.

“And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a-lusting; and the children of Israel wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic; but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all, besides this manna, before our eyes.” Num. 11:4–6. “Because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh.” Deut. 12:20. In the first scripture noticed, the word soul refers to the persons of the people. In the others, it describes their appetite. Their appetite lusted after flesh, and the Lord “gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.” Ps. 106:15. While their appetites got flesh, their spirits were made lean. This is the usual result when the flesh rules.

The Emotions.

“My soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation.” Ps. 35:9. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength.” Luke 10:27. “With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek Thee early.” Isa. 26:9. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” Ps. 103:1, 2.

“Tell me, O Thou whom my soul loveth, where Thou feedest . . . Thy flock.” “I sought Him whom my soul loveth.” Song of Solomon 1:7, and 3:1. “Saw ye Him whom my soul loveth?” Ch. 3:3. “My soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive.” Jer. 13:17. “O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee; my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee, in a dry and thirsty land.” Ps. 63:1.

The Mind.

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; for my soul trusteth in Thee.” Ps. 57:1. “In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul.” Ps. 94:19. “Rejoice the soul of thy servant; for unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.” Ps. 86:4. “When wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul, discretion shall watch over thee.” Prov. 2:10, 11; R. V. “The soul of the wicked desireth evil; his neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.” Prov. 21:10. “My soul hath them [my afflictions] still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” Lam. 3:20, 21. “Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.” Hab. 2:4, R. V. “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matt. 11:28, 29.

(Continued next week.)

Continue reading: How They Became Convinced