Vol 17 Issue 11

The Historical Division. Chapter 1-4 inclusive. Jehoiakim’s Captivity. Chapter 1:1, 2. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim came Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon unto Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord gave the king into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God, which were carried into the land of Shinar and placed in the house of the god of the conquerors, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Chapter 1:3. Ashpenaz, a master of the eunuchs, receives orders to present to the king a select number of the children of Israel fit to stand in the...

As to the purification of the Levites, it took place in three acts, a) First they were sprinkled with “water of sin”—water mixed with ashes of the red heifer—and purified. Then the hair of their body was sheared in token of their putting off the flesh that they might be new creature. And as the garment shares in the uncleanness of the body, they were also commanded to wash their clothes, b) These transactions are followed by the consecration sacrifices. Two bullocks were led to the altar. Then Moses brought the Levites before the Lord and the children of Israel...

To the Editor of the Standard Bearer, Dear Mr. Editor: Your challenge in the recent issues of the Standard Bearer can hardly pass unheeded. The very thought that the Standard Bearer might lose its influence through becoming a church paper makes one’s heart melt within him. While, on the other hand, a change which would mean a more systematic arrangement and a greater variety of material, without changing its present status, appeals to me very much. In fact, I believe that the time has come that a frank and open discussion on how our Standard Bearer might be improved can...

Under “Voices in the Church”, a sort of open forum, in The Banner of Jan. 31, 1941, a certain “M.J.” serves a certain Mr. Groeneveld, who has a rather sickly view of “tithing”, with an answer that is so thoroughly sound and Reformed from beginning to end, that we cannot refrain from quoting it here in its entirety, rejoicing as we do in the fact that even among the readers of The Banner there are men that see the truth so clearly as does Mr. “M. J.” RESPONSE TO “TITHER” “Dear Mr. Groeneveld: Having read your article, “Another Tither Testifies”,...

In its “Testimony” with regard to membership of worldly unions the Consistory of the First Protestant Reformed Church of Grand Rapids also inserted the following paragraph: “In view of the present industrial conditions, the gigantic corporations and mass production, the Consistory recognizes the fact that the individual laborer can hardly have a position and collective bargaining and organization are often necessary. And, therefore, although we cannot in every respect agree with the existing C.L.A., we would advise you to support it and use your influence with that organization.” A few parties expressed their disagreement with this advice of the Consistory....

The Revelation given to John is the last book of prophecy. Not simply written with a view to the things that will come to pass, as is often explained. Rather, the book as a whole pictures the history of the Church in the world from the viewpoint of past, present and future. In the first three chapters this Revelation of Jesus Christ deals directly with the Church. Of that Church, our Lord is the glorious Head. What a tremendous figure Christ must be to John, who had known Him, spoke with Him, walked with Him, when He dwelt upon earth...

We do not know at what occasion this song was composed. That is, we do know in general, but not in particular. It may fit several occasions. It may very well point to the ascension of the ark of the covenant into the hill of Zion at the time David fetched it from the house of Obed-Edom. And again: it may refer us to one of the occasions when David returned from the battle with the selfsame ark after successfully slaying the enemies of the Lord. We do not know at what particular occasion this psalm was composed, but we...

About this subject we read an editorial in The Christian Century of Feb. 18, 1942. The editor of that magazine is often perplexed about the proper attitude of the Church and of the individual Christian with respect to war. War is such an ungodly business, so evidently opposed to all the precepts of the Christian faith, that he finds it extremely difficult to find a position for the Christian in relation to war, that will afford peace of mind and conscience. But “the crucial point at which all our differences and perplexities which war creates for the Christian come to...