Vol 20 Issue 10

The book of Judges relates the earliest history of Israel in Canaan. The death of Joshua has deprived the people of their second and last national leader so that the administration of the affairs of the theocracy now rest solely on the judges which, according to the command of Moses (Deut. 6:18), the people were to make them in all their gates which the Lord their God should give them. This is indicated by the very name which our book bears: Shophetim, Judges, and further by its opening verse: “Now it came to pass after the death of Joshua, that...

As was said, some years have gone by since the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about. Joshua has waxed old and is stricken in age. If he is to address them before his passing, now is the time. So he calls for all the representatives of the people and exhorts them before his death. The place of convocation is Shechem. There are two addresses. The first discourse presents to the Israelites what Jehovah will do for them to bring them into full possession of the land. He will expel these nations before them and...

The book of Proverbs, as the name expresses, is a collection of proverbs written by Solomon, who was especially endued with the Spirit of wisdom as the preacher-king of Israel. It is made up of three main parts plus two short appendices. The first section of the book includes the first nine chapters, and serves as an extensive introduction into the main theme of the book. Here Wisdom is presented as the one great good, which calls us away from the seductions of sin and urges us to enter her portals and feast on her bounties. (See, for example, Prov....

NOTE:—This article is a speech which the undersigned delivered at a school meeting of our Protestant Reformed School movement in Grand Rapids on Jan. 20, 1944. It is possible, as I address you tonight, that my subject is somewhat beside the point. I am now a stranger in Jerusalem, particularly since the untimely death of our Church News. It is possible that you are not delaying at all. If so, my subject for tonight’s talk is wholly beside the point. However, it is my opinion that my subject tonight is timely. This child, that of our own school movement, is...

My topic implies that this article is written mainly for our young men now serving in the armed forces of our country. Therefore I consider it quite appropriate to address this article directly to them. Perhaps you young men say: What does a spectator or one who stands on the sidelines know about our problems? After all there is no comparison between the views of one sitting in an easy chair and one who is confronted by these things in actual warfare. My answer to this is twofold. In the first place I would readily admit to be at a...

It is very necessary to introduce the word before I write of the contents embodied in this word. The reading public will otherwise pass this essay by, thinking it is meant only for a group of students. At least I too thought it strange when this subject was assigned me by our editor-in-chief, who is appointed to assign us these subjects. Strange it was for me, because I never thought at first I could write more than three lines on it, until I got to study it further. So it must also at first appear to the reading public. And...

Q. 29. Why is the Son of God called Jesus, that is a Savior? A. Because he saveth us, and delivereth us from our sins; and likewise, because we ought not to seek, neither can find salvation in any other. Q. 30. Do such then believe in Jesus the only Savior, who seek their salvation and welfare of saints, of themselves, or anywhere else? A. They do not; for though they boast of him in words, yet in deeds they deny Jesus the only deliverer and Savior; for one of these two things must be true, that either Jesus is...

Dear editor: I wish to show you where I feel your interpretation of Matt. 19:9 is hardly in harmony with that which the Lord seems to imply. For the Lord states that there is an exception to prohibition to leave one’s wife, and to marry another. The exception is fornication. The text, therefore, it seems to me, could be read this way: “Whosoever shall put away his wife for fornication, and marry another, does not commit adultery.” Now, your illustration does not include this exception as applied to the wife, whose husband has left her, and intends to remain permanently...

Recently, as our readers will recall, the editor of The Banner wrote about a hymn and a latch. In the issue of Jan. 14 he devotes an editorial to “a narrow bridge.” That narrow bridge is the truth. “He who would know the truth must walk on this narrow bridge. On either side is a deep abyss from which there is no return.” Although the editor informs us that this figure of speech is derived from an old Arab story, the phraseology reminds one rather strongly of Barth and his dialectic performances. We say this without even remotely intending to...

Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. Psalm 119:49 From the depths! Always from the depths the cry of the people of God in this present world ascends unto Jehovah their God. It must needs be so. For such is the good pleasure of Him, Who work- eth all things after the counsel of His own will, that He should reveal Himself as the Highest unto those that are in the depths, as the Blessed to them that are in misery, as the Light to them that are in darkness, as the Living...