September, 1938
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O C TO B ER 30, 1938 FINDING HELP IN PUBLIC WORSHIP N ehemiah 8:1-3, 5, 6; M atthew 18:19, 20 Meditation on the Lesson Before the foundation of the world, God ordained that those whom He should create should have fellowship with Him. He made the human heart with a capacity for Him self, and fashioned it to be dissatisfied with less than His divine love. Ever since Adam [Continued on p ag e 317]
II. U tter D ependence
quences. However, if our hearts are stayed upon Jehovah, He will bring us through un scathed, even as He did in Daniel’s case. One salient feature of Daniel’s prayer to God was his thankfulness, even in view of the lions’ den into which he was inevit ably to be cast. He had been accustomed to praise and to petition God systematical ly and regularly, and his practice was not interrupted by this eventuality. Accord ingly we read, "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; . . . and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” God answered his simple faith, and closed the mouths of the hungry lions. A sad contrast to this bright picture of trust is to be found in the Gospel of Mark where Christ’s agony in Gethsemane is recorded. In that hour of intense trial the Lord Jesus Christ asked His disciples to watch and pray while He was praying in another part of the garden. As he agonized there, sleep overcame His disciples and they succumbed to the demands of the flesh. How heavy must have been His heart when He realized that not even His closest friends could share the burden which was pressing upon His soul! Those who have power with God and with men are always those who have learned that God is the only source of abiding help. Daniel proved that hard places provide excellent opportunities for God to display His omnipotence in pro tecting those who are defenseless of them selves. Daniel’s God is our God. Shall we not submit our problems to Him, trustingly knowing that He will work miracles in our lives, too? When Hudson Taylor was going out to found the China Inland Mission, he went on a sailing vessel. When the party was somewhere in the JStraits c f Malacca, there was a tap at Mr. Taylor’s stateroom door one morning, and upon his invitation to come in, the door opened and admitted the captain. He said, "Mr. Taylor, we have no wind, but have a strong current, and we are being borne toward an island where the people are heathen.” "W ell,” replied Hudson Taylor, "I really do not know what I can do for you. I do not know a point of navigation.” "No,” answered the captain, “but I am told that God , answers your prayers.” “He does,” replied Hudson Taylor. "Then I wish you would pray for wind. It is our only chance.” “W ell, I will, provided you get the sails unfurled.” "That would be foolish, and I do not wish to be the laughing-stock of my men.” "V ery well, I am not going to pray for wind if you are not ready to receive it.” Well, then, I will, but there is no sign of it anywhere.” Three-quarters of an hour had not elapsed before another knock came at Hudson Taylor’s door and the captain re turned saying his faith had been rewarded. E-From 5,000 B est Illustrations, by Hallock. Helps for the Leader I. E xpecting G od to A nswer
The fishermen of Brittany are wont to utter this simple prayer in the early morn ing before they begin their arduous and perilous labors: “Keep me, O my God! My boat is so small and Thy ocean is so great.” How beautiful is the thought! May not a like prayer ascend from our hearts as we commence our daily duties: The world is wide and we are frail. —G. B. F. H allock .
Girls 7 Query Corner Conducted by M yrtle E. S cott
Questions for answer in this corner should be sent to Miss Scott, 8961 Dicks St., West Hollywood, Calif., and a stamped envelope should be enclosed for reply. No name will appear with the questions chosen for publication. D ear M iss Scott: work didaskein.
A didaskalos was a teacher of authority. The office, according to 1 Corinthians 12:28, was the third in rank in the church. The "teacher” exer cised authority over men as well as women. There were many teachers in the church who were not didaskaloi. Therefore, this passage teaches only that a woman shall not take a place of authority as head or leader of a church. The word translated "silence” in 1 Tim othy 2:11, 12 is in other instances rendered “quietness” or " p eaci.” In 1 Corinthians 14:34 we read: “Let your women keep si lence in the churches,” and the word trans lated "silence” is sigao and means “refrain ing from utterance.” It is interesting to no tice that the same word is used in verses 28 and 30 to command the men to be silent also. Clearly, this means a temporary si lence. The context suggests that both men and women were directed to refrain from utterance at times when it would make for disorder in the church, a condition which was often present in the early church and which Paul was seeking to correct. The word “speak” in verse 34 is lalein, meaning to use the voice without reference to words spoken. It was used sometimes of speaking, but often of the prattle of chil dren or the chirping of birds and is no doubt used here to tell the women they were not to add to the confusion already referred to in the chapter. W e might be lieve it means that there is no place for the testimony of women in the church were it not that in the eleventh chapter of this same Epistle, the privilege of women to pray and prophesy in church is recognized, honored and regulated. W e conclude therefore, that in chapter 14 they are merely directed not to interrupt the meeting for the exercise of these privileges. You may rest assured that your service among the natives of Africa, both men and women, is pleasing to the Lord as you teach them the way of life. How many precious souls for whom Christ died would never have heard the story had they waited for the men to bring the message! “The women that publish the tidings are a great host” (Psa. 68:11, R .V .).
If this subject is suitable for your Query Comer, I would appreciate a few words on the subject of women teaching. Those words of Paul to Timothy (1 Tim. 2 :1 2 ), “I suffer not a woman to teach . . . but to be in silence,” keep bothering me a lot. Out here on the mission field it inevitably falls to the lot of women to do the bulk of the teaching. Some say these verses mean women may teach only women, others say they refer to teaching doctrine, again others read into them that married women should not teach. I teach men, I teach doctrine, and I am married, so none of these expla nations comfort me. I do not choose my work: it is given to me by those who as sign to each worker his or her task. I might add that the native Christians are in dire need of teaching and that they fairly gobble up all they can get. Such hunger as this for God’s Word and such need for teaching seem to constitute a reason for women’s engaging in this ministry—but is it a reason Or just an excuse? I do not want to displease the Lord, and yet I do not want to fail to serve Him if He wants me to, in this way. The words, “I suffer not a woman to teach,” taken with the words which follow, “nor to usurp author ity over the man,” might be self-explana tory. But the phrase "be in silence” seems so final! Li Wr-A P erplexed M issionary . M y D ear: I well understand your perplexity, and yours is a question of real importance for you and for all women who are seeking to do the Lord’s work in the Lord’s way. Even though your work is directed by others, though the teaching were greatly needed and the response gratifying, it would still be wrong for you to do it if it were contrary to God’s revealed will and plan. After all, real Christian service is not primarily meeting human need but doing the Father’s will. However, I trust a careful examination of the passages pertaining to the subject will clarify the matter for you. In 1 Tim othy 2:12 the word “teach” is the Greek
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