THE K I N G ’ S B U S I NE S S seems more like a threat than a prom ise. We can understand and rejoice in the prospect that there shall be no pain, no sorrow and no death, but heaven without a temple seems like the sky without the sun. In reality, however, It is like the sky without a cloud. No temple in heaven does not mean no wor ship there. It rather means that all heaven is one temple and nothing hut worship is there. The Jewish temple localized and limited worship. In heaven worship is universalized. It is like saying, “There shall be no more a Sab bath day” because every day in the week becomes holy. God would have all places, days and duties holy. He is not satisfied with fragments and por tions. He must have all or nothing. He dwelleth not in temples made with hands but He inhabiteth eternity and dwelleth also in the lowly contrite heart. We may so practice and sense His pres ence that we can say at any time or place on earth, “This is none other than the house of God and this is the gate of heaven.” MONDAY, Sept. 15. Psalm 19:7-14. The Word of God. The Bible is a library of sixty-six books, written by forty different writers, covering a period of about seventeen hundred years. Notwithstanding this variety, there is a remarkable unity of character and teaching from beginning to end. The Old Testament exhibits Judaism. The New Testament sets forth Christianity. These two religions differ widely in doctrine, practice and spirit ,and yet there is a vital and or ganic connection between them. It has been said of the two Testaments that the New is in the Old concealed and the Old is in the New revealed. This unity is not fortuitous nor the product of human effort. Another wonderful thing about the Bible is the symmetrical growth of each Testament. The writers of the Old Testament lived in Egypt, Arabia, Palestine and Babylon. The writers of the New Testament were scat tered over the Roman Empire, and yet no writer corrects, contradicts or as sumes superiority over another. Each had one and' the same great theme, re demption. The progress of doctrine is natural, historical and dispensational. The order in each Testament is history, doctrine prophecy. Facts must be gath ered before principles can be discovered and formulated. Doctrine is the child of history and prophecy is history writ-
869 ten in advance. When the last sentence of Scripture had been written, the re sult was the same as if the various writers had frequently met together for conference and counsel. The conclusion is irresistible that although there were, many human writers, there is but one Divine Author. TUESDAY, Sept. 16. Psalm 1:1-6. Delight in His Word. Among the symbols of the Word that are found in Scripture are bread, milk, meat and honey. These all stand for sustenance and satisfaction. Enjoyment of the Word of God is expressed by such passages as Psg,lm 119:103, and Jeremiah 15:16. The goodness of God permits man to partake of his needful food with zest and relish. This indi cates a normal appetite and a state of health. The same thing is true of our spiritual diet. The lack of interest in Bible study that makes the forth-put ting of effort necessary for even its daily devotional use, should awaken serious concern. It is a danger signal that should not be disregarded. It signifies the ebb of spiritual vitality and calls for immediate attention and ear nest prayer. It has been well said that the chief proof that the Bible is good food, is the eating of it. It is not a collection of literary problems. Its wprds are what God says to us. Chem ical investigation into the quality and substance of a loaf of bread may have its proper place and time, but the inves tigator may starve if he delays feeding upon it until the process has been com pleted to his entire satisfaction. There is no aid to the spiritual life that can be substituted for the constant prayerful study of the Word of God, “These hath God married and no man shall part, Dust on the Bible and drought in the heart.” WEDNESDAY, Sept. 17. Psalm 119: 89-96. Thy Word Is Sure. When the questiofi is raised, what books among the many claiming a place in the sacred collection of the books of Scripture are to be accepted we should bear in mind that the list of 66 books in the Bible was not made by the church. We do not receive these books on the authority of Fathers or Councils. We receive them as the Fathers and Coun cils received them because we have evi-
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