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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
August, 1933
Startling Facts about World Population orld population is increasing at a rate that is hard to conceive. The Interna tional Statistics Institute at The Hague announces that it is now 2,000,000,000. This is an increase o f 400,000,000 in the past two years. In round numbers, Asia has a population o f 950,000,000; Europe, 550,000,000; the Americas, 230,000,000; Africa, 150,000,000, and Australia, 7,000,- 000. These figures are beyond the compre hension of most minds, but there are three facts that ought to stare every Christian in the face, and burn themselves into every Christian’s heart. One of these is that about three-fourths of this immense mass of human beings are absolute heathen, having no knowledge of the Saviour of sinners. Another fact is that the vast majority o f this increase of population is among the heathen nations. The third fact is that Christian people are falling down on the job o f carrying out the command of their Saviour and Master, to make dis ciples of all nations. The church is not only failing to do that, but it is not by any means keeping up with even the growth of population. Indeed, the increase of the heathen population in two years is greater than the membership of all the Christian churches o f the world. BH—P resbyterian of the S outh . “ Blest Be the T ie " he last piece of household furniture had been placed in the wagons, now holding all of Parson Fawcett’s worldly goods. Outside the house stood the min ister of the small Baptist church at Wain- gate, Yorkshire, ready to bid good-by to his little congregation that was assembled before him. John Fawcett, converted under Whit field, had become noted as a preacher. His fame had reached London, and again and again that city had called him to “come up higher.” Until now, he had refused every invitation. His little church satis fied him; his field o f service was wide enough. At last, however, so great had become the pressure that Fawcett seemed to hear the voice of duty in the insistent calls which meant advancement in every direc- tion. But as he faced- his humble little flock, the parting seemed likely to be harder than he had thought it was going to be. Under his ministrations, more than one man had been rescued from a fate worse than death. Some of those tearful faces recalled dying beds by which he had stood and softened hours of extreme anguish. Picture after picture from out the past rose before him as he looked into the lov ing faces o f his people, weeping before him. “Turn the wagons back!” he ordered. No one moved. “ Turn the wagons back, I say!” Uncomprehendingly the reiterated com mand was-obeyed. Then John Fawcett went into the house and wrote the hymn, “ Blest Be the Tie That Binds”—a hymn that is now echoing the world around in gatherings of Chris tian fellowship. Fawcett stayed in the Yorkshire pastor ate the rest o f his life. He died in 1817, at the age of seventy-eight. —J ulia H. T hayer , in The Gideon.
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abernacle and iis oJiqniiit t m i B y J o h n W . K opp
g j cance
[A fter a study of the tabernacle in the classJn Bible Synthesis at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, the students were required to write a composition on “ The Tabernacle and its Significance.” Among the papers presented was the following poem, written by a graduate of the class_ of 1933, which will be read with interest both because of the circumstances and also the portrayal of spiritual truth.— E ditor . 1
“Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them” (Ex. 25:8).
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying:
“Make thou an ark of acacia wood O’erlaid with purest gold; And thou shalt cast o f gold four rings, The corners four to hold. “ And make thou of acacia wood Two staves o’erlaid with gold, And in the rings put thou the staves, The ark by them to hold. “ And thou shalt make a mercy seat O f gold that’s fine and pure; : And make two cherubims of gold; The beaten gold procure. “ And thou shalt set the mercy seat Upon the ark, above, And there I shall commune with thee In righteous, holy love. “ A table also shalt thou make O f acacia wood and gold, And make thereto a golden crown; The border make of gold. “ Upon this table thou shalt put Twelve small fresh loaves of bread, Which typify the Bread of God With which the saved are fed. “ And thou shalt make a candlestick With branches sevenfold; Its flowers, branches, bowls, and knops, Shall be of beaten gold.” This candlestick is typical O f Christ, our living Light, Who shineth forth in richest power And leadeth us aright. “ The tabernacle thou shalt make O f linen curtains, ten, O f scarlet, purple, blue, and white, And cherubims therein.” These colors all are typical: The white for righteousness; The blue for heaven; purple, royal; And scarlet, sacrifice. “ And thou shalt make o f acacia wood Each tabernacle board, And each of them shall stand upright, All lined in one accord. “ Each board in silver sockets set And neither let them bend, For through the midst shall run a bar To reach from end to end.”
And while we lean thereon by faith Our hearts find perfect rest.
“And thou shalt make a veil o f blue, O f scarlet, purple, white, The sacred and most holy place To hide from common sight. “The priest alone but once a year With blood may enter there.” But when Christ died, the veil was rent, The holy place laid bare. Now, since the veil is rent in twain, It fills our hearts with awe, To know that we can seek our Lord Without the priest or law. “ And thou shalt make an outer veil, With colors as before; It shall be wrought with needlework— The tabernacle door.” This hanging represents our Lord Who said in Galilee, “I am the way, the truth, the life; None cometh, but by me.” The brazen altar, stained with blood, Prefigured that great day When One should die on Calvary’s cross, Our sins to put away. “ Thou shalt command the Israelites Pure olive oil to bring; To cause the lamp to burn alway— A statute of their King. “Another altar shalt thou make, To burn incense upon, O’erlaid with g old ; and thou shalt use No incense strange thereon.” O f Christ who intercedes, Through whom our prayers and praise ascend, Whose voice the Father heeds. “A laver shalt thou also make O f brass, and water-filled; Whereat the priest shall cleanse himself Whene’er the lamb is killed.” This altar, too, is typical “And make thou o f acacia wood An altar none can pass; Its instruments and furnishings Shall all be made of brass.”
This laver also typifies The Christ of Calvary, Who cleanses us from all our sins To walk in purity.
The silver sockets fashioned fine Redemptive power suggest;
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