January 1932
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
38
h o le s on CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR* . . . B y M ILO F. JAMISON
of character o f the happy man. These are denoted by the three postures o f the wak ing man; namely, walking, standing, and sitting. A down-grade of evil is presented here. 1. “ Walketh not in the counsel of the un godly.” The beginnings of evil are found in taking counsel with the ungodly, the asso ciation with those who do not have God in their lives. When the Christian seeks to know what is wrong and what is right, he should not look to see what his non-Chris tian neighbor does, nor go to mere man made conventions, or consult a fortune teller or newspaper love column. Instead, the Christian walks in the counsel of the godly, seeking his advice from Christians. 2. "Standeth [not] in the way o f sinners." Here we have pictured the “ sinners,” those who deliberately transgress against God’s known will. In the first picture, it was the “ungodly,” those who live in ignorance o f or thoughtless indifference to God. Walking in the counsel of the ungodly soon leads to the way o f sinners. Here we have a condition o f remaining in the place o f open rejection of righteousness in deed and word. Walking implies motion to and from ; standing denotes that the power of drawing away from evil influences is not being exercised. Contrasted with this po sition, the Christian should keep close to God’s people and stand with them. 3. “Sitteth [not] in the seat of the scorn fu l" Here the third step in the downward course is presented, that o f making one self comfortable in the presence o f those who deny and reject the Lord Jesus Christ. The story o f Lot is a good illus tration o f this. Note Genesis 13:11 : “ Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan ; and Lot journeyed east” ; then Genesis 13:12: “And Lot dwelled in the cities o f the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom” ; and fin ally, Genesis 19:1: “And Lot sat in the gate of Sodom.” III. T he M ajor H armony Supplementing the lighter minor strains o f the negative treatment, there is now presented the major harmony, the five positive characteristics of the happy man. 1. Joyful. “His delight is in the law o f the Lord.” There is but one source o f true happiness, and that is in God’s Word. “ The Chris tian life is not merely one of giving up this or that, but it is entering into a new and happy inheritance in God’s promises.” 2. Thoughtful. “ In his law doth he meditate day and night.” This is the essential element in vic tory and power. David said, “ Thy wrord have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” The W ord o f God is likened to a sword, a weapon of protection (c f. Heb. 4:12; Eph. 5:17). 3. Fruitful. “ He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his
S A T U R D A Y :
Major Divisions of the Old Testament T here are three great divisions o f the Old Testament. The first is the his torical, or objective, which takes up the outward development o f the Old Tes tament peoples. Roughly, it covers the books from Genesis to Esther and presents what the peoples o f the Old Testament ac tually were. The second major division is the poetical, presenting the subjective or inner experiences o f God’s chosen people. The books covered are from Job to the Song o f Songs. In this, we find a presen tation o f what the Old Testament saints longed to be. The third division is the prophetical, in which we find the future hope o f Israel presented. The books from Isaiah to Malaçhi present that which the Old Testament saints expected to be. The Book of Psalms e are suggesting for the four weeks of this month that a rapid survey be made o f some o f the material found in the book which has well been called the “hymn book of the Bible.” It is a book which deals with the aspirations and longings o f the individual human heart after God, rather than with outward his torical records of the nations. It presents truth, not in the abstract, but in a prac tical way, as exhibited in the experiences and life of man. In it, we find the spirit ual experiences o f men who knew God, longed for God, and found their full satis faction in God. No one can study this book without being blessed by the time spent in meditation, mourning, hoping, believing, and exalting with David. As Spurgeon so well stated, “ the book of Psalms instructs us in the use o f wings as well as w ords; it sets us both mounting and singing.” The method employed this month will be to suggest in the preparation for each week seven psalms to be read and medi tated upon. One o f these psalms will then be suggested for more careful analysis to be used as a basis for discussion in the meeting. FEBRUARY 7, 1932 The Secret of Happiness P salm 1 Preparation EAD AND MEDITATE Upon the follow ing psalms. Select some verse from each psalm to be memorized. M O N D A Y : Read Psalm 1. TU E SD A Y : Read Psalm 2. W E D N E SD A Y : Read Psalm 3. TH U R SD A Y : Read Psalm 4. F R ID A Y : Read Psalm 5.
Read Psalm 6. Read Psalm 7. Expression
SUNDAY :
There was a school o f Greek philosophy which held that the goal of human en deavor was happiness. It was known as the Hedonic school. It took its name from the Greek word hedone meaning delight. In a measure, this is a worthy goal o f hu man endeavor, providing true happiness is sought and the right methods o f attaining to that happiness are used. Probably no place in all philosophy, human or divine, is there found as simple, yet complete, a statement o f the character which makes for happiness as in the First Psalm. To most Christians, this is a well-known psalm with unknown possibilities. It pre sents the secret o f true happiness. It might well be termed a symphony of hap piness. I. T he O pening N ote The opening note presents the theme and the background for all the rest. “ Blessed is the man,” or “oh, the happi ness o f the man!” The Hebrew word for happiness, or blessed, as found in the Au thorized Version, is in the plural as though to indicate its manifold sides or aspects. It is derived from a primitive word meaning literally “to be straight.” The real thought is that of prosperity resulting from up rightness. II. T he M inor C hord Next are presented three negative traits sought to render during the past thirteen months in presenting a new line o f approach to Christian En deavor topics. The effort has been made to supply a series o f discussion subjects that would be Bible-cen tered. W e have long felt that many o f the subjects presented for discus sion in young people’s groups not only do not present much Bible truth, but, in addition, that they do not meet the real need o f the young people themselves. It has been a pleasure to receive the many encouraging letters in appreciation of this effort. W e sincerely regret that the pressure o f work in connection with the Univer sity Bible Clubs makes it imperative for us to conclude this testimony at this time. Our sincere prayer is that God may use that which has been given in stimulating others to work out for themselves Bible study material that will not only prove at tractive to young people but that will adequately provide for their spiritual development. — M ilo F. J amison . ith this issue of T he K ing ’ s B usiness , we are concluding the service which we have
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