Precious SeedFebruary 2021 Vol. 76 | No. 1

‘So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee’, John 4. 46 BOOKS ORDER FORM

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Charting the Scriptures with Jonathan Black We are pleased to make available these popular charts together with the book introduction and analysis that appeared on the reverse when they were first published in Precious Seed magazine. Each chart is laminated for strength and durability. Apart from their visual appeal, there is a wealth of material on each one that will help the reader in their understanding of these key Old Testament books. In order to make them readily available to younger believers and for Bible Class use, they can be purchased at . . . each £1.00 plus postage at cost. The postage tube could also prove a useful storage facility.

In order to meet the challenge of the sceptic, evolutionist or humanist, this 28-page booklet has been written as a useful evangelistic tool. Its full colour easy-to-read style deals with some simple examples that will challenge the assumptions of evolution and present the gospel in clear terms. Whether put into the hands of an unbeliever or as support for a young believer facing the challenges of science, this is a useful resource.

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PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 Book Reviews

Golden Thread Series Alan Jenkins 518 pages, Paperback. Published by Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd, Link House, 140 The Broadway, Tolworth, Surrey, KT6 7HT. ISBN-13: 978-1-839750-55-7.

This book is evidence of a available subjects to develop the fundamental precept of great deal of time spent by certain themes which provide willingness to obey the voice the writer in studying the practical lessons for the of the Lord. The blessings scriptures. It is, in essence, a people of God in every age. which resulted bear out the series of character studies under The first of the Patriarchs importance for every believer four general headings: the considered is Noah, the man to hear and attend to the words Patriarchs, the Pioneers, who listened. His story is communicated by the Spirit of the Prophets and the Preachers. developed around the eight God through the scriptures. The overriding theme which occasions when God spoke unites the individuals directly to him in Genesis As in all character studies, considered in this book is their chapters 6 to 9. This is different readers may take willingness to listen to the followed by Abraham, the an alternative view of certain voice of God, and to follow the man who obeyed, Isaac, events and actions, but, guidance and instruction given, who submitted, Jacob, overall, this book maintains in order to live lives which the who learned, and Joseph, the a consistent line in bringing Spirit of God has left on record man who waited. Their life out the best of those under for our learning. The opened stories are each told, mainly consideration. ear and the responsive heart through a series of chapters of those considered, provide with alliterative headings, The first section of the the golden thread which runs which brings out the main book is not well served by through the book as through the features of the subject’s life. the copious and unnecessary scriptures from Genesis (Noah) use of uppercase words in the to Revelation (John). This structure continues narrative. These disappear throughout the chapters which from part two onwards to the Choice is made from the follow, always maintaining overall benefit of the book.

Why there really is a God: and what you need to know about Him Andrew Wilson 482 pages, Paperback or eBook. Published by Believer’s Publications, Australia. Available on Amazon. ISBN-13: 978-0-994397-75-1.

Books written to oppose and Shakespeare and King George Subjects which follow are the refute the doctrine of atheism VI, among others. Each chapter omnipotence, the omniscience are not in short supply. approaches the subject from a and omnipresence of God, Many are written by authors different but related standpoint, His love, His holiness and the from a scholarly or scientific using, for example, the evidence nature of the Trinity, of which background for a readership of conscience, creation, a particularly well-expressed with similar interests and design,morality, the person of explanation is given on a subject understanding of the issues Christ, scripture and personal that many find difficult to grasp being discussed. This latest experience. In each case the or define. book by Andrew Wilson is both author highlights the utter scholarly and scientific, but inability of the atheist to provide Part three faces some of the written in an accessible way a rational explanation which well-known arguments raised and in a style which the average answers the inescapable proof by unbelievers under the title, reader will enjoy, and which that such fundamental realities ‘Objections to God’. Using the intellectual will not feel exist. such headings as; ‘Who made patronized. I found it to be one God?’; ‘Faith is just believing of those compelling books that A knowledge of God is, of without evidence’; ‘Religion draws the reader into wanting to course, essentially a matter of causes wars’, and ‘The problem read the next chapter. faith. So, having considered of evil and suffering’, the beyond reasonable doubt his author presents lucid and The arguments raised in denial original interrogation regarding logical explanations, which an of deity are mostly well-worn, the existence of God, Andrew unbiased mind would find hard futile, fundamentally flawed Wilson entitles the second to refute. and founded on ignorance. part of the book, ‘What you Andrew Wilson delves into need to know about God’. He I have already recommended the experience and teaching considers, using eight headings, this book to others and fully of sixteen diverse individuals the essential attributes of God intend to read it again, to from Socrates to the present as revealed in the scriptures, reinforce its reasoned arguments day, considering Albert commencing with the intangible in my own mind to meet the Einstein, Stephen King, William reality that ‘God is Spirit’. challenges often faced today.

PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 FEBRUARY 2021 Editorial Vol. 76 | No. 1 ‘The Lord shut him in’, Gen. 7. 16.

It is nearly twelve months since, here just because the doors of the ‘Meeting careful that we do not mistake His in the United Kingdom, society was Hall’ are closed? care for carelessness. Equally, let us ‘put into lockdown’. How we live our ensure we take the opportunity of lives has changed in so many ways. To answer the latter question first: being behind ‘closed doors’, to search For some they have had to deal with ‘No’! Throughout scripture, there is the scriptures honestly and diligently bereavement, for others, changes in evidence of God working behind closed and allow the Spirit of God to test our employment and for many saints these doors! God shut Noah in to protect understanding of them in order that we times have been and remain times of him and his family while He dealt with ensure we have rooted our convictions anxiety. Routines that underpinned an evil world. It was from behind a four-square in the word of God and not so much of our way of life have closed door that God provided for mere traditions we may have soaked up been challenged and for many it has the needs of a desperate widow, through years of stale habit. prompted a time of reflection on what 2 Kgs. 4. 4. It was behind a closed door is important in their lives. For some that God worked to restore life in a As we wait for His Son from heaven, older saints, who have understandably family where a child had been lost, it is the prayer of the committee, that built their lives around assembly v. 33. Our Lord Himself promoted the what writers have contributed to this ‘meetings’, it is especially hard when privacy of shutting ourselves behind issue of the magazine, will, in some such gatherings are prohibited and a door, Matt. 6. 6, and the greatest small way, encourage us all to refresh much of the ‘truth’ for which they feel miracle ever performed was wrought by our love for the Lord and rekindle our they have stood faithfully is apparently the Godhead behind a closed door, zeal for the truths found in the pages of under attack. For young believers, there 27. 60! Such was the impact of the reality holy writ. are equally difficult challenges – lack of this miracle, that it transformed an of fellowship, changing opportunities anxious company of God’s people, who Let us never forget that there is a for service, uncertainty, and difference were shut away behind closed doors, gracious purpose and amazing power to of opinions among those whom they into a ‘glad’, John 20. 20, bold band protect, provide and provoke us, which should be able to look up to, to point of witnesses which ‘turned the world is only to be learnt in solitude, behind out a few. upside down’, Acts 17. 6. closed doors!

How does a Christian work through In the circumstances we are living these thoughts and challenges, and has through and which God in His infinite SANDY JACK God stopped working with His people understanding has allowed, let us be Ministry Articles Editor Contents Book Reviews ...... Inside Front Cover The Twelve Tribes of Israel The Son – His second coming By JOHN SCARSBROOK – Ephraim and Manasseh ...... 14 – Part 8 ...... 26 By LLOYD STOCK By STEPHEN SHERWIN The Text of Scripture ...... 2 ...... 15 Word for Today...... 28 By ANDREW WILSON Henry Alford By BRIAN CLATWORTHY By BRIAN CLATWORTHY

The Forgiveness of Sins ...... 4 Old Testament women who Aspects of Calvary – Part 4 ...... 16 By MALCOLM HORLOCK By STEPHEN FELLOWES appear in the New Testament: Rachel ...... 29 By IAN REES The Gospel of Mark – Part 13...... 6 Things that concern us – Part 2 ...... 18 By JOHN BENNETT His Head ...... Inside Back Cover Flap by FRED WHITELOCK By JOHN TINKLER

The Tabernacle – Part 1...... 8 ...... 20 Balaam – Part 3 Question Time By JEREMY GIBSON By RICHARD CATCHPOLE ...... Outside Back Cover Flap By FRANK A. PROUDLOCK The Epistle to the Colossians South Africa ...... 21 – Part 12 ...... 10 By RODNEY BROWN By WILLIAM M. BANKS What does the Bible tell us PULL-OUTS about the future? – Part 9 ...... 22 An Assembly of the Lord’s Proverbs By NORMAN MELLISH people will be a people among By WARREN HENDERSON and JONATHAN BLACK whom . . . – Part 10...... 12 Assembly Testimony in Cuba . 24 By JOHN BENNETT By ASHLEY MILNE YPS 1

differences, and the vast majority of scribes were faithful copyists. No THE TEXT OF doctrines of scripture are endangered by manuscript difference because doctrines are repeated in many verses SCRIPTURE where all manuscripts agree.

By ANDREW WILSON, Brisbane, Australia At the other extreme, some Christians insist that Erasmus’ Textus Receptus A Little History New Testament relying heavily on (TR), or the KJV which was based In AD 1453 the fall of Constantinople early manuscripts, with about 6,000 on it, is the original New Testament. to the twenty-one-year-old Sultan differences from the TR. This became However, Erasmus’ TR had many Mehmed of the Ottoman Empire the basis of the English Revised Version problems. In a rush to beat another brought an end to the Byzantine (i.e., of 1885. edition into print, Erasmus himself Eastern Roman) Empire which had described it as ‘precipitated rather than stood for 1,000 years. Greek Orthodox In 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls were edited’. Its hundreds of typographical monks fled westward into Europe discovered, dating from the second errors were corrected over five editions. bringing with them Greek New century BC to the first century AD. It was also based on a very small Testament manuscripts. At the very Although 1,000 years older than number of late Greek manuscripts same time in Germany, the invention of previously available Hebrew Old that Erasmus had on hand in Basle, the printing press by Gutenberg made Testament manuscripts, they were very dating from the twelfth century the mass production of books possible. similar to, and confirmed the reliability onwards. In Revelation, he had only In 1516, the first printed Greek New of, the standard Hebrew Masoretic text. one manuscript, and Erasmus resorted Testament, published by Erasmus, to back-translating the missing last six called into question the Latin Vulgate While differing little textually in the verses from the Latin into Greek! As a (i.e., ‘common version’), which had Old Testament, modern Bibles fall result, KJV has ‘book of life’ instead of stood for 1,000 years as the Bible of the largely into two camps: those whose ‘tree of life’, Rev. 22. 19, an error found Roman Catholic church. Just one year New Testament is translated from the in no Greek manuscript. later, in 1517, came the Reformation. TR (KJV, NKJV), and those based on the modern NU (Nestle-Aland/United Erasmus was a Roman Catholic priest Erasmus’ edition of the Greek New Bible Society) texts, which are similar (and the illegitimate son of a priest)1 Testament was a runaway bestseller. to Westcott and Hort’s 1881 text (RV, who never left the Church during the Indeed, it was said that ‘Erasmus laid NASB, NRSV, NIV, ESV, NLT). reformation. He produced the TR, in the egg that Luther hatched’. It was part, for fame and money, which was used as the basis for his German Bible, Two Extreme Reactions why the TR was such a hurried job. and later by King James’ translators Differences between Greek New Erasmus included some verses from in 1611. Erasmus’ text, reprinted with Testament manuscripts have provoked the Latin, found in very few Greek variations over the next century, was two extreme reactions. First, atheists manuscripts,2 which have no real advertised in 1633 as ‘the text received argue that we cannot trust the text claim to be part of the original Greek. by all’, the Textus Receptus (TR). of scripture because (a) we do not The inspired apostolic authors wrote possess the original documents, (b) in Greek, not in King James Version Many more Greek manuscripts the manuscript copies contain too English (or Latin), and we must base became available in the following many variant readings, and (c) scribes our Bible on the best Greek manuscript 400 years, including the fifth century intentionally changed it. However, evidence, not vice versa. Codex Alexandrinus, offered to while we do not possess the original King James by Cyril Lucar, the autographs (i.e., written by the apostles Problems with the Modern Reformation-sympathetic Orthodox themselves), and no two manuscript NU Greek Text Patriarch of Constantinople. In the copies we possess are identical, the Most textual scholars today favour nineteenth century, two fourth-century atheist conclusion is baseless. On the the NU text, underlying modern Bible manuscripts, Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, contrary, we possess an ‘embarrassment versions, for two reasons, first, because were discovered. In the twentieth of riches’, over 5,500 Greek New it is based on the earliest available century, even earlier fragmentary Greek Testament manuscripts, some very manuscripts, and second, because of New Testament papyri were unearthed early (from the second century, AD), scribal habits. That is, scholars have in Egypt, some dating from the second in addition to over 15,000 copies of believed that scribes tended to add century AD. ancient ‘versions’ (i.e., translations to, and relieve difficulties in, the text into Latin, Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, as they copied. Preferring ‘shorter These early manuscripts showed many etc.) and scripture quotations in early readings’, the NU text is about 2,500 differences from Erasmus’ TR, and after Church Fathers’ writings. We can words shorter than the TR, and omits two centuries of scholarly attempts be certain that the original readings many words or verses found in the KJV.3 at revision, in 1881 two Cambridge have been preserved among this professors, B. F. Westcott and F. J. A. evidence. Additionally, most variants Preferring ‘more difficult readings’, the Hort, produced an edition of the Greek are inconsequential, e.g., spelling NU text also adopts certain readings 2 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 precisely because they make less sense. manuscripts, and in a few places, none at Avoiding extreme positions involves As a result, modern Bibles contain all – the editors abandon all manuscripts adopting balanced principles: (1) readings that are jarring for believers: and conjecture, i.e., guess, the original Antiquity: preferring earlier readings; Christ being angry (or indignant) with reading, Acts 16. 12; 2 Pet. 3. 10. (2) Quantity: avoiding readings based a leper, instead of compassionate, Mark on few manuscripts; (3) Propinquity: 1. 41, NIV 2011 update; Matthew being The Majority (M) Text preferring readings with broader mistaken about Christ’s ancestors’ The text of the majority of over 5,000 geographical attestation among names, Matt. 1. 7, 10, ESV; the Lord Greek manuscripts was dismissed by manuscripts, versions and ‘fathers’; saying He was not going to Jerusalem, Westcott and Hort as corrupt, the result (4) Explanatory: avoiding readings John 7. 8, NASB, which He did in verse of a third-century official revision. This better explained as scribal errors, i.e., 10; or all anger being sinful, Matt. 5. 22 theory is now abandoned by textual omissions and harder readings; (5) RV instead of anger ‘without a cause’ – scholars, and some champion the Theology: prayerfully considering although the RV margin does recognize Majority Text as the original text. It is what the inspired authors were more that many ancient authorities insert similar to the TR,6 and comes from the likely to have written, depending upon ‘without a cause’. heartland of the Greek-speaking church divine illumination. (from Antioch through to Greece, where The NU is a shorter and more difficult most New Testament Epistles were What Bible should we read? I suggest text than the TR. However, recent originally located), with manuscripts a TR-based Bible, like the KJV or academic research, including the dating from the fifth to the fifteenth NKJV (which have fuller and more author’s at Cambridge, shows that centuries. sensible texts). Textual criticism is a scribes tended to omit rather than add complex task and for those not able at a rate of sixty to forty.4 This is only However, for all its numerical to evaluate the textual information common sense – omission is the easiest superiority, the Majority Text is not found in a modern Greek New mistake to make. The author’s study perfect. It has some bizarre features: Testament, the author recommends also showed that scribes created more it moves the Roman doxology from the NKJV marginal notes. These show difficulties rather than improving the chapter 16 verses 25 to 27 to chapter 14 the readings of the three main texts, text. Scribes are the (unintentional) verse 23; in Revelation chapter 4 verse the TR, the Majority Text (M) and the corrupters, not improvers(!), of God’s 8 the angels say ‘Holy’ nine times; NU text. While the Majority Text is word. and some other verses, e.g., James generally preferable, we should be wary chapter 2 verse 18, and 1 Peter chapter of readings based on only one of the Some commentaries which follow the 1 verse 8, are virtually nonsensical. three texts but take readings from a NU text speak of the so-called ‘best’ Occasionally, all the early manuscripts number of these sources for a balanced manuscripts, but this is now admitted and all geographically separate ancient view of scripture. by textual scholars to involve circular versions oppose the Majority Text reasoning – the ‘best’ manuscripts are reading; we should reject the majority In conclusion, let us not forget ones which contain the ‘best’ readings, here and follow the early manuscripts. that scripture is not an end in itself but the ‘best’ readings are those found irrespective of the text we use. It is a in the ‘best’ manuscripts. Avoiding this The Old Testament also shows us means of enjoying fellowship with God circularity, studies in scribal habits that the majority of later manuscripts and our Saviour Jesus Christ. show that these ‘best manuscripts’ are not always right; the ‘majority contain many errors. Another problem (Masoretic) text’ is sometimes not Endnotes with so-called ‘earliest and best’ used in New Testament quotations. 1 See Wikipedia or https://www. manuscripts, Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, In Hebrews chapter 1 verse 6, we read, britannica.com/biography/Erasmus- is that they disagree with each other ‘let all the angels of God worship him’. Dutch-humanist. 2 For example, Luke 17. 36; Acts 8. 37; over 3,000 times in the Gospels alone, We search in vain for the source of 9. 5b-6a; 15. 34, and, most famously, ignoring minor spelling variants.5 this quote in the KJV, which is based 1 John 5. 7, 8, which is only found in Simple maths means that one or the on the Hebrew Masoretic Text, where four late Greek MSS from the 14th century onwards, as well as in six other other is wrong, at least, 3,000 times – this phrase (Deut. 32. 43) is missing. It manuscripts, in marginal notes written thirty times per chapter. Few people is present in the Dead Sea Scrolls and after the 16th century. copying out a chapter of an English the Greek Septuagint. The inspired 3 For example, Matt. 17. 21; 18. 11; 23. 14; Mark 11. 26; 15. 28; Luke 23. 17. Bible today would make as many New Testament thus proves that the Two longer passages are marked as mistakes. The signature errors of these Masoretic majority text is sometimes doubtful: Mark 16. 9-20 and John 7. 53 manuscripts are excessive omissions, wrong. – 8. 11. 4 Andrew Wilson, “Scribal Habits in and more difficult readings. Greek New Testament Manuscripts”, A balanced approach Filologia Neotestamentaria, 24 [2011], The NU text is largely Alexandrian, Textual scholarship has swung from pp. 95-126. 5 H. C. Hoskier, Codex B and its Allies, that is, based on manuscripts related one extreme to another, from one Bernard Quaritch, 1914, Vol 2, pg. 1. to the early Coptic (Egyptian) versions eccentric, late and very long text based 6 The Majority Text differs from the TR and quotes from Alexandrian Church on few manuscripts (Erasmus’ TR) to in 1,838 places. Professor Daniel Wallace, The Majority Text and the Fathers. It preserves an early, but another early, eccentric, localized, very Original Text: Are They Identical? likely localized, form of text. The NU short text based on few manuscripts https://bible.org/article/majority-text- text is also often based on very few [the NU text]. and-original-text-are-they-identical. 3 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 into the vast depths, like such a spot, we might say, as the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean which The Forgiveness reaches almost seven miles down!7 And, what is more, He permits no fishing in that sea!

of Sins ‘Sheila O’Gahagan was a factory girl By MALCOLM HORLOCK Cardiff, Wales in Ireland. Broken down in health, References are from the NKJV unless stated she was advised to try the effect of a holiday by the seaside. In her heart of hearts she was perplexed by a On the page of scripture, God has employed many graphic word problem that struck much deeper pictures to convey to His people the complete removal of their than that of her health—the problem 1 sins. Ponder afresh today a few better-known examples. of her sins. One day she sat, with her Bible on her knee, looking out on God declares that the believer’s sins: work and loving ministry performed the waves breaking on the Giant’s ‘toward His name’, 6. 10. Causeway, and came upon the (i) Cannot be reached passage in Micah: “Thou wilt cast all ‘As far as the east is from the (iv) Cannot be found their sins into the depths of the sea”. west, so far has He removed our ‘You will cast all our sins into the As she surveyed the horizon, she transgressions from us’, Ps. 103. 12.2 depths of the sea’, Mic. 7. 19,6 from said to herself: “My sins are all cast David speaks, not of ‘north from where they can never be recovered. into the depths of the sea”. south’, about 12,500 miles around For, no! God does not throw them the earth’s surface, but of ‘east onto the surface of the sea, leaving A few months later she died, and from west’, thereby indicating an open the possibility that they might the following verse was found in her immeasurable distance. float back to shore. He casts them desk:

For, though a person travelling either north or south eventually arrives at a pole, from which he can proceed no further, somebody travelling east or west never reaches any such a point. There are therefore no points from which to measure the distance between ‘the east’ and ‘the west’.

(ii) Cannot be seen ‘You have cast all my sins behind Your back’, Isa. 38. 17.3 Sins are depicted as hurled well and truly out of God’s sight, as no longer being the subject of His attention or concern.

(iii) Cannot be remembered ‘Their sin I will remember no more’, Jer. 31. 34.4 ‘Seeing then, that Christ is on the throne, where are my sins? They are not on Him now. Oh, No! No! They were all put away on the cross, and buried in the grave of everlasting forgetfulness. Not one of them will ever be found. They have even gone from the very recollection of God’.5

And it is wonderful to know that the very One who pledges ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more’, Heb. 10. 17, Himself ‘is not unjust to forget’ any of their Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn - The Return of the Prodigal of the Son - The Return Rijn van Harmensz. Rembrandt 4 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 “I will cast in the depths of the ‘benefits’ which he had received forgiveness of all his sins at the top fathomless sea from the Lord,13 he placed the of his list, Ps. 103. 2, 3! All thy sins and transgressions, whatever they be; Endnotes of 1871. Having invested heavily in Though they mount up to heaven, 1 Consider also: ‘Though your sins are land and property in the downtown like scarlet, they shall be as white as area of expanding Chicago, he lost though they sink down to hell, snow’, Isa. 1. 18, and ‘wash me, and I everything overnight. But the worst They shall sink in the depths, and shall be whiter than snow’, Ps. 51. 7. was yet to come. Just two years later, above them shall swell 2 ‘The farthest point east and the in November 1873, his four daughters, farthest point west in the United eleven-year-old Annie, nine-year-old All the waves of my mercy, so States are both in Alaska . . . Pochnoi Maggie, five-year-old Bessie, and two- mighty and free: Point in the Aleutians is as far west as year-old Tanetta, drowned in mid- I will cast all thy sins in the depths of you can go and still be in the US. But Atlantic when the ship on which they if you travel a few miles farther west, travelled to Europe with their mother 8 the sea”’. you’ll end up at Alaska’s Amatignak Anna collided with another vessel. Island. Because that spot is west of Along with the other survivors, Anna (v) Cannot be read the 180th meridian separating the was brought to Cardiff, from where Eastern and Western Hemispheres, she cabled a heart-rending telegraph ‘I . . . am He who blots out your it is technically east of the rest of the message to her husband. The first transgressions’, Isa. 43. 25. We note US. But you’ll never find a spot where two words said it all, ‘Saved alone’. that ‘transgressions’ are not merely east and west are actually next to each Mr Spafford left on the next available other . . . East goes on forever. West ship to cross the Atlantic and join his ‘crossed out’, following which they goes on forever. They never meet. You wife. According to an account written might still be read, but ‘blotted can’t get farther from something than by their fifth daughter (born after the out’ – so completely erased and that . . . When you read in Scripture tragedy), midway across the ocean ‘the that your forgiven sins are separated captain called Father into his private eradicated that no trace remains. from you “as far as the east is from cabin. “A careful reckoning has been The Apostle Paul speaks in similar the west”, you are assured that they made”, he told (him), “and I believe we language, ‘God . . . having blotted are an immeasurable distance away are now passing the place where the – gone forever’, Dave Branon, Our Ville du Havre was wrecked”. . . 9 out the handwritten indictment [of Daily Bread, 9 November 2008. (The On the high seas, near the place where our indebtedness] which was against distance between the two points in his children perished, he wrote the us . . . has set it aside, nailing it to Alaska is only about 70 miles.) hymn that was to give comfort to 3 For the imagery, contrast how, in the so many’ (extracted from: Bertha the cross’, Col. 2. 12-14 lit. And so days of the Judges, Israel ‘cast’ God’s Spafford Vester, Our Jerusalem). perhaps we might say that, in one law ‘behind their backs’, Neh. 9. 26. 11 Ps. 32. 1, 2; Rom. 4. 6, 7. Remember sense at least, our transgressions 4 The Lord’s words here through that when the Lord’s wider circle of Jeremiah stand in marked contrast disciples reported back to Him that have been ‘crossed out’! with His earlier judgement pronounced ‘even the demons are subject to us on Israel’s false prophets through the in Your name’, He responded, ‘do The apostle’s point is captured same prophet, ‘behold, I, even I, will not rejoice in this, that the spirits utterly forget you . . . and will cast are subject to you, but rather rejoice brilliantly by Horatio Spafford you out of My presence’, Jer. 23. 39. because your names are written in in his soul-stirring hymn, ‘It is well The Hebrew word translated ‘forget’ heaven’, Luke 10. 17-20. If I may with my soul’: there occurs in only five other verses paraphrase His words, ‘What matters in the Old Testament. Outside of the most is not the power of my name ‘My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious book of Job (Job 11. 6; 39. 17, where the on earth, but the presence of your thought! word may signify to extract or deprive), names in heaven!’ The Saviour was My sin, not in part but the whole, the word unmistakeably carries the counselling His disciples to ensure meaning ‘to forget’, Gen. 41. 51; Isa. 44. that their joy was based, not on the Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it 21; Lam. 3. 17. ‘rollercoaster’ of success or failure no more, Interestingly, an early edition of the which they would doubtless experience Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, King James Version (dated 1638) was in His service, but on that which wrongly printed with our Lord’s words lay altogether outside the reach and O my soul!’ in Luke chapter 7 verse 47 shown range of any experiences on earth; as, ‘her sins which are many are namely, on their eternal salvation. And we do well to remember that forgotten’! Indeed, sometime earlier, the apostles 5 C. H. Mackintosh, ‘The Cross and the themselves had experienced an Mr Spafford wrote those lines at Throne’, Things New and Old, Volume 1. embarrassing public failure when the time when he had recently lost: 6 As He once drowned the Pharaoh of attempting to cast out a demon, Luke (i) all his possessions to fire, and (ii) the Exodus in ‘The depths’ of the Red 9. 40. Sea. Exod. 15. 4, 5. 12 According to Luke, those very words 10 all his four daughters to water. The 7 ‘The Challenger Deep in the Mariana ‘your sins are forgiven’ had been godly man derived his comfort and Trench is the deepest known point in spoken by Jesus to a man and a woman encouragement from that which he Earth’s oceans . . . at 10,994 metres separately, Luke 5. 20; 7. 48. On both (36,070 feet) below sea level . . . If occasions, those present questioned knew lay well outside the range of all Mount Everest were placed at this His authority to ‘forgive sins’. ‘Who earth’s trials, sorrows and sufferings; location it would be covered by over is this?’ they asked, Luke 5. 21; 7. 49. namely, the blessedness of having one mile of water’, https://geology. Who, indeed? com/records/deepest-part-of-the- The Pharisees may have been spot 11 one’s sins forgiven. ocean.shtml. (36,070 feet is over 6.83 on with their Theology (‘Who can miles.) forgive sins but God alone?’), but We do well to put aside all our 8 A. Naismith, 1200 Notes, Quotes and they were way off the mark with their Anecdotes, number 1019. Christology (‘Who is this who speaks fears and anxieties, and to bask 9 Paul actually used the same Greek blasphemies?’), Luke 5. 21. in the sunshine of the divine word in Colossians chapter 2 verse 13 ‘He selects a few of the choicest pronouncement, ‘your sins are 14 as was used in the Greek Old pearls from the casket of divine love, Testament translation of Isaiah chapter threads them on the string of memory, 12 forgiven’, 1 John 2. 12. And bear 43 verse 25. and hangs them about the neck of in mind that, when David started 10 Mr Spafford’s material wealth was gratitude’, C. H. Spurgeon, The to enumerate some of the many consumed in the Great Chicago Fire Treasury of David, on Psalm 103 verse 3. 5 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 This time, spent in meditation and in teaching, is measured. The THE GOSPEL OF more we invest, the more will be returned to us, ‘unto you that hear shall more be given’, v. 24. However, the converse applies. What we fail to invest in the scriptures, and the things of God, is lost. It can never be

MARK retrieved. Similarly, that truth which we had learnt, if it is not reinforced By JOHN BENNETT Kirkby-in-Ashfield, England 13 by further study, will also be lost. Robertson comments, ‘The man As we continue our studies in chapter 4, these verses provide who does not acquire soon loses what further teaching by parable – something that was commenced in he thinks that he has’.4 How crucial chapter 3 verse 23. to spend time in the word!

The mystery of growth, vv. 26-29 The parables in private, testimony – the bushel and the It is suggested by some vv. 21-34 bed. What each metaphor actually commentators that the phrase, Within this third section of the means is not indicated, but most ‘And he said’, v. 26, marks the chapter, the Lord moves, in part, commentators take the bushel or commencement of a further period of from the public arena to the private, basket to symbolize business and the public teaching. teaching those to whom He has bed leisure and lethargy. Both are revealed the meaning of the parable a serious hindrance to the servant The emphasis of these verses is this of the sower. and, therefore, the furtherance of mystery of growth. The farmer may testimony. The business can be a plant but how the seed germinates Of the transition from seed to light, significant thief of time and, in terms and grows, ‘he knoweth not how’, F. B. Hole comments, ‘At first of money, can generate temptation v. 27. The farmer has fulfilled his sight the transition . . . may seem and be a snare. Leisure time and the responsibility: incongruous and disconnected, but perceived need for rest can breed l ‘a man should cast seed into the . . . we shall soon see that in their lethargy and leave the work of the ground’, v. 26. The seed is what spiritual significance both parables Lord not done. is cast, or broadcast, by hand are congruous and connected. When carefully and purposefully. the word of God is received into an The truth of God is not to be hidden. l ‘he putteth in the sickle, because exercised and prepared heart it brings It is to be blazed forth, as a lamp the harvest is come’, v. 29. His forth fruit that God appreciates, upon a lampstand. The day will next responsibility is to bring in and also light that is to be seen and declare it and, hence, the duty of the the harvest at the appropriate appreciated of men’.1 disciples is plain, ‘If any man have time. Whilst the farmer has not ears to hear, let him hear’, v. 23. produced the grain, his action is It might also be noted that these needed to bring in the result. statements appear scattered The measure, vv. 24, 25 throughout the other Gospels, the God is interested in the minute What he has no control over is: only parallel being in Luke’s Gospel, details of the lives of His people. l the germination of the seed, ‘the 8. 16-18. On this point, Constable The previous verses have shown His seed should spring and grow observes, ‘It means that Jesus deep interest in our witness and its up’, v. 27. The when and how frequently used these expressions effectiveness. Here, He is concerned is outside of the control of the at other times during His teaching with our own personal reading of and farmer. No amount of anxious ministry as well as here’.2 meditation in His word. thought for the seed will change anything! The manifestation of the light, The reading of the word of God is l The process of growth, ‘the earth vv. 21-23 meant to be a daily occupation, but bringeth forth fruit of herself’, Using the example of the light on that reading is not enough. For the v. 28. It is to be noted that the a lampstand, the Lord teaches the word to gain an entrance, the Lord is earth does this by itself – there is importance of testimony. Hiebert bidding His disciples to meditate upon no human agency. Equally, the comments, ‘just as it is the function – give time to think upon, seek the process may be known about but of light to shine, so it is the duty of meaning of, and generally understand it cannot be hurried or put into a His disciples to let their light shine the principles within – God’s word. different order. that others too may come to know the Equally, once we have benefited from truth’.3 that time in the things of God, we The lesson to be learned in a practical should seek to impart that truth to and spiritual sense is that ‘neither is There was a twofold danger to others for their spiritual blessing. he that planteth anything, neither 6 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 he that watereth; but God that giveth which is edible and, potentially, In concluding this section of the increase’, 1 Cor. 3. 7. However, the medicinal, it has become something parabolic teaching, we note that Lord is teaching about the progress of more than that, providing shelter for there is a practical lesson. We are told ‘the kingdom of God’, v. 26, from its the birds who are able to ‘lodge under that the Lord ‘spake . . . unto them, inception, when the Lord sowed the the shadow of it’, v. 32. as they were able to hear it’, v. 33. seed, through to its consummation, Wuest comments, ‘The verb to hear when the Lord gathers in the harvest. The picture of the mustard seed, as refers not only to the act of hearing, illustrative of the Kingdom, would its usual meaning, but also in some The growth and development of the teach us a number of lessons: contexts, to the act of understanding, Kingdom of God remains a mystery, l The phenomenal growth does as in 1 Cor. 14:2’.7 Whilst we but all is in the hands of God who, in not produce something that acknowledge that the Lord could read His own time, will put ‘in the sickle’, is healthy. It grows beyond its the hearts of His hearers, whereas v. 29. bounds – the rise of professing we cannot, there is a challenge as Christendom is not what God to whether we make our teaching The mustard seed, vv. 30-34 desired to see from the sowing of understandable and give thought This is a further parable pertaining to the seed. to that vital issue. In the verse that the Kingdom of God. In the previous l The birds that find shelter must be follows, the Lord also reinforces the parable the emphasis has been upon seen as forces of evil, cp. v. 4.6 It importance of understanding His the seed sown and the mysterious serves a purpose for which it was teaching, spending further time process of growth from the seed. not intended – it lodges those who with His disciples to ensure that Here, that idea is continued, but the teach error and have evil intent they have grasped that teaching. emphasis is upon the outcome – the in their heart, being those of false Wuest adds, ‘He expounded . . . bush, the branches, and the birds. profession. the composite word means to give l It casts a shadow, providing additional loosening, so as to explain, The Lord draws a contrast between cover and darkness for those who make plainer and clearer, the Word of the relative insignificance of the seed have no affinity with the light. God’.8 Bible teachers, take note! and the plant that it produces. The It shelters those who are not ‘grain of mustard seed’, v. 31, was the believers at all. Endnotes smallest seed planted by any farmer. 1. F. B. Hole, Commentary on the New Grassmick comments, ‘It took 725- The Lord had said to His disciples Testament. Source: https://www. stempublishing.com/authors/hole/ 760 mustard seeds to weigh a gram, that to them, ‘it was [is] given to know NT/MARK.html#a4. 28 grams equal one ounce’.5 However, the mystery of the kingdom of God’, 2. Thomas Constable, Expository the outcome, when the plant was v. 11. For this reason, ‘when they Notes on the Bible, e-sword resource. 3. D. E. Hiebert, op. cit., pg. 116. fully grown, was a bush between ten were alone, he expounded all things 4. A. T. Robertson, op. cit. and twelve feet (three to four metres) to his disciples’, v. 34. They were the 5. John. D. Grassmick, op. cit. in height. This phenomenal growth ones to whom divine truth would be 6. Of other negative references to birds, see: Gen. 40. 17, 19; Jer. 5. 27. meant that it changed its character. imparted, so that they, in their turn, 7. K. S. Wuest, op. cit., pp. 94, 95. Classified as a herb, to provide that would teach others these things. 8. K. S. Wuest, op. cit., pg. 95

7 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 1 golden clasps. The second layer, 26. 7-13; 36. 14-18, called ‘the tent [’ôhel, a tent]’, 26. 14, was made of eleven The Tabernacle ‘curtains of goats hair’, each being By JEREMY GIBSON Derby, England thirty cubits long and four cubits broad. Posteriorly, these curtains were joined into a group of five and The tabernacle was built at Mount Sinai, according to a detailed anteriorly into a group of six, the pattern given by commandment to Moses.2 A team of highly sixth curtain folded double at the skilled and committed craftsmen, led by Bezaleel, completed front of the tent. The innermost it in about six months.3 The whole structure was an earthly edge of each group had fifty loops of representation of heavenly realities, Heb. 9. 24, a mobile sanctuary an undefined material, which were for Jehovah to dwell among His people.4 Known as ‘the tabernacle joined to the second group by fifty brass clasps. The additional two of the congregation’, 28. 43, it was here that God met with and cubits of longitudinal length hung spoke to His people, 25. 22; 29. 42, 43, and where the priests ‘over the backside of the tabernacle’; served, 28. 43; 38. 21. Each morning and evening, they offered the additional two transverse cubits burnt sacrifices, trimmed the lamps and burned sweet incense, hung one cubit over each side of the 29. 38-46; 30. 7, 8; every Sabbath they changed the showbread, tabernacle. The two outer coverings which they were permitted to eat in the holy place, Lev. 24. 5-9. [milseh, a covering]’, 26. 14, were Being ‘the tabernacle of testimony’, its presence in the camp made of ram’s skins dyed red and witnessed to onlooking Gentiles that God was with Israel.5 the water-resistant ‘skins of the sea- cow’.8

Just as the tabernacle was carefully Apart from the mandatory 100 The embroidered cherubim of the crafted according to divine talents (and 1775 shekels) of tabernacle’s inner layer were a instructions, everything Christians atonement silver,6 the materials visible reminder that angels are do ought to be subject to scripture. for the tabernacle were given interested in God’s redemptive plan The technical skill of Bezaleel voluntarily, and enthusiastically.7 A (1 Pet. 1. 12); they even watch and and Aholiab shows the spiritual total of twenty-nine talents (and 730 learn from local churches, 1 Cor. 11. perception required to effectively shekels) of gold and seventy talents 10; Eph. 3. 10. While the tabernacle’s handle God’s word, 2 Tim. 2. 15, (and 2400 shekels) of brass were waterproof outer layer was and to build into a local assembly, offered, 38. 24, 29. Men and women unattractive, it protected the rich 1 Cor. 3. 10. God has always wished brought ‘bracelets, and earrings, and colours, beauty and wealth within. to dwell with His people. He walked rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold’, Looks can be deceiving. From the with Adam in the garden, Gen. 35. 22. Women, who were able, gave outside a local assembly can seem 3. 8. The Shekinah glory, which materials they had spun, 35. 25, 26. unimpressive, yet God is there. filled the tabernacle, later filled Rulers contributed precious stones, Solomon’s temple, 1 Kgs. 8. 10, 11. spices, oil and incense, 35. 27, 28. The tent was supported by walls The Holy Spirit now resides within It was not long before Bezaleel and of hard acacia wood9 boards, each individual believers, 1 Cor. 6. 19, Aholiab had to tell Moses ‘the people board being one-and-a-half cubits and local assemblies are viewed bring much more than enough . . . wide and ten cubits high, and as God’s house, 1 Tim. 3. 15. Like So the people were restrained from overlaid with gold, 26. 15-30; 36. Israel, who offered daily morning bringing’, 36. 5, 6. Similarly, all 20-34. Protruding from the lower and evening burnt sacrifices, Christians should give to the Lord end of each board were two evenly Christians should worship every as they are able, with joyful hearts, spaced ‘tenons [yâd, hand]’, 26. 17, day. The trimming of the oil lamps realizing this opportunity is short- which were slotted into two silver can be seen to picture the Lord’s lived, 2 Cor. 9. 7. sockets. These sockets reminded tender disciplining of Christians, Israel they had been atoned for by removing their dross and enabling The tabernacle itself was a four- silver. Christians, however, ‘were them to shine more brightly through layered tent. The innermost layer, not redeemed with corruptible the Spirit’s energy (represented by 26. 1-6; 36. 8-13, referred to as ‘the things, as silver and gold . . . But the oil). Burning incense morning tabernacle [mishkân, a residence]’, with the precious blood of Christ’, and evening shows the importance consisted of ‘ten curtains of fine 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19. The southern and of praying every day, with the twined linen, and blue, and purple, northern walls were each formed of assurance that our prayers are sweet and scarlet: with cherubims of twenty boards. The western wall was to God. As Old Testament priests ate cunning work’. Each curtain was made of eight boards, two of these the showbread, Christians feed on twenty-eight cubits long and four being corner boards, which were Christ, ‘the bread of life’, John 6. 35. cubits broad. Joined together into ‘connected beneath, and . . . united While only the sons of Aaron were two sets of five, the adjoining edges together perfectly at the top unto priests in Israel, all Christians are of each group had fifty blue loops, one ring’, 26. 24.10 Each wall was priests, 1 Pet. 2. 5, 9. attached to the other group by fifty held together by five gold-plated 8 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 acacia bars which were slotted into designed exclusively for the burning the Holy Spirit), topped the main golden rings firmly attached to the of sweet incense (representing shaft and each of its six branches. boards. The middle bar stretched prayer, Rev. 8. 3, 4). It was carried Beaten out of one piece of pure gold, the entire length of its wall. Once by two gold-covered acacia staves, this beautiful lampstand required erected, the tent was pegged with slotted into two golden rings. It was immense skill in its manufacture. brass pins, 27. 19. atoned for annually by applying sin- offering blood to its horns. At the tabernacle entrance stood A vail11 split the tabernacle into five acacia pillars, covered with two main sections: ‘the holy place, Second, on the north side was an gold and slotted into five brazen and the most holy’. This ‘vail of acacia table,14 overlaid with pure sockets, 26. 36, 37; 36. 37, 38. Each blue, and purple, and scarlet, and gold and edged by a double golden pillar had golden hooks and gilded fine twined linen of cunning work crown sandwiching ‘a border of connecting-rods (JND), upon with cherubims’ hung under the an hand breadth round about’. It which was suspended a hanging ‘of tabernacle clasps, upon four acacia was carried by two gold covered blue, and purple, and scarlet, and pillars. These pillars, having four acacia staves slotted into golden fine twined linen, wrought with golden hooks, were themselves rings on each of its four corners. For needlework’. It was here Aaron and overlaid with gold and slotted into this table, upon which sat twelve his sons were consecrated to the four silver sockets, each socket shewbread cakes, were made pure priest’s office, 29. 1-15; 40. 12-16; weighing one talent. Inside the golden dishes, pans, jars and bowls, Lev. 8, and, within which, Aaron was vail was placed ‘the ark of the 25.29 NASB. ordered to remain while mourning testimony’, 25. 10-22; 37. 1-9, an his sons’ fiery judgment, 10. 6, 7, a acacia box, overlaid with fine gold, Third, on the south side stood the solemn reminder that ‘our God is a inside and out, bordered by a golden golden lampstand (menôrâh).15 consuming fire’, Heb. 12. 29. crown and sealed with a golden lid Since there were no windows in (the mercy seat). With the exception the tabernacle this lampstand was of the high priest’s entrance into the needed to give the priests light to Endnotes most holy on the Day of Atonement serve in the holy place. One talent 1 Unless otherwise stated, references are from Exodus. to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat, of pure gold was used to make 2 25. 9, 40; 26. 30; 31. 6, 11; 38. 22; 39. the vail (picturing Christ’s flesh) this lampstand and all its vessels, 42, 43. 3 19. 1; 24. 18; 31. 1-11; 32. 1-19; 35. 10-20, formed an impenetrable barrier including tongs and snuffdishes. 30-35; 36. 2; 38. 22, 23; 40. 1, 2, 17. into Jehovah’s presence.12 By way of Projecting out of two sides of its 4 25. 8; 29. 43-46; 40. 34-38. contrast, Christians have unfettered central shaft were three branches, 5 38. 21; Acts 7. 44. 6 30. 11-16; 38. 25-28. access to God, Heb. 10. 19-22. upon which were three almond- 7 25. 1-7; 35. 4-9, 21-29; 36. 1-7; 38. 24-31. blossom-like cups, a bulb and a 8 Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary There were three pieces of furniture flower (suggesting fruitfulness). on the Old Testament, 10 vol. Hendrickson Publishers, 1996, vol. 1, in the holy place. First, just outside The central stem itself had four pg. 437. the vail was placed the golden almond-blossom-like cups, bulbs 9 J. Evans, God’s Trees, Day One 13 Publications, 2015, pg. 24. altar. Constructed of acacia – and flowers, three of the four 10 H. Spurrell, A Translation of the including its horns (speaking of cups positioned beneath the three Old Testament Scriptures, Penfold strength) – covered with gold and pairs of branches. Lamps, burning Book and Bible House. 11 26. 31-33; 36. 35, 36; 38. 27; Heb. 9. 2, framed with a golden crown, it was brightly with olive oil (symbolizing 3, 7, 8; 10. 19, 20. 12 Lev. 16. 14; Heb. 9. 7, 8; 10. 19, 20. 13 30. 1-10; 37. 25-29; 40. 26, 27. 14 25. 23-30; 26. 35; 37. 10-16. 15 25. 31-40; 26. 20, 21; 37. 17-24; Lev. 24. 1-4.

9 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 Children and parents, vv. 20, 21 Interpersonal If the lovely relationship in verses 18 and 19 is in vogue, it is likely that this relationship will thrive, though responsibilities – not always. The book of Proverbs gives some excellent instructions for children.2 Some excellent advice for ‘mutual deference’ parents is also given in Proverbs, in addition to the well-known, though Colossians 3.18 - 4. 6 12 often misquoted, verse, ‘He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but By WILLIAM M. BANKS Hamilton, Scotland he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes’, Prov. 13. 24.3

The apostle has just shown the need for a responsible, The word to children, v. 20 transformed life as a result of having ‘put off the old man’, v. 9, The commandment given here is and having ‘put on the new man’, v. 10. Following application very clear, ‘obey [to listen under as to the believer’s life in general, he now turns to its application looking up] your parents’. The extent of the obedience is ‘in all things’. in particular interpersonal relationships. The section is The reason adduced is that it ‘is comprehensive, covering the home life and the social life of well-pleasing in the Lord’ JND, RV. the believer. The subject of wives and husbands, children and There is a lovely dignity involved parents, servants and masters are all covered. A final paragraph, in this heeding and respecting. In 4. 2-6, completes the overall section with the only basis upon Ephesians, the additional levers of which interpersonal relationships can be adequately maintained being the ‘first commandment with – prayer, vv. 2-4. The requirement for an appropriate ‘walk’ promise’ and long life are added, and gracious ‘speech’, vv. 5, 6, which is the basis of a spiritual 6. 1-3. In the case where the child is the only believer in the home, the law testimony to those ‘that are without’, is then covered. The apostle of Christ always comes first, with any is thus moving from a ‘Christ-centred’ life focused on character, necessary deviation to be exercised 3. 5-17, to a ‘Christ-controlled’ life focused on action, 3. 18 - 4. 6. in an attitude of love.

The word to fathers, v. 21 Outline from this that home life is being There is wise counsel here for parents, Wives and husbands, 3. 18, 19; envisaged. The reason for the call to ‘don’t irritate your children by being Children and parents, 3. 20, 21; submission is that ‘it is fit [proper]’; so unreasonable that children lose Servants [slaves] and masters, it is consistent with divine order. heart’, be positive, ‘make obedience 3. 22 - 4. 1; The sphere of its operation is ‘in easy . . . train them to be gentlemen’,4 Prayer and testimony by life and lip, the Lord’, cp. 3. 20 JND, RV; 4. 7, ‘bring them up in the nurture and 4. 2-6. 17. The phrase occurs four times in admonition of the Lord’, Eph. 6. Colossians and around forty times in 4. The reason given here is, ‘lest Wives and husbands, 3. 18, 19 the Pauline Epistles. An awareness they be discouraged [“become The treatment of the subject here of the Lordship of Christ is key to a spiritless”, found only here in the is less comprehensive than in the successful Christian marriage. This New Testament]’. A proper balance is parallel passage in Ephesians, where is in contrast with the demise of the necessary and effective. submission is enjoined as ‘one to family unit, leading to the breakdown another’ before detailing specific of the social fabric in society and all Servants (slaves) and masters, relationships.1 Here, submission is forms of anarchy. 3. 22 - 4. 1 confined to the home situation, but It is likely that Christian slaves the principal ideas are similar. The The love of the husband, v. 19 are in view in continuance of the Lordship of Christ is the key: ‘in the The word to the husband is in the context of the believer’s home. The Lord’, v. 18; ‘unto the Lord’, v. 20; ‘of present active imperative tense. It principles, however, are applicable the Lord’, v. 24. demands the expression of affection to all employees and employers. The as a necessary precedent as well as abolition of slavery is not the result of The submission of the wife, v. 18 response to the submission of the demonstrations but the inculcation In this verse, the apostle gives an wife – active and unceasing care. The of biblical doctrine and practice. The exhortation, the reason for it and absence of bitterness is enjoined, ‘do exhortation to slaves is more extensive the sphere in which it operates. not be harsh with them’ ESV. There is, than to masters – perhaps indicating The exhortation to the wives is of course, no question of superiority, that Christians were more likely to be unambiguous, ‘submit yourselves inferiority nor inequality envisaged in employees than employers. The letter unto your own husbands’. It is clear the wife-husband relationship. to Philemon gives lovely balancing 10 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 truth in the subject matter of this heartily, as to the Lord . . . not unto are indicated in verse 3, ‘us’, i.e., Paul paragraph. men’, v. 23. The same idea is found and Timothy, but perhaps also the in Ecclesiastes chapter 9 verse 10, wider apostolic community. If they The exhortations to ‘servants’, ‘Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, needed it, so do we!8 The object of the vv. 22, 23 do it with thy might’. prayers is threefold: first, that ‘a door The apostle covers three things in for the word’ RV might be opened;9 these verses: the response anticipated The basis of the exhortations, second, that the ‘mystery of Christ’ from believing employees, ‘obey’; vv. 24, 25 as the subject of the gospel, for which the sphere in which the activity Service will be assessed at the Paul was in bonds, might be spoken;10 is undertaken, ‘the flesh’; and the Judgement Seat of Christ. Each and, third, that the communication manner of the service, ‘heartily’. The believer, without exception, will might be effective. Perhaps, in this apostle is very demanding, ‘obey ‘receive’ for a ‘good thing’, Eph. 6. 8, latter point, Paul also had his defence in all things your masters’. Similar or ‘receive for the wrong’, Col. 3. 25. before the imperial tribunal in view, exhortations are given elsewhere The sense of ‘shall receive’ means he Eph. 6. 20. with the reason being ‘that the acts upon himself. In other words, name of God and his doctrine be not each is responsible for the reward he Walking, v. 5 blasphemed’, to ‘adorn the doctrine’, receives, ‘his own reward according to There is wisdom necessary for and that ‘this is thankworthy’.5 his own labour’, 1 Cor. 3. 8! There will effective testimony to ‘them that be no mistakes since the rewarder is are without’: to walk ‘honestly’, The sphere of activity is ‘according ‘the Lord’; ‘the Lord Christ’ is the One with a ‘good report’, 1 Thess. 4. 12; to the flesh’, i.e., the world order, not whom we serve. 1 Tim. 3. 7. Unbelievers are on the the relationships which obtain in lookout! It is necessary to buy up the assembly. The slave could be in There are two possibilities envisaged: the opportunities – ‘making the best a leadership role there, cp. 3. 11, and to ‘receive the reward’ inherited; or to use of the time’, Eph. 5. 15, 16 ESV. could leave slavery if the opportunity ‘receive for the wrong which he hath ‘Buying’ can be costly! presented itself, 1 Cor. 7. 21, 22. The done’. The Judgement Seat is not to manner of the service is outlined here, be contemplated lightly. We can be Speaking, v. 6 vv. 22, 23. The attitude to be adopted assured, however, of the impartiality There are two necessary ingredients: is unlike that of the world, ‘not with of the judgement; there is ‘no respect grace and seasoning [prepared] ‘with eyeservice . . . but in singleness of of persons’, v. 25. salt’.11 Salt was connected to ‘wit’ in heart, fearing God’. In other words, pagan society, and indicates ‘common not external but true, faithful and The exhortation to masters, 4. 1 sense’, or ‘rendering the speech conscientious, or, in ‘all good fidelity’, The exhortation to masters is to ‘give palatable’, ‘not too much, not too Titus 2. 10. There must be a true . . . that which is just and equal’. They little’. Grace and salt are both seen motive, ‘not . . . as menpleasers; but are to act fairly and impartially. The with the Lord, Luke 4. 22, 25.12 The . . . fearing God’, v. 22; not fear of an basis of the exhortation is given in the grace and salt give the combination earthly master, but reverence for their balance of the verse, ‘ye also have a necessary to know how ‘to give an heavenly Lord. The comprehensive Master in heaven’. They should treat answer to every man’, 1 Pet. 3. 15; conclusion is ‘whatsoever ye do, do their slaves in the same way they want cp. Acts 6. 10. Paul exemplified this, to be treated by their Master, cp. Eph. speaking appropriately to the Gentiles 6. 9; Jas. 5. 1-4. Believers should be at Athens and to the Jews at Antioch the best employees as well as the best in Pisidia, Acts 17. 16-34; 13. 14-41. employers.6 Endnotes Prayer and testimony by life 1 Eph. 5. 21 - 6. 9. 2 See Prov. 1. 8; 6. 20; 23. 22. See also and lip, vv. 2-6 Deut. 27. 16. 3 See Prov. 10. 13; 22. 15; 23. 13, 14; 26. Praying, vv. 2-4 3. 4 F. F. Bruce, The Epistle to the In these verses the apostle shows the Colossians, Erdmans, 1984. threefold attitude to be adopted in 5 1 Tim. 6. 1, 2; Titus 2. 9, 10; 1 Pet. 2. prayer: continuance, watching and 18-20. 6 See Jacob, Gen. 30. 26, 27 (his ‘thanksgiving’. In Acts, they ‘continued employer even asked him to state stedfastly [to persevere, assiduous] . . . his salary! 30. 28-31, twice!); 31. 6, 38-40, and the best employers, Boaz, in prayers’, 2. 42, and the apostles gave Ruth 2. 4-17. themselves ‘continually’ to prayer, 6. 4. 7 Cp. ‘Watch ye and pray’, Mark 14. 38; It was ‘first of all [the all things]’ to be Luke 18. 1. 8 Cp. Eph. 6. 18, 19; Rom. 15. 30-32; 1 observed in a local assembly, 1 Tim. 2. Thess. 5. 25; 2 Thess. 3. 1, 2. 1-3. There is also a need for watching 9 Cp. 1 Cor. 16. 9; 2 Cor. 2. 12; Rev. 3. 8. in prayer; to be vigilant, to stay awake, 10 Cp. Gal. 1. 16; Eph. 6. 19. 11 See also Luke 4. 22; Ps. 45. 2; Eph. 4. v. 2!7 ‘Thanksgiving’ indicates a spirit 29; Matt. 5. 13. of appreciation and gratitude, cp. 1. 3; 12 Also, ‘neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more’, John 8. 11. 1 Tim. 2. 1. The subjects of the prayers 11 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 It is because this command comes An Assembly of the Lord’s people from the heart. Note the words, ‘O ye Corinthians . . . our heart is enlarged’, will be a people among whom . . . v. 11. He looks upon these believers and loves them, ‘I speak as unto my children’, v. 13. SEPARATION IS The qualities of love, vv. 11-13 Too often this section of the chapter has been used as a stick with which to beat the people of God – we are living REQURED too close to the world and adopting its ideas. But, as we have seen, in By JOHN BENNETT Kirkby-in-Ashfield, England Part 10 the verses that introduce Paul’s instruction of verse 14 there is a wholly Following the recent Covid-19 pandemic this subject has taken different motive. His appeal is from a on a different meaning and significance. Whilst the concept heart of love and one of the qualities is not new, social distancing has entered the vocabulary and of that love is the open mouth, ‘our mouth is open unto you’, v. 11. An consciousness of the population. The need to exercise care to open mouth is a symbol of free speech. avoid the possibility of contamination has become paramount Wuest translates as ‘we speak freely for individuals and companies of the Lord’s people. The foe, to you, we keep nothing back’.1 Of an unseen virus, could have devastating effects upon anyone the enlarged heart, Wuest suggests infected. Vigilance is not an option but a necessity. that Paul’s heart was ‘widened in its sympathy towards you’.2 What parent could withhold the warning shout to In that context the subject of chapter 6 verses 11 to 18, we read Paul’s their child in the midst of danger? separation does not seem extreme stark command, ‘Be ye not unequally What shepherd would allow a believer but obvious. If someone comes into yoked together with unbelievers’. to ‘find out the hard way’ when the the assembly who is infected with Scripture is not silent! Scripture is outcome may be spiritual loss? Whilst the coronavirus, without sensible not deceptive but presents the truth. the warning may not always be precautions, any number of people Sadly, what used to be a frequent heeded, it does not excuse the failure could catch the virus and, in the worst passage of scripture in ministry is to issue it. case, die. seldom heard taught. It was written to the Corinthians, and to us, as a In the light of recent events it might Bringing that background into the warning about worldly associations seem pointless to ask, ‘why should spiritual realm, perhaps we have not and their dangers. Today, the world we listen and heed?’ Yet many have been as conscious of an unseen enemy has not lost its deceptive appeal, and ignored the instructions of ‘lockdown’. that pursues the believer. We face a the line between truth and error has Many have flouted the restrictions world of sin, as seriously infectious become increasingly blurred by those issued by governments across the and deeply dangerous as any virus who have ‘a form of godliness’ but world. But it is not the potential that humanity has known. Its effects deny the power thereof, 2 Tim. 3. 5. danger that Paul bases his appeal are as insidious and destructive, upon. The reason the Corinthian bringing many a promising Christian However, before coming to the believers should heed the warning to desperate straits and ineffective verses mentioned above, it would be is given by the apostle in verse 13. If service – shipwreck. That world of helpful to explore the context of the Paul had shown his love for them, sin and enmity towards God is all chapter. Paul’s command does not here and elsewhere, they should around us. It permeates everything emanate from a cold, impersonal, reciprocate that love in obedience, ‘in that we come into contact with – the condemnatory heart. He writes in return for the same’ NKJV, or as ‘an school, the college, the university, verse 1, ‘We then, as workers together answering recompense’ JND. Love is the workplace, and the places of with him, beseech you’. It is an appeal very practical, and it is demonstrated social interaction generally. We are from Paul and his fellow workers, in the simplest ways. Speaking as their exposed to it in the media, on our individuals who had worked amongst spiritual father, Paul says that they phones, on our radios and other the Corinthians and knew them, should not find it difficult to ‘make electronic devices. It seems that and the city in which they sought to a large place in your heart for me’, we cannot escape it. What makes it worship and witness. But more than Wuest.3 doubly dangerous is its appeal – it that, they were ‘workers together with is presented to us as ‘harmless’, him’, whom the previous chapter will The questions of love, ‘entertaining’, even ‘healthy’. indicate as the Lord. The command vv. 14-16 has divine authority! Yet the words of The five rhetorical questions posed in As we turn to the word of God and verse 1 seem to conflict with the idea this section show the incompatibility the section of verses in 2 Corinthians of a command – ‘we . . . beseech you’. of believer and unbeliever. The first 12 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 question shows the effect upon our serve two masters: for either he will it is significant that Paul summarizes walk, v. 14. The apostle is not talking hate the one, and love the other; or else his argument not with his own words about people, as pleasant as they may he will hold to the one, and despise the but with those of the word of God be. He is writing about principles. It other’, Matt. 6. 24. itself, ‘God hath said’, v. 16. These are is vitally important to look behind not Paul’s own ideas or an expression the personalities. What fellowship ‘What part [“portion” RV] hath he of his own prejudices; this is ‘saith can there be between righteousness that believeth with an infidel?’ v. 15. the Lord’, vv. 17, 18. Drawing from a and lawlessness? They do not The fourth question challenges our number of scriptures, Paul shows that pull together. Moral excellence is witness. The believer has no portion we cannot enjoy the fellowship and conformity to the will of God whereas with the unbeliever. The believer’s fatherhood of God whilst maintaining wickedness is not. It is the opposite. As part is heavenly. Why would we want friendship with the world. Amos asked Israel, the relevance of his to become occupied with earthly question applies here; how ‘can two things? Not only can earthly things The force of the command is walk together, except they be agreed?’ consume our time, they can damage ‘Wherefore come out from the midst of Amos 3. 3. These two, righteousness our testimony. Rather, the apostle them’, v. 17 JND. The Corinthians may and unrighteousness, point and pull in says elsewhere, ‘set your affection on not have realized how far in they had opposite directions. things above, not on things on the drifted. A careful reading of the Gospel earth’, Col. 3. 2. accounts of Peter’s denial of the Lord What do light and darkness have show how he ‘followed afar off’, Luke in common? The second question The final question is one that affects 22. 54, then ‘sat down among them’, concerns our moral welfare, v. 14. our worship, ‘what agreement hath v. 55. Departure from our ‘first love’ is Here is the reason to exercise spiritual the temple of God with idols?’, v. not usually one giant step but a series social distancing! There is nothing 16. As Newberry points out, the of many little, almost imperceptible shared and no common ground assembly is ‘the inner temple of God’,4 steps! The dangers are real for every between light and darkness. The indicating the presence of God. This believer. The serpent has not lost his Apostle John reminds us that ‘God is serious! We are living stones which subtlety. is light, and in him is no darkness at are ‘built up a spiritual house, an all’, 1 John 1. 5. Any attempt to bring holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual But the apostle shows that we should light and darkness together will mean sacrifices’, 1 Pet. 2. 5. Thus, to bring not just separate ourselves physically the utter destruction of the character idols into the presence of God is to or externally. In adding ‘and touch not of one or the other. Our attitude to insult the name and character of the the unclean thing’, v. 17, he is speaking darkness is given by Paul elsewhere, God that we have supposedly come of those things that we can cling to. ‘have no fellowship with the unfruitful to worship. It shows disobedience He is emphasizing that old practices works of darkness, but rather reprove to His command, Deut. 5. 7, a lack have to be cleared out completely. The them’, Eph. 5. 11. of understanding of the examples of children of Israel left Egypt physically biblical history, cp. 2 Kgs. 21. 4, 5, and but, sadly, did not leave it mentally or The third question affects our a shallow appreciation of the ‘living emotionally, cp. Exod. 16. 3; Num. 11. warfare, ‘what concord [‘accord’ God’, v. 16. 4-6. NKJV] hath Christ with Belial?’ v. 15. The picture is of two opposing forces Quotations from the word In giving up the world and its with two opposing commanders, Christ of God, vv. 16-18 amusements, we are to receive and Belial. With a command to arms, Any spiritual argument designed to blessings of a far greater character. we cannot show allegiance to both. The change the believer’s behaviour should Perhaps we have been guilty of Lord taught His disciples, ‘No man can be supported by the word of God and presenting the truth of separation as a wholly negative principle whereas the converse is true. God will dwell in us, will walk with us along the way as our source of knowledge, will manifest His care over us as our protector and benefactor, and will show His favour to us as the objects of His love. Can the temporal things of the world really be compared with such wonderful blessings?

Endnotes 1 K. S. Wuest, The New Testament: an expanded translation, Eerdmans, 1961. 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid. 4 Thomas Newberry, The English- Greek Testament, Bagsters, n.d.

13 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 down of strong holds’ and we must be The Twelve Tribes of Israel ruthless in laying hold on God’s power to this end, 2 Cor. 10. 3-5. Despite this evident compromise, apparently Manasseh did not think it hypocritical EPHRAIM AND to complain to Joshua that they had insufficient space. How often we do this – we are presented with a problem, MANASSEH 13 for which we are actually partly to blame, yet we place the onus of remedy By LLOYD STOCK Bury St Edmunds, England on a third party. Joshua’s leadership is brave. To use modern parlance, he In the introduction to this series we explained how it was that insists that Manasseh ‘own it’, and go Ephraim and Manasseh came to feature in the twelve tribes of after the land, Josh. 17. 14-18. Israel. Revisiting that introduction at this point is recommended, Prominence forfeited Precious Seed, Vol. 73 No. 2. Infighting was a feature before and after the split of the kingdoms and Ephraim Perfect start But at least Ephraim was upheld by was often the culprit. One wonders One imagines that home life for their faithful leader, Joshua, who stood whether his double portion went to his Manasseh and Ephraim was very with Caleb from Judah, Num. 13. 8; head, cp. Isa. 28. 1. When the nation different to the dysfunctional one 14. 6. And at least Manasseh was later became divided, God chose Jeroboam their uncles grew up in. Theirs was a upheld by the daughters of Zelophehad, from Ephraim to rule the northern happy, stable home, surrounded by the who were zealous for the land God tribes. God graciously promised him comforts afforded them by Joseph’s had promised, 27. 1-11. The Pentateuch blessing if he walked in the ways of elite position in government. They also closes with Moses’ blessing upon the David, 1 Kgs. 11. 37, 38. Alas, he walked enjoyed an exclusive, joint blessing two tribes, positively overflowing with in the way that seemed right in his own from their grandfather, Gen. 48. 20. high expectations. eyes, bringing outright idolatry into the And if that was not enough, Ephraim, north. Thus, ‘Ephraim’ became a way meaning ‘fruitful’, received Jacob’s Pitiful compromise of referring collectively to idolatrous double portion, 48. 19. How disappointing to read of their Israel, and her demise is graphically compromise in Judges chapter 1 portrayed in the book of Hosea. Readers Of all the tribes of Israel we might verses 27 to 29. Intimidated by the are encouraged to read Psalm 78 where think that these two were guaranteed Canaanites, they spared them and Ephraim (Israel) is juxtaposed with to go far. They will blaze a trail for their cities in return for labour.2 Yet, Judah, led by a man after God’s own God, refuse to compromise and, if a shepherd boy with a sling can heart. It is a deeply sobering tale for surely, will never forget the incredible topple Goliath, then a sandal-wearing those who hold potential for God. circumstances of their birth. troop, empowered by the Lord of hosts, could have toppled the Canaanite Purpose secured Ephraim and Manasseh’s story will strongholds like Megiddo, 1. 27-33. This is not to say that our fidelity to God be the story of so many readers. We Carnal means of compromise will not down here has any ultimate bearing on have enjoyed the comforts of a godly do. ‘We do not war after the flesh . . . His final purposes. God can, and will, home, sheltered from all the world’s the weapons of our warfare are . . . take Judah and Ephraim and make dysfunction. We know the grace of God mighty through God to the pulling them one again, Ezek. 37. 19; cp. Hos. that saved our parents and perhaps our 1. 11. He can, and will, apportion both grandparents too1 and, wonderfully, Ephraim and Manasseh land along with we have come to know it for ourselves their peers, Ezek. 48. 4-6. At the end of through faith. God’s blessings have the day, God’s purposes will stand. But, been extended to us despite being since we have a case study in Ephraim Gentiles in the flesh, Eph. 2. 11. Would and Manasseh of how it is possible to God that such circumstances would to finish poorly even having had a guarantee our spiritual success. Alas, it comfortable start, may we learn from was not so with Ephraim and Manasseh, their mistakes, possess our possessions and nor is it necessarily so with us. without compromise, and walk ‘worthy of the vocation wherewith . . . [we] are Promising growth called’, Eph. 4. 1. At first, things look fairly good for the Endnotes two tribes. Ephraim leads one of the 1 Cp. Gen. 50. 23. camps in their wilderness sojourn. They 2 Whilst the law made provision for the employment of foreigners, Lev. 25. manage to avoid any specific mention 44-46, this was to be held in careful of stirring trouble, though Manasseh balance with taking possession of the was implicated in the spies’ bad report. land, Deut. 20. 10-18. 14 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 of a spiritually mature person that has God’s approval – both young Proverbs and old should aspire to it. By WARREN HENDERSON Chippewa Falls, USA Because individual proverbs contain easy to understand sayings and are Introduction and harmful, and profitable and couched in a concise poetic format, Scholars have debated what worthless behaviour is more memorization was encouraged, mashal, the Hebrew word rendered difficult because of its practical and retention enhanced. Frequent ‘proverb’ in the Old Testament implications. This is especially true word-pictures throughout the book means. Observation tells us that a in questionable areas of conduct also assist us with understanding a proverb is a pithy maxim, often of – thankfully, Proverbs provides particular proverb’s meaning and a metaphorical nature, to express a meaningful guidance and stern application. This ensures that all simile. This understanding would warnings for such facets of daily of God’s people will find Proverbs a agree with what many believe the living. valuable source of guidance in all of word ‘proverb’ literally means, ‘to life’s affairs. It is noteworthy that the be like’, thus prompting the reader Purpose authors do not address the Jewish to consider an association of things. Proverbs is different from any other nation per se, but rather individuals Proverbs, then, is a collection of book in our Bible, in that it is neither who must make right choices daily. succinct common-sense sayings, historical, nor prophetic, nor law, Thus, Solomon’s appeal is to ‘a which, by comparison or contrast, nor a narrative, nor ritualistic in wise man [someone who] will hear, convey a practical certainty that nature. While it certainly belongs and will increase learning’, 1. 5. We should be heeded. The book of with the other books of wisdom, it is cannot force others to change their Proverbs provides a lengthy contrast clearly distinct from them in format ways or correct their bad habits, but of wisdom and foolishness. Such and purpose. We do not need to read with God’s help each believer can practical wisdom should preserve far into Proverbs to understand the become more Christ-like by yielding the younger generation from purpose of the book, the writer tells to God’s word. repeating the mistakes of their us in the opening verses. Notice the parents, 1. 5. author’s fourfold intention for his The overall purpose of Proverbs is to book: teach God’s people godly character Biblical wisdom is not knowledge and wise conduct, so that they alone, nor philosophical speculation ‘To know wisdom and can avoid the pitfalls of sin and about our existence; it is learning instruction, to perceive the of foolish behaviour. If wisdom is and experiencing principles words of understanding, to learned, if prudence is gained, if of a God-honouring life. While receive the instruction of godly character is shaped, and if six different Hebrew words are wisdom, Justice, judgment, divine counsel is heeded, believers translated ‘wisdom’ in Proverbs, and equity; to give prudence to will be able to live ‘skilfully’ before the first to appear, and the most the simple, to the young man the Lord. As further explained common word in the book, is knowledge and discretion’, later, the ‘fool’ in Proverbs is not chokmah, which means ‘to have Prov. 1. 2-4 NKJV. a mentally challenged person, skill’. Just as sailors, singers and but someone who rejects divine craftsmen have expertise in their Proverbs is God’s textbook for knowledge and wisdom: ‘The fear of related professions, a believer is teaching His people: to have wise the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, to be competent in godly living. and disciplined behaviour, to and the knowledge of the Holy Knowledge can be memorized, but learn proper reasoning skills, to One is understanding’, 9. 10. ‘The wisdom is dynamic; it must think understand moral ethics, and to fool has said in his heart, “There through what is known in order to impart prudence, so they would not is no God”’, Ps. 14. 1. A person who render the most profitable response. be gullible, but exercise wisdom has no time nor respect for God is Wisdom skilfully applied will guide in all matters. While learning a fool, because he is morally and righteous, honest, pure, and orderly wise and discreet behaviour is spiritually bankrupt and does not behaviour. profitable for readers of any age, the know it. Accordingly, in Proverbs, focus of Proverbs is to instil these foolishness is closely linked with Proverbs is a treasure-tome of godly virtuous qualities into the younger death, which normally speaks of the wisdom addressing a vast number generation, 1. 4. In fact, Solomon entire realm that conflicts with life, of timeless topics. Where the invokes ‘my son’ terminology some more than merely a single event that books of the law decreed righteous fifteen times in the first seven ends physical existence. May God’s statutes to be obeyed, Proverbs goes chapters to address his own children people learn wisdom and avoid the further, to direct proper attitudes or possibly young pupils. After deadly foolishness that Solomon and discretion in daily living. Moral chapter 7 the phrases ‘wise son’ or warns us about in Proverbs. conduct is explicitly declared to us ‘foolish son’ are repeatedly used to in God’s word; however, discerning convey the same tenor. To this end, Divisions/Outline between wise and foolish, helpful Proverbs provides a character sketch The content of Proverbs is difficult i PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 00 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 00 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 to classify because of the wide range 1,005 songs. Solomon was a prolific disappointments. Regardless of subjects addressed, often within writer, but the Lord has determined of authorship or the timing of the same chapter. C. I. Scofield to preserve only a small portion of compilation, the Spirit of God has suggests four main topical divisions Solomon’s literary works for our inspired and maintained a collection for Proverbs: benefit, perhaps because he did not of priceless wisdom for humanity to walk with the Lord in his autumn benefit from – Proverbs is a book of 1 Fatherly exhortations addressed years. heavenly guidance for earthly living. mainly to the young, Prov. 1-9. 2 Wisdom and the fear of God The writers of Proverbs chapter Observation contrasted with folly and sin, 22 verse 17 to chapter 24 verse 34 Unlike Ecclesiastes, Proverbs is Prov. 10-24. are identified as ‘the wise’, 22. 17; occupied with the wider subject of 3 Proverbs of Solomon selected by 24. 23. Perhaps these men were wisdom, which is centred in the the men of Hezekiah, Prov. 25-29. known for their profound wisdom fear of the Lord, not just with the 4 Supplementary Proverbs by Agur prior to Solomon’s time and he nature of man as he is. It is observed and Lemuel, Prov. 30, 31.1 therefore chose to include some of that when Solomon refers to God their writings with his own. Many in Proverbs, he uses ‘Jehovah’ as a Some, like William MacDonald, of the sayings in this section are rule, rather than the less personal have divided Proverbs according to warnings, i.e., ‘do not’ and require term of ‘God’, which is rarely found authorship and themes: two to four lines to complete the in the book, and then mostly as a 1. Introduction, Prov. 1. 1-7. thought. The proverbs contained modifier. However, in Ecclesiastes, 2. Proverbs of Solomon on wisdom in chapters 25-29 were written Solomon uses the term ‘God’ almost and folly, Prov. 1. 8 – 9. 18. by Solomon but compiled nearly exclusively, until he speaks of the 3. Proverbs of Solomon on practical three centuries later by men of fear of Jehovah at the end. Jehovah morality, Prov. 10. 1 – 22. 16. Hezekiah, 25. 1. Agur and Lemuel supplies for His covenant people 4. Proverbs of wise men, Prov. 22. 17 contributed Proverbs chapters 30 the very wisdom they require to – 24. 34. and 31 respectively; their identities maintain fellowship with Him; what 5. Proverbs of Solomon compiled by are unknown. Given their names, revelation is needed is supplied. The Hezekiah’s men, Prov. 25-29. they are not likely to be of Jewish secular axiom proclaims, ‘Ignorance 6. The words of Agur, Prov. 30. descent; furthermore, Lemuel is is bliss’, but Proverbs declares that it 7. The words King Lemuel’s mother referred to as a king, 31. 1, and there is foolish to live in wilful ignorance. taught him, Prov. 31. 1-9. is no Jewish record of such a man This highlights the wonderful 8. The ideal wife and mother, Prov. ruling in Israel. Agur and Lemuel benefit of studying and heeding 31. 10-31.2 may have been alternative names for Proverbs – joyful communion with Solomon, but this seems unlikely. the Lord and enjoyment of His Irrespective of how it might be The acrostic poetry construction of blessing! outlined, Proverbs addresses a Proverbs chapter 31 verses 10-31 is host of beneficial topics: sound a distinct stylistic change from the business practices, disciplined previous nine verses, which were living, generosity, controlling the written by Lemuel. This suggests tongue, avoiding gossip, rearing that an unknown author may have children, moral purity, handling penned that portion of the text at a peer pressure, managing anger, later date. maintaining a good marriage, self- control, greed, social relationships, Date and Historical Setting picking good friends, substance Since Solomon reigned as Israel’s abuse, grief, lying, laziness, king from 971 to 932 BC, his ignorance, death, anxiety, and many literary works would have been more. If we want to be successful in composed during that time. The life, from the eternal perspective, final compilation, assuming the we need to read, understand, and men of Hezekiah completed the practise the wisdom imparted in arrangement, would have been about Proverbs. 700 BC. Sid Buzzell suggests that ‘Solomon wrote the Song of Songs Endnotes Authorship in his early adult years, Proverbs in 1 C. I. Scofield, The New Scofield According to the text and the his middle years, and Ecclesiastes Study Bible, KJV, Oxford University Hebrew superscripts, Solomon, near the end of his life as he Press, 1967, pg. 672. 3 2 William MacDonald, Believer’s a man impressively gifted with reflected on his experiences’. This Bible Commentary, Thomas Nelson divine wisdom, 1 Kgs. 4. 29-34, is seems reasonable, as several early Publishers, 1989, pg. 791. the main author of Proverbs, Prov. chapters in Proverbs are addressed 3 Sid Buzzell, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, edited by J. F. 1. 1; 10. 1; 25. 1. According to 1 Kings to his son of a marriageable age, Walvoord and Roy Zuck, Victor chapter 4 verse 32 Solomon uttered and Ecclesiastes is his reflection Books, 1986, pg. 902. some 3,000 proverbs and wrote on a full life of experiences and iv PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 (later Lord) Tennyson, and Christopher Henry Alford, biblical scholar Wordsworth. His first collection of poems was published before he was twenty-two years of age, and later he and polymath (1810-1871) edited the works of the metaphysical poet John Donne. He wrote hymns, By BRIAN CLATWORTHY Newbury, England including his most famous and enduring hymn, ‘Come, Ye Thankful Henry Alford was born in the city of London on 10 October 1810. People, Come’, which he based on two Sadly, his mother died giving birth to him, and so he spent much parables, one recorded in Matthew of his formative years living with relations in Somerset. His father, chapter 13 verses 24 to 30, and the who was an evangelical clergyman, came from a long line of other in Mark chapter 4 verses 26 to evangelical ministers. At the time of Henry’s birth, Britain was still 29. Even more remarkable was the fact that despite all his other commitments engaged in the Napoleonic Wars, and much of the population he found time to illustrate picture- found itself in financial difficulties. books, including ‘The Riviera’ which he published in 1870. The book shows Henry was somewhat delicate as a child, digest of German New Testament what a talented artist he was and but as a man he exhibited considerable exegesis has permanent value’.6 includes pen and pencil sketches mental ability and travelled extensively The commentary marked a change from Cannes to Genoa.8 In March 1857, both in England and in other parts of in approach to biblical exegesis in Lord Palmerston advanced him to the the world. He was educated at a number that it moved away from the typical deanery of Canterbury, where he lived of private schools, and Betjeman wrote homiletic commentary of the past, until his death in 1871. of Alford that, ‘he was another very and gave greater insight into the clever man – in fact, he wrote Latin nuances of the language and historical We have no record of a conversion, odes and a history of the Jews before he development of the New Testament. but most historians describe was ten’.1 He entered Trinity College, The commentary can be downloaded Henry Alford as having a strong Cambridge, in 1829, and because of his free of charge today from the Internet evangelical faith, who had shaken impoverished state he secured the Bell and is well worth mining for helpful off the clericalist movement holding Scholarship in 1831.2 He graduated in insights into the Greek text. firmly to a fundamental Protestant classics and as a wrangler3 in January position. He was much revered by 1832, and was ordained in 1833, serving Later, in 1869, Alford issued a revision his contemporaries, not only because as a curate in his father’s parish near of the English Authorised Version of his erudition, but also on account Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk. The (KJV) of the Bible with the express of his amiable character. The later following year he was elected to a ‘hope that his work might speedily be discovery of Greek manuscripts of fellowship at Trinity College, and then rendered useless by the setting up of a the New Testament would mean in 1835 he accepted the incumbency Royal Commission to revise the AV’.7 further revisions to the Greek New of Wymeswold in Leicestershire. It That hope came more quickly than he Testament by many others, including was at this time that he married his anticipated and resulted in the Revised his great friend and fellow scholar cousin Fanny Alford whom he had Version of 1881 and 1885. S. P. Tregelles. Nevertheless, his known from his stay with her family contribution as a textual scholar in Somerset. They had four children, Not only was Alford a biblical scholar should not be underestimated. Others two boys and two girls, but both boys but he was an accomplished poet, continue to enter into his labours, died in childbirth. He spent eighteen having spent time at Cambridge in John 4. 37. years at Wymeswold, and apart from the company of, among others, Alfred his demanding parish duties and giving Endnotes 1 Sweet Songs of Zion, pg. 141 private tuition for seven hours a day, 2 The Bell Scholarship was created to he still found time to produce a new assist impoverished clergymen of the Church of England to meet the costs edition of the Greek New Testament of sending their sons to Cambridge with a critical commentary on the Greek University. text, about which Spurgeon wrote, 3 A ‘Wrangler’ at Cambridge University is an undergraduate who gains a first- ‘He [Alford] is, for the present at any class honours degree in Mathematics. rate, indispensable to the student of the 4 Commenting and Commentaries, pg. original’.4 141 5 Tischendorf was the man who discovered the fourth century Codex His first volume was published in 1849 Sinaiticus in 1849. 6 The Wycliffe Biographical Dictionary and the fourth and final instalment of the Church, pg. 9. in 1861. According to Moyer, the 7 F. F. Bruce, History of the Bible in edition was ‘made distinguished English, Lutterworth Press, pg. 131. 8 The book has been digitized by by introducing English readers to Google from the library of New York German learning of Olshausen, Public Library and uploaded to the Stier, Meyer and Tischendorf.5 His Internet Archive. 15 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 ways’.1 The perfect object is always ASPECTS OF CALVARY His Son; whether it is humility, Phil. 2, benevolence, 2 Cor. 8, love, Eph. 5, or anything else – Christ is the perfect The sufferings of example. The word ‘example’, v. 21, translates the Greek word hupogrammos, Christ in1Peter 4 literally meaning ‘an under-writing’. Just as a teacher would write words at By STEPHEN FELLOWES Skibbereen, Ireland the top of the page for the student to copy, so the saint amidst sufferings is exhorted to imitate Christ’s pattern. Even a cursory reading of Peter’s first Epistle would leave We follow the pathway marked out the reader in no doubt that suffering and persecution are key by His steps; we can never follow in themes of the letter. Whether that be the sufferings of Christ, or His steps absolutely, because He was the sufferings of the Christian, the whole Epistle is permeated sinless and perfect, v. 22. In His walk, with the subject, making it a masterpiece of persecution words and waiting on God, He was impeccable, v. 23. By God’s grace we literature. Amongst other things, Peter speaks of the Christian follow to the best of our ability. both as a stranger and a sufferer in the world; to the stranger Peter will unfold the glory of the future inheritance, and to the The result of His sufferings, sufferer, as a saint, he will speak of the sufferings of Christ. 3. 18 Once again Peter takes up the subject of suffering; firstly, that of the Our exercise is to trace one reference The two great subjects of their Christian, vv. 13-17, then of Christ, vv. to the sufferings of Christ in each of prophesying were ‘the sufferings 18-22. They are connected because the five chapters. of Christ, and the glory that should the Christian is warned about the follow’, v. 11. The fact that plural importance of suffering ‘for well The prediction of His words are used, ‘sufferings’ and doing, [rather] than for evil doing’, sufferings, 1. 11 ‘glories’, emphasizes the fullness of v. 17, and then Peter directs them After the opening salutation, vv. 1, 2, both experiences. to Christ’s once-for-all suffering for Peter presents a beautiful paragraph sins, v. 18. It is never to be expected of scripture which continues right How vast and full are the Old that the believer suffers for sins; through to verse 12. The theme of this Testament prophecies as to the all the suffering for sins has been paragraph is salvation. Salvation sufferings of Christ! Perhaps our experienced by Christ. Although is mentioned three times and is minds automatically think of Psalm we are dealing here with Christ’s connected with the three persons of 22, or of Isaiah 53, but no matter sufferings on the cross, or His atoning the Godhead, vv. 5, 9, 10. The Father where we turn, we find that God sufferings as we often call them, they is connected with the prospect of had foretold that sufferings were are brought in here in a practical salvation, for which we are being kept purposed for Christ, but a fullness of sense. by divine power, vv. 3-5; the Son is glory would follow. This would surely linked with the present pathway be an encouragement to suffering The verse has been a happy hunting associated with salvation, a pathway saints, 5. 10! ground for gospel preachers, packing wherein we suffer but are sustained into a handful of words a vast array of by having our hearts fixed upon one The example of His sufferings, precious truth, namely, propitiation, ‘whom having not seen’, we love, vv. 2. 21 substitution, reconciliation, 6-9. The Holy Spirit of God is associated This verse brings before us the Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection. with both the prophecy and the sufferings from an entirely different preaching of salvation, vv. 10-12. standpoint. Here we have the Christ’s sufferings were once-for- sufferings of the Saviour as one who all, never needing to be repeated, The prophets ‘searched diligently’, endured the unjust treatment of men. and glorious in their sufficiency. v. 10, into this great salvation, Our thoughts must go to those seeking to discover the full import of Peter has just reminded his readers momentous words ‘but now once their prophecies in relation to their that doing what is right before God in the end of the world [age] hath circumstances and their times, v. 11. can bring upon you unrighteous He appeared to put away sin by the It was ‘the Spirit of Christ’ who was treatment, vv. 19, 20. So, to encourage sacrifice of himself’, Heb. 9. 26. That the source of their prophecies. This is and stimulate saints who are found these sufferings were ‘for sins’ or a reference to the person of the Holy in such circumstances, he points us ‘concerning sins’, implies that it is Spirit, but it is worded in such a way, to Christ. Kelly has helpfully noted not His exemplary sufferings that because Christ was the One of whom that ‘the saints need an object from are in view. In His death He dealt they testified. God to form our souls and fashion our head-on with the great question of 16 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 human sins, and only He could deal 3 verse 18 where we read that He The witness of His with them. Thus, we are reminded suffered in the flesh in dealing with sufferings, 5. 1 of His moral fitness to suffer for sins our sins. But the key thing to grasp When Peter writes this Epistle, he when we read of Him as ‘the just’. is that He had the mind to do so; writes from a four-fold standpoint. He, the perfectly righteous One, in other words, He was resolved First, he writes as ‘an apostle of who alone had the competency to to do the will of God even though Jesus Christ’ and as such he speaks deal with our sins, was ‘manifested that meant suffering on the cross. A as one with divinely delegated to take away our sins; and in him picture of this is seen in the placing authority, 1. 1. He then reminds is no sin’, 1 John 3. 5. He took our of the head of the bullock of the us in chapter 5 verse 1, that he place, and in doing so He brought burnt offering upon the altar of also writes as ‘an elder’, marked us to God. We often think of being burnt offering, Lev. 1. 8, showing by spiritual maturity in the things brought to heaven at the end of life’s us that there was one whose every of God. Furthermore, Peter is journey, but here Peter tells us that thought was for God’s glory, and ‘a partaker’ of the coming glory the purpose of Christ’s sufferings whose will was subject to the will of Christ in which all His saints was to bring a people to God in the of God. will share. Lastly, he writes as ‘a here and now, with all that it means witness’ of Christ’s sufferings. to enjoy all the blessedness that is We are to equip ourselves with the There are different views as to the involved in fellowship with God, same mind as Christ and be prepared significance of this expression who is now our Father. to suffer in the flesh in seeking to which we cannot delve into now but, live for God. Philippians chapter without being dogmatic, we take it The power of His sufferings, 2 presents the mind of Christ in in the simplest sense, that Peter is 4. 1 relation to humility, whereas here, reminding the saints that he was an I have termed this verse ‘the power in 1 Peter, we see the mind of Christ actual eyewitness of the Saviour’s of His sufferings’ because I think in His resolve to do God’s will. We sufferings. the passage is designed to empower should emulate both the humility the Christian in the face of suffering and resolve of Christ. By doing this These sufferings are very by keeping Christ’s perfect example we prove that we have ‘ceased from comprehensive; we cannot be sure before us. Kelly is again worth sin’, that is, our life is no longer how much of the crucifixion Peter quoting when he describes this as dominated by it. Its power was witnessed, but he was there in the ‘the practical power of His sufferings broken at conversion, and unlike the Garden alongside John and James to give power against sin day by day’.2 seed on the stony ground, Matt. 13. as one of the privileged trio. Even ‘Christ hath suffered for us in the 20, 21, we endure the tests and give though withdrawn from Christ, he flesh’, directs us back to chapter evidence of our genuineness. must have witnessed something of His sorrow, and likewise in the High Priest’s judgement hall where ‘Peter . . . went in . . . to see the end’, Matt. 26. 58. In addition to this, the Lord’s sorrows through His life at the rejection and unbelief of the nation must surely have left a great impression upon the mind of Peter. He could not have spent so much time with Christ and not have beheld His grief and anguish during His public ministry. Peter is stressing his fitness to exhort the believers to emulate Christ in His sufferings, because he himself was a witness of those sufferings.

In closing, may we by God’s grace follow the pathway of the suffering Saviour, whose sufferings for our sins have saved our souls, and whose sufferings for righteousness have set us an example.

Endnotes 1 Can be consulted at https://www. stempublishing.com/authors/ kelly/2Newtest/1peter.html#a2. 2 ibid.

17 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 circumstances and the gospel, in THINGS THAT CONCERN US spite of him being in prison, ‘But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance PHILIPPIANS of the gospel’, Phil. 1. 12. Here, he By FRED WHITELOCK Warrington, England 2 considers the progress of the gospel, as others have taken up the baton, Your furtherance speak unto you as unto spiritual, but and rejoices in the fact. He also gives [continuance, advancement, as unto carnal, even as unto babes in encouragement to Timothy, that he profit], 1. 25 Christ. I have fed you with milk, and would ‘give attendance to reading, to The apostle is expressing a deep, not with meat: for hitherto ye were exhortation, to doctrine . . . that thy heart-felt desire for the saints at not able to bear it, neither yet now profiting may appear to all’, Philippi for their spiritual progress. are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for 1 Tim. 4. 13-15. Thus, his confidence is a conviction whereas there is among you envying, deep in his soul, knowing that God and strife, and divisions, are ye not Your rejoicing [cheerfulness, is at work amongst his children, 1. 6. carnal, and walk as men? For while glorying, boasting], v. 26 There are two aspects to this desire. one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I This Epistle is characteristically First, ‘what is taught’, and second, am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?’ a letter of joy. ‘Joy’ is mentioned ‘what is received or heard’. 1 Cor. 3. 1-4. six times, ‘rejoice’, ten times and ‘rejoicing’, once. Primarily, it is Faith is that which is built upon the Equally, there are those whom God appreciation of the Lord, and then of word of God and therein is faith not has raised up to teach, and those who others. This is evident in chapter 2 only established but also built upon. are being raised for that purpose, where the apostle presents the Lord The word of God, read and taught, who themselves are thus exhorted in as the supreme example, followed are two main starting points in the 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 15, ‘Study by Timothy and Epaphroditus. building up of the believer and this to shew thyself approved unto God, Noticeable at the commencement of brings me to the question as to how a workman that needeth not to be this chapter is the statement, ‘Fulfil much I give myself to reading and ashamed, rightly dividing the word of ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, being allowed to be taught with the truth’. having the same [kind of] love, being help of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, of one accord, of one mind’, v. 2. The it is essential that those who teach, are Coupled with this, is the vital challenge presented is, do I have themselves established in the word of purpose of edifying, exhorting and that same delight and joy for all my God and free from error. Additionally, encouraging the saints in their faith. brethren and sisters in the Lord, or do as a child of God I must be teachable, l ‘How is it then, brethren? when ye I hold some animosity against them? as Peter emphasizes, ‘desire the come together, every one of you How lovely when I see those who sincere milk of the word, that ye may hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath are close to me, and when I think of grow thereby’, 1 Pet. 2. 2, meaning that a tongue, hath a revelation, hath family or friends; how much more I should have an appetite for the word an interpretation. Let all things be should it be towards those who are of of God, and that I will, with the help done unto edifying’, 1 Cor. 14. 26. the spiritual family. The coming of of the Holy Spirit, seek to be a doer l ‘Again, think ye that we excuse Titus and the progress of the saints of the word, and not a hearer only, ourselves unto you? we speak at Corinth caused great rejoicing to ‘deceiving your own selves’, Jas. 1. 22. before God in Christ: but we do all the Apostle Paul, 2 Cor. 7. 6, 7.1 In the This does not mean that we should things, dearly beloved, for your context of Philippians chapter 1 verse accept everything that a speaker might edifying’, 2 Cor. 12. 19. 26, there is not only the joy the saints seek to teach, but we should verify his l ‘From whom the whole body in Philippi would have when Paul teaching to ensure it is in accord with fitly joined together and arrived at the assembly, more than the word of God. This was the practice compacted by that which every that, it was the joy they would have to of the early church, ‘These were more joint supplieth, according to the see their prayers answered. noble than those in Thessalonica, in effectual working in the measure that they received the word with all of every part, maketh increase What a day it was when the Lord, readiness of mind, and searched the of the body unto the edifying of after His resurrection, appeared to scriptures daily, whether those things itself in love’, Eph. 4. 16. His disciples and we read those lovely were so’, Acts 17. 11. l ‘Let no corrupt communication words, ‘Then were the disciples glad, proceed out of your mouth, but when they saw the Lord’, John 20. Sadly, many believers have not that which is good to the use of 20. How humbling it is to consider applied themselves to this essential edifying, that it may minister grace the words, ‘who for the joy that was point and many are lacking in truth, unto the hearers’, Eph. 4. 29. set before him, endured the cross, insomuch that they are much like the despising the shame, and is set down saints at Corinth, of whom Paul had Interestingly, the apostle uses the at the right hand of the throne of to say, ‘And I, brethren, could not same word as he thinks of his own God’, Heb. 12. 2. Think again of the 18 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 words He spoke to His own ere He love one another, as I have loved you’, Your conversation went to the cross, ‘If ye keep my John 15. 10-12. [citizenship, conduct], v. 27 commandments, ye shall abide in my The word ‘conversation’ means love; even as I have kept my Father’s I trust that every believer is waiting ‘manner of life’, from which we derive commandments, and abide in his for that day when our blessed the idea of ‘conduct’ from the Greek love. These things have I spoken unto redeemer will appear in the clouds word politeuesthe referring to living you, that my joy might remain in to catch us away to glory. What as a citizen. Therefore, we see that you, and that your joy might be full. rejoicing there will be when we see ‘conduct’ is linked with the principle This is my commandment, that ye Him as He is! of ‘citizenship’, meaning that for those who belong to a king or lord, their conduct must be in line with his edict.

There are a few examples in scripture which are of help to us in this matter.

The first thing we realize is that though we live in this world, our state and standing is in heaven. This is what the Apostle Paul is referring to when he speaks of those who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, as being ‘no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God’, Eph. 2. 19. Our blessed Lord Himself comforted His disciples with this assurance, ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you’, John 14. 2. This is further underlined in Hebrews where the apostle speaks of the heroes of faith that ‘now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city’, Heb. 11. 16.

Paul himself spoke of his own conduct as he stood before the council and said, ‘Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day’, Acts 23. 1. Therefore, we are exhorted, ‘as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation’, 1 Pet. 1. 15.

Underlining this in our Epistle, the apostle reminds saints of their responsibility, especially since our blessed Lord is coming soon, ‘For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ’, Phil. 3. 20.

Endnote 1 For other examples see: Phil. 4. 10; 2 John 4; 3 John 3.

19 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 and let my last end be like his!’ 23. 10. Commenting on the phrase ‘the death of the righteous’, 3 Edersheim, quoting a German BALAAM commentator, wrote, ‘The pious Israelite could look back with Numbers 22. 36 to 23. 12 calm satisfaction in the hour of his By RICHARD CATCHPOLE South Norwood, London, England death, upon a life rich in proofs of the blessing, forgiving, protecting, God has separated them sadly, in their subsequent history delivering, saving, mercy of God ‘For from the top of the rocks I see the children of Israel failed to live . . . knew that he would carry him, and from the hills I behold true to their calling. Are we living them with him as an inalienable him: lo, the people shall dwell true to ours? ‘Wherefore come possession, a light in the darkness alone, and shall not be reckoned out from among them, and be ye of Sheol’.2 Today, we have the among the nations’, 23. 9.1 They separate, saith the Lord, and touch added benefit of New Testament were an elect people whom God not the unclean thing; and I will teaching and the assurance that had separated unto Himself. receive you’, 2 Cor. 6. 17. for the believer, ‘to be absent from Though, at the moment, Israel the body’ is to ‘be present with the nationally has been set aside in God has multiplied them Lord’, 2 Cor. 5. 8. divine purpose and the people ‘Who can count the dust of Jacob, dispersed amongst the Gentile and the number of the fourth part Balaam didn’t just speak about nations, nevertheless they still of Israel?’ 23. 10. If a ‘fourth part’ the death of the righteous but retain their Jewish identity, is so many, what must the whole added, ‘let my last end, be like his’. distinct from all other peoples. camp be like? Balaam says this It seems that he is looking on to after all the efforts of Pharaoh to their final, ultimate destiny, their While the Canaanites, the Hittites, destroy them and after a generation future glory, when, despite their the Amorites and the other ancient had fallen in the wilderness present position, Israel will be the tribes frequently mentioned in the because of unbelief. The way they head of the nations and not the tail, Old Testament have been absorbed had multiplied bore testimony to Deut. 28. 13.3 But what glory are we into the Gentile nations, the Jews the grace and faithfulness of God. marked out for? To be with Christ, remain distinct: In Genesis chapter 13 verse 16, the to be like Christ, and to behold l A people loved and chosen by Lord gave this promise to Abram, His glory.4 Balaam, seeing their God; ‘the Lord had a delight in ‘I will make thy seed as the dust position, blessings and destiny, thy fathers to love them, and he of the earth: so that if a man can wished to be like them. Do we live chose their seed after them, even number the dust of the earth, then in such a way that others might you above all people’, Deut. 10. 15. shall thy seed also be numbered’. wish to possess what we have found l A people for His own In the early chapters of Acts and in Christ? possession; ‘the Lord hath the days following Pentecost, we chosen thee to be a peculiar see a similar numerical increase. people unto himself, above all Prior to Pentecost, ‘Peter stood up the nations that are upon the in the midst of the disciples . . . (the Endnotes earth’, Deut. 14. 2. And, we must number of names together were 1 Moses would later say, ‘When the not forget, it was entirely due to about an hundred and twenty)’, most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated divine grace. Acts 1. 15. Following Pentecost the sons of Adam, he set the bounds and the descent of the Holy Spirit, of the people according to the What of believers today? We have we are told, ‘in those days, when number of the children of Israel. For the Lord’s portion is his people; been called with a heavenly calling the number of the disciples was Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. and severed from the present multiplied’; ‘the word of God He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he course of the world; ‘Grace be to increased; and the number of the led him about, he instructed him, you and peace from God the Father, disciples multiplied in Jerusalem he kept him as the apple of his eye’, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, greatly; and a great company of the Deut. 32. 8-10. 2 Alfred Edersheim, Bible History, who gave himself for our sins, priests were obedient to the faith’, Vol. 3, pg. 26. that he might deliver us from this Acts 6. 1, 7. Though unlikely we 3 The Lord says, ‘Behold, at that time present evil world, according to the are witnessing such growth today, I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather will of God and our Father’, Gal. nevertheless the Lord said, ‘I will her that was driven out; and I will get 1. 3, 4. Writing to Titus, Paul says, build my church’ and that work is them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. Christ ‘gave himself for us, that he progressing, Matt. 16. 18. At that time will I bring you again, might redeem us from all iniquity, even in the time that I gather you: for and purify unto himself a peculiar God will not forsake them I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth’, Zeph. people, zealous of good works’, Far from cursing them, Balaam 3. 19, 20. Titus 2. 14. But, though by divine wished to be like them, ‘Let me 4 1 Thess. 4. 17; 1 John 3. 2; John calling separated from the nations, die the death of the righteous, 17. 24. 20 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 areas, gangs operate openly, and this often leads to indiscriminate injury and death. Violent crime SOUTH AFRICA 13 is widespread, as reflected in the By RODNEY BROWN Bellville, South Africa statistics for 2016/2017, when the murder rate was over fifty persons a Evangelical missionary work in South Africa goes back to 1737 day countrywide. Sexual immorality when George Schmidt, a Moravian missionary, came to the and the disintegration of the family country. He settled in a town now known as Genadendal, in the unit have led to much parental neglect, Western Cape. Eventually he had to leave due to opposition abuse of many kinds and dysfunctional when he baptized believers. The problem seemed to be on two homes. It is good to remember that evangelical believers have the answer fronts. First, this caused an upheaval among the Colonialists in the to this crisis in the gospel of our Lord Cape, as, politically, it was not clear whether or not converts to Jesus Christ. Many children in these Christianity from the indigenous population should be accorded circumstances have heard the gospel the same civil and political rights as the Colonists. Second, through outreaches, and it is so the ‘Council of Policy’ forbade such baptisms by Schmidt, citing good to see God’s power displayed in the excuse that he was not an ordained minister. In 1744, Schmidt transformed lives. left the Cape for Holland to be ordained, but he never returned. Many South Africans have grown up with some knowledge of the gospel. Assembly work commenced around country. In a 2015 census, eighty-six Sadly, many who have professed faith 1850, first by brethren in business percent of the population claimed to in Christ have not continued in the and later by full-time commended be of the ‘Christian’ religion. There is faith, calling themselves ‘backsliders’. workers. Over the years the work has relative freedom to evangelize in church This may be due, in part, to some extended to many areas of the country, buildings, public halls, schools, prisons, preachers pressurizing people to although there are still provinces care institutions and some work places. make a profession, without a clear with no assembly testimony. The There are also a few Christian radio understanding of the message. On assemblies vary greatly in size. Sadly, stations, Christian book shops, the other hand, it has been very due to numbers dwindling away, with organizations and publishers encouraging to follow genuine cases some assemblies have closed. A few producing evangelistic literature in of conversion. It is good to visit assemblies in the Western Cape, where many languages. Open air preaching is assemblies where new believers have a reasonable number are in fellowship, carried on in many communities and come into fellowship and to listen to have some brethren who go into rural very often people are willing to listen their intelligent participation. It has districts each weekend to support small to the messages and receive literature. been wonderful to hear young converts assemblies, as part of the ‘Evangelical It has been noted that, in general, there relating clearly how much God has Enterprise’. They use a minibus and are more unbelievers willing to listen to changed their lives. It is so encouraging leave two or three of the visiting the gospel in the open air, than would to see these believers so enthusiastic in brethren at different locations and then attend a meeting in a hall. Many people their service for the Lord. fetch them en route home on Sunday. amongst the less affluent communities see it as an honour to welcome Please pray that the government might Emmaus Correspondence International Christians into their homes to preach continue to be sympathetic to gospel operates in South Africa in five the gospel. preaching and that many doors might languages: Afrikaans, English, Zulu, remain open for Christians to take Xhosa and Ethiopian Amharic. At Due to the unstable political the message to the people. Pray for present, there are about 22,500 students situations in some other African the gospel to be preached soundly, and registered in the English school and countries, refugees have flooded for genuine repentance and conversion. eighty-four percent of these are active. into South Africa although they Pray that workers would be called and The Zulu school has about 2,000 have not always found the better life sent into areas where there is very students. The new Afrikaans school they sought. In recent years, some little evangelistic testimony. Pray that is growing and showing very good South Africans have blamed foreign believers would remain faithful to the potential. At present, it has just over 400 Africans for taking local houses and Lord, and not succumb to temptation. students. The Xhosa Emmaus work is jobs (as many of these refugees find Pray that Christians would have an struggling but has good prospects with casual employment) and have made appetite for the scriptures and that they new initiatives put in place. The Amharic them unwelcome in their communities. will be strengthened in the faith. work is growing, having seen over 300 Christians have taken the opportunity students achieve their diplomas in the to befriend them and they are As we think of the future, we are last three years (June 2019). responsive and willing to accept reminded that we do not know how long literature in their home languages. we have left to serve the Lord. We must Generally speaking, there is religious use the opportunities available to us, so tolerance in South Africa, and there are Alcohol and substance abuse are major that we, with many others, will be ready quite a number of religions within the problems. In many township to meet Him when He comes again. 21 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 something to know that during the What does the Bible tell us about the future days of this defiance, God is still going to have His witnesses in the midst of satanic darkness. It is the The final days of clear teaching of the word of God that God is going to have a witness the tribulation and at the time that Jerusalem is trodden down despite the fact that the trinity of evil seems to be impregnable, the two witnesses and that there will be two who will stand against them during this By NORMAN MELLISH Stoke-On-Trent, England 9 period of time, and they can do nothing against them. This is not The previous part of this study considered the 144,000. A great unusual when God is dealing with the nation. Did He not have a Moses wonder appears in heaven and, in Revelation chapter 12 verses in the courts of Pharaoh, and an 1 and 2, we have a woman in celestial purpose. Another wonder Elijah that opposed Ahab in days of occurs in verses 3 to 6, now she is seen in satanic conflict. We gross idolatry? There are those who see the 144,000 before the tribulation sealed, in chapter 7, and insist that this number is not the real after the tribulation walking with the Lamb, chapter 14. Does the number, as if God does not know scene of chapter 12 also refer to them during the tribulation? this fact, and has written things for The woman is evidently some aspect of Israel in governmental our imagination to toy with. Again, authority. This is what she is in divine purpose, for this is a there are many who will not accept that these are two in number, and wonder in heaven; her position during the tribulation is vastly follow Kelly, who advocates that two different. She cries travailing in birth having a man child in her is the number of testimony, and can womb. This man child is to rule all nations. I suggest that the be any number – some make this all nation is preparing to govern but, when the devil sees this, he who bear testimony throughout the makes an attack to eliminate the purpose of God for he has his tribulation period.1 Once again, the man ready to come forth and take his place in chapter 13. period is specified, being forty-two months, in other words, 1,260 days, vv. 2, 3. This time period corresponds Because of this, nearly all expositors and others in the nation. This is with the second half of the assume this man child must be the something to ponder. tribulation and limits the testimony Lord Jesus; but we are in prophecy, of the two witnesses to that time. not history, and the arguments set Chapters 11 to 13 bring before us Is it not an amazing thing, when forth to make this Christ are both events that will take place during we know so much of the awesome feeble and out of character with the second half of the tribulation. In power of the Antichrist, that these Him. The Lord always confronted chapter 11 there are two witnesses; will stand against him, and he can the devil and defeated Him in chapter 12, two wonders; and in do nothing to stop their witness for completely. In the man child being chapter 13, two wild beasts. God? Some like Hoste, Newberry and caught up to God and His throne Ironside, make the testimony of the we see that the purpose of God is We are concerned with the two witnesses to be in the first half not cancelled because of the devil’s two witnesses of chapter 11 of the tribulation. The fact that the attacks, but the purpose of God for The chapter begins with two time factor that is mentioned in the Israel is now linked with the man mourning prophets and ends with earlier verses is always linked with on the throne, who will shortly a majestic Christ. It is surprising the second half of the tribulation come in power to reign. At this that, in the midst of the reign of the settles the matter. point the devil turns his attention man of sin, God would manifest that to the woman, who flees into her what is owned by Him is left out of Many have sought to identify who place in the wilderness, where she the measuring of the city. The city these witnesses are. The plain fact is nourished for a ‘time, and times, is Jerusalem, and what belongs to is we are not told who they are; if and half a time’. This being the God, the temple, is reserved for Him God wanted us to know He would second half of the tribulation, the even when the Antichrist rules, but have revealed it. When scripture is tribulation is great. Nothing can the city is trodden under foot in silent it is not for us to go into the harm her as the Lord preserves her, complete subjugation, even during realms of speculation. There are just like the 144,000 at that time. this time of the ascendancy of the features of events carried out in a Now, the devil turns his attention man of sin when Satan seems to have former day that have caused some to the remnant of her seed in verse gained his desire. Once having ruled to grasp at straws as they make their 17, and these are evidently the rest the world from Babylon he now has assumptions. of Israel, making a very definite his man in the place that supremely distinction between the woman belongs to God, Jerusalem. It is We see the great power that the Lord 22 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 has invested them with when they These two witnesses are impregnable also said to be standing before the can bring ‘fire that proceedeth out during these 1,260 days. It is evident God of the whole earth. I recall our of their mouth’ which of course is that the Beast of Revelation chapter 13 very good brother John Riddle Elijah-like, causing some to assume will be doing his utmost to eliminate bringing before us in ministry that this is Elijah, who in Malachi them and their testimony. The fact this term simply means, ‘readiness chapter 4 is said to return at this that they are clothed in sackcloth to serve’. These are certainly ready time. This fire is to consume those speaks of the grief that marks them as to serve at this time. The days before who would seek to hurt them. they feel in their souls the apostasy us are when men will claim despotic Also, like Elijah, they have power that has gripped Israel, that the rights to the earth, but we are to shut up heaven that it rain not, claims of God are not only set aside, reminded that it still belongs to God and like Moses they can turn the but deliberately flouted. John the who is ‘the God of the earth’. waters into blood. I suppose this Baptist was arrayed in the same as he is what would cause some to put preached repentance; there is no such We now see the torments that they in names where scripture is silent. preaching here, all is too far gone. will bring upon men during their Others have suggested Enoch as ministry. Fire, and waters turned one who is before us, but as he was They are said to be the two olive to blood and all plagues will have in the antediluvian period, before trees; the olive brings before us the an effect upon those who oppose Abraham was called out to be the blessing that God has bestowed God in Jerusalem at that time. Their father of the nation and, as this is upon the nation, Rom. 11. 16-24. testimony is not to last until the dealing with Israel in tribulation There is still hope for some but final day of the tribulation, nor until days, it is hardly likely that God there are few at this time who will the Lord comes, though that is but a would bring him back to earth to die, know it. They are also said to be few days away. The beast will have especially when he was translated two candlesticks; these would again his mastery over them when their that he should not see death, Heb. speak of the testimony that the service for God has come to an end. 11. 5, and he had no connection with Lord has put into their hands in Having withstood the Beast for 1,260 the nation at all. Jerusalem’s darkest hour. They are days now he is to make war against them. It seems that a battle will take place, but, unlike that of chapter 19 where the Lord is supreme, the witnesses are killed. They are not allowed to be buried as the world rejoices over them and, as if it is another Christmas or birthday, they send presents and make a party out of it. Such are they who have rejected all that is of God and rejoice when His word is silenced. Like their Lord, they lie but for three- and-a-half days, when the spirit of life returns to them and a positive display of it is seen when they stand on their feet. The world will witness that there is a resurrection and also a rapture. For if it was only the disciples who saw the Lord ascend into heaven the people of the city will witness the power of God in His vindication of His servants. God deals with this unruly mob and an earthquake sees 7,000 of them slain. God is both glorified and vindicated in this.

We listen for the same voice, ‘Come up hither’!

Endnote 1 If the two witnesses are any number of people as Kelly asserts, can one imagine them all being killed, and then rising before the people, before being raptured?

23 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 miles west of Havana, and, after some years, they moved to the east end of Assembly Testimony in the country to help in the mountains where the Castro revolution started. This was in response to a Cuban brother, Ovilio Diaz, who had gone there in answer to an inquiry and returned with a report of the need. It CUBA was a four-hour mule ride to get there, By ASHLEY MILNE Surrey, British Columbia, Canada but Arnold and Kathleen happily went and built a home there. Shortly after that, a large assembly was established. The following is a brief history of the start of the work of the Later, they moved to the foothills Lord in Cuba together with the current status of the assembly and formed an assembly in the city testimony in this country. of Bayamo. The assembly still meet there in a home but have had a small conference in recent years. The Adams Last October and November, I once assemblies in the Chicago area of returned to Canada and continued in again had the opportunity to visit some the USA. They were exercised about the Lord’s work until their home call. of the assemblies in Western Cuba. It going on to Chile, but, while visiting had been four-and-a-half years since with the Smiths, decided to settle In 1938, Robert and Effie Leighton were the home call of my dear wife Jean, in Cuba. They started their work in commended to the work of the Lord while on a visit there in March 2015. a small town called La Salud, about in the Bahamas from an assembly in Accompanied by my grandson Austin, twenty-five miles south of Havana. Scotland. They laboured there until we attended a conference in Pinar del Betty, who was a nurse, helped a local 1942 when they moved on to Cuba for Rio, where about 150 believers from doctor in his practice as well as with several years. They laboured in Havana five assemblies had gathered. It was his English studies. Brother Walker and then moved on to San Antonio de wonderful to witness how the Lord has also used tracts extensively, as well as a Los Baños. The work in that town was maintained the assembly testimony radio programme called ‘Gospel Bells’, very difficult, and although they saw a in Cuba since all the missionaries left receiving help from brother Smith few souls saved, an assembly formed following the Revolution in Cuba, with that radio work. Eventually, an and the work carried on faithfully for during the period from 1959 to 1961. assembly was established in La Salud, many years, sadly it has now closed. which carries on faithfully to this day. Latterly, a faithful brother carried the History After leaving Cuba, the Walkers moved work but it terminated when he went The first missionary couple from the to Miami and started work among the home to glory. After leaving Cuba, assemblies to arrive in Cuba were many Cubans who had settled there. the Leightons moved to Puerto Rico, Thomas and Jean Smith, who had working with the assemblies in that initially been commended to the work In 1941, Arnold and Kathleen Adams country. in Malaga, Spain, in 1920. Due to the were commended from Toronto, Spanish Civil War, they were forced to Canada, and started a work in Guira The next set of missionaries leave Spain in 1936. Then, they went de Melena, a town about fifteen miles commended from Toronto were David on to serve the Lord in the Congo but from La Salud. A small assembly and Agnes Adams, and they joined were forced to leave there in 1938. On started there, they had a hall, Arnold and Kathleen in Pinar del Rio. their way to Canada, they had passed but, unfortunately, it is no longer Later that year, Patricia Ritchie also through Cuba, and the Lord gave them functioning. Soon after, they moved joined the work. The men focused on an exercise to return to Cuba later that to Pinar del Rio, a city about 100 outreach with several young men who year. They settled in Havana, where they began the dedicated work of tract Cuban brother Pedro Flores, aged 90 second from left with Ivan, Felipe, elders in distribution in the port and other areas Pinar del Rio and Ashley. of the city. A family who worked at the seaport offered the use of their home for meetings, and thus the work began. After serving the Lord faithfully for many years and seeing the Lord work in salvation, they were able to get established, but, once again, they were forced to move and this time to settle in Canada.

In 1940, George and Betty Walker, who had been corresponding with brother Smith were commended from 24 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 from that assembly back to Cuba. After the Revolution, they also returned to the USA and continued in the Lord’s work until their home call.

In 1953, Kathleen Hamilton was commended from the USA, working with Emmaus courses among the young people in La Salud and neighbouring villages. She devoted much of her time to five young men, four of which have gone on faithfully till now. She returned to the USA, where sadly, she was killed in an automobile accident shortly after.

Douglas and Kathleen Reid were A group of young believers at the conference in Pinar del Rio. commended from Vancouver, Canada in 1956, working with the had been saved. The ladies started Another couple, Vernon and Ilda other missionaries in the Pinar del children’s work in a couple of homes in Markle, were commended from Rio area. After their departure, they the city. Toronto in 1948 and worked in the returned to Canada for a time and then Vibora area of Havana, while the went to serve the Lord in Costa Rica. While visiting the country in the Smiths worked in another area of Douglas was called home recently, 1940s, a brother from Houston, Texas, Havana called Vedado. These two and Kathleen still resides there at Henry Dedman, saw the need for assemblies are still going on well present. She and Agnes Adams are assembly buildings and provided today. the only missionaries still living who funds for building excellent halls in were commended by the assemblies in Vedado, Vibora, and Pinar del Rio. In 1953 the Markles moved to Canada. Those Gospel Halls have been in use Holguin in the eastern part of the ever since and, although needing country where a small assembly Current Status repairs at times, are well taken care of was established, but sadly it did not For the most part, the assemblies today. In the 1950s, Brother Dedman survive the opposition of the local mentioned earlier in this article also sent a utility van equipped with authorities. They returned to Canada continue in a healthy state to this two beds, which was used by various for a time and then went to serve the day, with some being very zealous in missionaries who travelled the country Lord in El Salvador. After some years outreach and holding to the truth of from end to end, giving out literature there, they returned to Canada for scripture. A delightful new generation and New Testaments. He also funded reasons of health and continued to be of young people are active in these a printing press which was located on active as long as they were able. assemblies. the property of Arnold and Kathleen Adams. David learned about printing, As mentioned earlier, in 1951 Edward Since 1960, following the revolution, and, eventually, a printing work Doherty was commended to the the believers in Cuba felt alone, was commenced there with work work from Northern Ireland, and, isolated, and even somewhat performed by a Cuban brother, Pedro after a short stay with the Walkers abandoned, as there were difficulties Flores. He is still a member of the in La Salud, moved to work in Pinar in travelling to Cuba and restrictions assembly in Pinar del Rio at age 90. del Rio. 1953 saw the first wedding within the country. However, in in the Gospel Hall in that city when recent years they have had visits from In 1951, when brother Doherty Edward and Patricia were married. brethren in North America as well as arrived, he assumed responsibility The Dohertys went to Canada after the Dominican Republic, Honduras, for the printing operation, which the Revolution and continued in the Venezuela, Columbia, and Argentina, made considerable demands on Lord’s work there. which they appreciate very much and his time, particularly in answering are encouraged by them. correspondence. By the mid-50s, close Edward and Henrietta Wickert were to 200,000 tracts were being printed commended from the USA in 1952 Acknowledgements and mailed out to Latin America every and worked with the Vibora assembly. The author acknowledges the help month. Following the revolution, when They had already been in Cuba for of brother Ivan Alexeis Madera David and Agnes returned to Canada, a few years working with another Hernandez (Pinar del Rio, Cuba) David established a print shop to carry mission organization but were and brother Steve Adams (Toronto, on the work which he had begun in impressed with the way of gathering Canada) in the compilation of this Cuba. He also devoted much of his and had returned to the USA seeking article and trusts that it might time ministering among the assemblies fellowship with a local assembly. encourage the Lord’s people to pray for in both Canada and the USA. Subsequently, they were commended fellow believers in Cuba. 25 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 harpazo carries a similar meaning and is used in 1 Thessalonians chapter The Son – His 4 verse 17 – ‘caught up’. The word harpazo occurs 17 times in the New Testament and is used of both Philip when he was taken away from the Second Coming Ethiopian eunuch, Acts 8. 39, and also By STEPHEN SHERWIN Derby, England ‘a man in Christ’ who was ‘caught up 8 into paradise’, 2 Cor. 12. 2, 4.

The Apostle Paul, when writing in 1 Corinthians chapter 16 Imminency verse 22, says, ‘If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him It becomes apparent when reading be Anathema Maranatha’. This is a word of warning against such the Epistles that the Lord’s return that love not the Lord – ‘Anathema’ meaning ‘accursed’ – and is imminent, that is, He could come he reminds his readers that the Lord is coming - Maranatha, at any time. No prophecies await fulfilment prior to His coming. ‘our Lord cometh’. This is not a new truth which is being Examples that can be cited include: revealed in the scriptures. Jude records the words of Enoch who ‘For our citizenship is in heaven, prophesied, ‘Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his from which we also eagerly wait for saints, to execute judgment upon all’, Jude 14, 15, and the Old the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ’, Testament is full of references to the kingdom of God under His Phil. 3. 20 NKJV; and ‘ye turned Christ, e.g., Pss. 2, 45. to God from idols to serve . . . and to wait for his Son from heaven’, 1 Thess. 1. 9, 10. Rather than passing The New Testament has much to say prophecy concerning the seventy through the Great Tribulation, which about the coming of the Lord. This weeks as detailed in Daniel chapter will affect the whole world, this is a subject which should thrill the 9 – remains future. This prophecy verse informs us that the believer in heart of every believer. However, to is addressed specifically to Israel – the Lord Jesus is delivered (away) correctly understand this truth, the ‘Seventy weeks are determined upon from coming wrath. Furthermore, Bible student will need to carefully thy people and upon thy holy city’, the message of the risen Lord to the compare scripture with scripture. The v. 24. Romans chapter 11 teaches that church at Philadelphia was that He aim of this article is to demonstrate whilst Israel has been set aside, they would keep them ‘from the hour of that the Lord Jesus has made a have not been cast away, but there temptation, which shall come upon personal promise to the church is coming a day when they will be all the world, to try them that dwell regarding His coming as well as the reconciled to God. upon the earth’, Rev. 3. 10. No wonder revelation that He will return to this the hymn writer S. T. Francis has world to take up His kingdom. Second, the word ‘coming’, parousia, said, ‘I can almost hear His footfall on in the New Testament needs to the threshold of the door’. First, it is important to note that be examined as to its usage. Vine there is a distinction between Israel states that the word, ‘denotes both The promise of His return and the church. Failure to do so will an “arrival” and a consequent Whilst there are a number of lead to great confusion and cause “presence with”’.1 This can be seen in references to the coming of the Lord much of the Bible to be spiritualized 2 Corinthians chapter 7 verse 6 in the for His church, there are three key when seeking to understand it. Whilst ‘coming [parousia] of Titus’. It was passages which deal with the subject. this subject would take up an article not just that Titus had arrived but that by itself, we should note that the being present he was able to comfort The Lord Jesus, in His Upper Room church did not exist in Old Testament the apostle. Where the word is used Ministry, John chapters 13-17, times. It was while the Lord Jesus in respect of the Lord Jesus, we can introduced several truths which was here that He said, ‘I will build see that it refers to both His personal are then further developed in the my church’, Matt. 16. 18 – a future return for the church, 1 Thess. 4. 15, Epistles. Dear to the heart of every event which would commence on and also when He returns to the earth, believer are the words, ‘I will come the day of Pentecost following His 2 Thess. 2. 8. Therefore, while the New again, and receive you unto myself; ascension back to heaven. There are Testament refers to only one future that where I am, there ye may be those who teach that following Israel’s coming, it has two phases. also’, John 14. 3. These are the rejection of Messiah, Israel have been words of one who cannot lie, and we permanently set aside and the church First phase – the rapture wait longingly for their fulfilment! has taken its place. This leads blessing of the Church The promise was made against the promised to Israel being applied to The word ‘rapture’ does not appear backdrop of the Lord returning to the church, while firmly applying in the New Testament. It is taken heaven via the cross. The fact that the curses as a result of disobedience from the Latin word, rapto, which this is a personal return is echoed to Israel only. It is evident that the includes in its definition the idea of in, ‘For the Lord himself shall complete fulfilment of Daniel’s ‘seize’, ‘snatch away’. The Greek word descend from heaven with a shout’, 26 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 1 Thess. 4. 16. The promise not ‘the day of Christ is at hand’. It is only The manner of His return only involves His return for us but after certain events have taken place The utter folly of man is seen when that from then onwards we will be that the man of sin will be destroyed, the Beast, and the kings of the earth wherever He is – ‘so shall we ever be ‘whom the Lord shall consume with and their armies gather together, with the Lord’, v. 17. the spirit of his mouth, and shall united in their opposition to Christ. destroy with the brightness of his The Psalmist says, ‘He that sitteth The sequence of events will be as coming [parousia]’, 2 Thess. 2. 8. in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord follows: It is this occasion where the Lord shall have them in derision’, Ps. l The Lord returns personally to the will be ‘revealed’, 2 Thess. 1. 7, from 2. 4. When the Lord was arrested, air bringing those which ‘sleep in heaven to an unbelieving world. The Pilate and Herod were made friends Jesus’, 1 Thess. 4. 14. word ‘revealed’ is the Greek word because of Him. Their verdict was l At His summons, the dead will apokalypsis which is translated, overturned when God raised the rise first and the believers who are ‘revelation’, ‘manifestation’ and Saviour from the dead. In Revelation alive upon the earth will be caught involves an unveiling of the person chapter 19, we see the opposition up and together we will meet the and glories of Christ. of men reduced to nothing when Lord in the air, v. 17. the Lord returns with the armies of l 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses The timing of the rapture is heaven. The place of His rejection 51 to 57 detail the transformation unknown. We are called upon to becomes the scene of His victory. that will take place. Bodies which wait expectantly and serve whilst are currently suited for the earthly we wait. Currently, the timing of The triumphant entry sphere will be fitted for the the manifestation is also unknown. into Jerusalem heavenly sphere. Bodies that are But the Lord gave a special word of Following His return to the Mount subject to death and decay will be warning and encouragement to those of Olives and with His immediate ‘fashioned like unto his glorious who will pass through the days of the enemies destroyed by the sword body’, Phil. 3. 21. Great Tribulation as to the time of which ‘proceeded out of his mouth’, His return. We mentioned above that Rev. 19. 21, the Lord wends His way in Second Phase – the the final week of Daniel’s prophecy triumph to the city of Jerusalem – the manifestation in power is yet to be fulfilled. This equates to a seat of His government. The Psalmist and glory period of seven years. The Lord said describes Jerusalem as ‘the city of When Paul writes to the in Matthew chapter 24 verses 15 and our God . . . the city of the great King’, Thessalonians in the second Epistle, 16, ‘When ye therefore shall see the Ps. 48. 1, 2. he does so to correct the error that abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the The Lord made this journey before. holy place, (whoso readeth, let him He entered into Jerusalem fulfilling understand:) then let them which be the words, ‘behold, thy King cometh in Judaea flee into the mountains’. unto thee: he is just, and having Daniel referred to this as taking place salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ‘in the midst of the week’, Dan. 9. 27. ass, and upon a colt the foal of an From that point, those who are able to ass’, Zech. 9. 9. As He approaches this read and understand will know that second time, we hear the words of there will be a period of three-and- Psalm 24 verses 9 and 10 ringing out, a-half years before the Lord returns. ‘Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even The Lord warns them to flee for safety lift them up, ye everlasting doors; to preserve their lives so great is the and the King of glory shall come in. peril that they should not by any Who is this King of glory? The Lord means delay. of hosts, he is the King of glory’. No wonder the Psalmist ends his The place of His return meditation with the word ‘Selah’! As the disciples stood and gazed up into heaven having watched the Lord Whether we contemplate the Jesus ascend until a cloud covered upward call of the Saviour or His Him from their sight, two men in return in power and glory, surely white apparel appeared to them and the response to His words, ‘Surely said, ‘this same Jesus, which is taken I come quickly’ is ‘Even so, come, up from you into heaven, shall so Lord Jesus’, Rev. 22. 20! come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven’, Acts 1. 11. The place of His departure from earth was the Mount of Olives and, according Endnotes 1 W. E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of to Zechariah chapter 14 verse 4, ‘his New Testament Words, Oliphants. feet shall stand in that day upon the 2 See John 14. 1-3; 1 Cor. 15. 51-57; and 1 mount of Olives’. Thess. 4. 13-18. 27 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 the Christian’s life through three channels, which are a pure heart, WORD FOR TODAY a good conscience, and a sincere By BRIAN CLATWORTHY Newbury, England faith’.4 Peter reminds us that salvation is the ultimate end or teleo (To bring to a close, to finish) very touching statement in verse goal (telos) of our faith, 1 Pet. 1. 9, 4, God also indicated that when and Paul writes that it is because telos (End, termination, the limit at Jacob died, his son Joseph would Christ is the ‘end’ (telos) of the law, which a thing ceases to be) close (telos) his eyes, i.e., effectively righteousness becomes available recognizing that his life had come to every person who believes, telones (A tax-gatherer) to an end. Interestingly, in Leviticus Rom. 10. 4.5 It is also a word very chapter 27 verse 23, the word telos is much associated with prophecy and We often use the word ‘end’ and its translated as ‘worth’, signifying the the end times as demonstrated by associated words to describe the full or complete measure required Paul’s use of telos in respect of the idea of cessation or termination. to purchase a field. When Joshua consummation of God’s redemptive Winston Churchill stated, after stood with the children of Israel purpose and the coming of the the allied victory at El Alamein in on the banks of the River Jordan, Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 15. 24. Yet, 1942, that the ‘victory was not the we read that the flow of water was even though all things are moving end, it was not even the beginning of completely cut off (telos) by God to towards a final eschatological goal the end, but it was, perhaps, the end facilitate the crossing, Josh. 3. 16. or end, we can praise God that His of the beginning’. And for believers kingdom and that of His Son will be ‘the beginning comes out of the Job uses the word in the sense of without telos (end), Luke 1. 33. infinite so the end will also lose itself reaching a ‘goal’ as he seeks to find in it’.1 Hence the words of God and God who he believes has hidden Further reading/study of Christ, ‘I am Alpha and Omega, Himself from him, Job 23. 3. The Introductory the beginning and the end’, word occurs some fifty-five times in End, Ending (telos) in W. E. Vine, Rev. 21. 6; 22. 13. the Septuagint (LXX) title to many Expository Dictionary of New Testament of the Psalms, in the expression eis Words, pp. 26, 27. The noun telos had a variety of to telos, which is translated as ‘for Advanced meanings in the Greek world ever (more)’ or ‘to the end’, cp. Hab. Telos in Gerhard Kittel and Gerhard including, ‘achievement’, 3. 19, but which is translated by the Friedrich (ed.), Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged in One ‘fulfilment’, ‘final step’, ‘result’, Masoretic text as ‘to the choir leader’ Volume), pp. 1161, 1162. ‘goal’, ‘conclusion’, ‘cessation’ or or ‘chief’ (musician). ‘end’. Telos was further expanded through time to describe an The writer of Ecclesiastes reflects on ‘obligation’, and culturally to the effectiveness of the wise words signify an ‘offering’ to a deity or the of the Preacher as they stick in the ‘fulfilment’ of sacrifices.2 On rare memory and stimulate appropriate occasions, it was also translated as action. This is contrasted with the ‘tax’ or ‘levy’, Num. 31. 28 LXX.3 endless (telos), almost mindless, stream of pagan wisdom literature In the Septuagint (LXX), the word that, when studied, simply brought telos occurs in both metaphorical exhaustion to the reader, Eccles. Endnotes and literal ways. In God’s speech to 12. 11, 12. 1 Colin Brown (ed.), Dictionary of New Testament Theology, pg. 164. Jacob in Genesis chapter 46 verses 2 For a comprehensive list of the 1 to 4, He assured Jacob that even When the noun telos and the verb meanings of the word telos, see H. though he was going into Egypt it teleo are carried over into the G. Liddell and R. Scott, A Greek- English Lexicon. would not vitiate the promises that New Testament they take on the 3 For further examples of the use of the He had made to his ancestors. In a dynamic idea of fulfilment, that word in taxation see Moulton and is, everything moving towards a Milligan, The Vocabulary of the New Testament, pg. 630, and, also, Rom. goal or an ultimate conclusion. 13. 7. For example, our Lord uses the 4 George W. Knight III, The Pastoral word telos of His fulfilment of Epistles, pg. 76. the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 5 The word telos has three possible interpretations in this context. It 53, Luke 22. 37. Paul contrasts the could mean ‘fulfilment’, ‘goal’ or heterodoxy of false teaching with ‘termination’. In our view, C.E.B. the purity of apostolic teaching, Cranfield is right when he states, ‘that Christ is the goal to which all 1 Tim. 1. 4, 5. Knight writes, telos along the law has been directed, ‘has here the meaning of “goal” or its true intention and meaning’, “outcome toward which something Romans, pg. 519. Ultimately, of course, without Christ the law is is directed”. The goal of Christian unintelligible. instruction is love manifested in 28 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah’, Old Testament women who 1 Sam. 10. 2. Thus, it could very well be that the voice of Rachel in Ramah appear in the New Testament itself wept over her lost children.

What has this to do with the New Testament? Matthew records for us the ‘slaughter of the innocents’ by Herod, who, in order to ensure

RACHEL the death of the one ‘born King of the By IAN REES Tenby, Wales Jews’, commanded the murder of ‘all the [“male” NKJV] children that were ‘May God make you like Sarah, first love. She bore him his in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts Rebecca, Rachel and Leah’. This favourite son, but she also died in thereof, from two years old and under’, blessing, pronounced over Jewish giving birth to his youngest son, and Matt. 2. 16. He then adds, ‘Then was girls even today, shows us the here we come to the third reason fulfilled that which was spoken by importance in the Jewish faith of why Rachel is so significant. She Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama these four women, known in Jewish named her last-born Ben-oni, which was there a voice heard, lamentation, tradition as the four matriarchs. ‘As the KJV margin translates as, ‘The son and weeping, and great mourning, matriarchs of the Jewish people, of my sorrow’. ‘Rachel’s choice Rachel weeping for her children, and Sara, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah each of a name accurately reflects her would not be comforted, because possess qualities that make them knowledge that she was about to die. they are not’, Matt. 2. 17, 18. Here we worthy role models. According to Furthermore, it gives necessary weight see the motif of Rachel once again as Jewish tradition, they were strong to her role as a tragic figure who was the epitome of the sorrowing Jewish women who kept faith with God the first love of her husband yet was mother. We also observe what is quite during tough times. Between the lot of never able to live a settled and fruitful often seen in scripture that a prophecy them, they endured marital troubles, life with him’.2 And it is here that we can have an immediate fulfilment infertility, abduction, envy from other see the ongoing significance of Rachel and a later one. The exile of God’s women and the task of raising difficult in Jewish tradition. We encounter her chosen people in Jeremiah’s day, children. But whatever hardships name in the book of Jeremiah. ‘Thus and Rachel’s refusal to be comforted, came their way these women put God saith the Lord; A voice was heard was followed by an assurance from and family first, eventually succeeding in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter God Himself, Jer. 31. 16. Thus, God in building the Jewish people’.1 The weeping: Rahel [Rachel] weeping promises the glorious restoration, only one of these Old Testament for her children refused to be regathering, redemption and revival women not mentioned in the New comforted for her children, because of Israel. Just as the women of Ramah Testament is Leah. they were not’, Jer. 31. 15. Some were given hope from the Lord, so suggest that the word ‘Ramah’ here too the women of Bethlehem would To the Jewish people, Rachel is stands for ‘on high’; thus, ‘A voice was find great David’s greater Son particularly important because of heard on high . . . Rachel weeping for would bring hope to His people, the the two sons that were born to her – her children’. In Jeremiah, Rachel, One whom the wicked King Herod Joseph, who became the saviour of a type of sorrowing Jewish sought to destroy. It is remarkable his people when they went down into women since her own premature to notice the words that follow the Egypt, and Benjamin. Benjamin’s death, weeps as though from the weeping of Rachel in Matthew chapter tribe, along with that of Judah, grave (not audibly, of course) as she 2. ‘But when Herod was dead’, Joseph formed the southern nation that sees her children being taken into is told in a dream, ‘Arise, and take resisted the idolatry of Samaria and captivity and with many slaughtered the young child and his mother, and stayed loyal to their God for so much in the streets of Jerusalem. On the go into the land of Israel: for they are longer than the northern tribes. other hand, Ramah was a place near dead which sought the young child’s Rachel also embodied the essential Bethlehem, a place where the captives life’, vv. 19, 20. In a time to come, when spirit of a hugely persecuted people from Jerusalem were held before God gathers His chosen people to their when she pleaded with her husband, many, including Daniel and his kind, promised land, and their great Messiah ‘And when Rachel saw that she bare were taken to Babylon. Jeremiah comes, Rachel shall no longer weep. Jacob no children, Rachel envied her recalls when he was held in Ramah, Man proposes but God disposes. sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me until he was given the option to return children, or else I die’, Gen. 30. 1. home, Jer. 40. 1-6. There is a dispute With pogrom after pogrom over the amongst Jewish historians as to where Endnotes 1 Ariela Pelaia, Blessing the millennia of time, the task of Jewish exactly Rachel’s tomb is located. children on Shabbat, https://www. women to bear children to carry on Rachel had been buried, not in the learnreligions.com/blessing-the- the hopes of the nation has been of family tomb with Sarah, Rebekah and children-on-shabbat-2076757. 2 Lewis Warshauer, The meaning of paramount importance. Leah, but on the road to Bethlehem, Benjamin’s name, JTS Torah online, Gen. 35. 19, 20. Saul is told by Samuel http://www.jtsa.edu/the-meaning-of- benjamins-name. Rachel was, of course, Jacob’s to find two men ‘by Rachel’s sepulchre 29 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 knowing that all things were now accomplished . . . said, It is finished’, 19. 28, 30. He ‘bowed his head, HIS HEAD and gave up the ghost’. This was a By JOHN TINKLER Red Row, Northumberland, England deliberate act and He put His head into a position of rest. He who found Many of us may recall from our past that, in many children’s no rest for His head in His life here, found rest at last.5 Bible story books, the Lord was depicted as having a halo above His head. In later life we came to appreciate that About His head this was never the case. The Lord was a real man and, Finally, John chapter 20 verse 7 as believers, we enjoy the fact of His deity but also His takes us to the resurrection morning humanity, sin apart. However, there is no scripture that we and mention is made of ‘the napkin, can turn to that reveals anything of His personal appearance. that was about his head . . . but wrapped together in a place by itself’, 20. 7. Why was this folded? His head on a pillow Placed upon His head In the Hebrew tradition of the day, We commence this study in Mark Matthew chapter 27 verse 29 the folded napkin had to do with chapter 4 and, whilst His head is not mentions the crown of thorns. They the master and the servant. If the mentioned, He was in the middle ‘platted a crown of thorns . . . [and] master got up from the table, folded of a storm, ‘in the hinder part of put it upon his head’.2 Perhaps the his napkin and laid it beside his the ship, asleep on a pillow’, v. 38. soldiers made it themselves and plate, it meant ‘I’m coming back’. Having had a busy day, it was He in mockery they said, ‘Hail, King And so He will! who requested that the disciples of the Jews’. We are not informed sail to the other side. In His mind when it was removed but I am sure ‘O Head, once filled with bruises, the journey was assured, but, in the it was temporary as this was their Oppressed with pain and scorn, boat, He was awakened by their calls treatment of such a prisoner – a O’erwhelmed with sore abuses, of distress and He rebuked the wind mock coronation. Mocked with a crown of thorn! and the sea. Remarkably, as the O Head, to death once wounded disciples observed, ‘the wind ceased, We can recall, when our present In shame upon the tree, and there was a great calm’, v. 39. Queen was crowned on the 2nd In glory now surrounded Their reaction is recorded, ‘What June, 1953, the crown was held With brightest majesty’. manner of man is this, that even the aloft then carefully placed upon her Paul Gerhardt wind and the sea obey him?’ v. 41. head. What a contrast here! A crown platted – intertwined with thorns. It In a coming day, our Lord will be Poured upon His head was unlikely to be placed carefully crowned King of kings and Lord of Our next scene is found in Matthew on our Lord’s head. John tells us lords. chapter 26 verses 6 to 13.1 In both in chapter 19 verse 5 of his Gospel Matthew and Mark, the woman is that the Lord was brought out not named but in John’s Gospel, arrayed before the people wearing she is named as Mary. It is John the crown of thorns. Its purpose that records that she poured the was to afflict the mind and to cause ointment on the Lord’s feet, whilst pain. Matthew and Mark mention in the other two accounts she that they smote the Lord on His poured it on His head. Whether the head with a reed.3 With the desire to ointment was poured first upon His punish Him further, they did their head and trickled down to His feet worst to Him. or not, the point to be emphasized is that nothing was withheld. Placed over His head As we consider Calvary itself, Thinking just of Matthew’s account, Matthew records His accusation ‘set we might note: over’ or placed over His head, ‘This l Undeserved criticism, ‘this is Jesus the king of the Jews’.4 It is waste’, v. 8; John that tells us the reaction of the l Unprecedented devotion, ‘this chief priests, but in this Pilate would Endnotes ointment’, v. 9; ‘very precious not be swayed, ‘What I have written 1 Parallel passages are: Mark 14. 3-9; John 12. 1-11. ointment’, v. 7; I have written’, 19. 22. 2 Parallel passages are: Mark 15. 17; l Universal in scope, ‘this gospel John 19. 2. . . . preached in the whole world’, Bowed His head 3 Matt. 27. 30; Mark 15. 19. 4 Matt. 27. 37. v. 13; In three Gospels, we read of the Lord 5 The Lord did say,‘The Son of man l Unidentified individual, ‘this giving up the ghost, but in John’s hath not where to lay his head’, woman’, v. 13. account we are told that ‘Jesus Matt. 8. 20; Luke 9. 58.

PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2021 Conducted by QuestionTime Frank A. Proudlock QUESTION ANSWER Who were In my late teens I recall reading through the we read the ‘parable of the publican and the Gospels for the first time. One thing that Pharisee’ as they were going up to the temple the Pharisees struck me was that interactions often occurred to pray. In contrast to the publican, who, on and why do between the Lord Jesus and a religious group entering the temple, would not so much as they feature called the Pharisees. I knew next to nothing lift his eyes to heaven, the Pharisee was full about these Pharisees and yet they seemed to of pride. He completely misunderstood the so much occupy such an important place in the Bible. most basic lesson on approaching God, that in the New So, who were they and why do we read about our approach is not based on what we can offer Testament? them so much? God but on what He can do for us through the sacrifice of Christ. The Pharisee returned to his The Pharisees are held in great esteem by house in the same unforgiven sinful state as many religious Jewish people today. They when he left. were considered to be the founding fathers of Rabbinical Judaism. They were responsible Sadly, despite the Pharisees often having for the origin of the Mishnah, a written a great knowledge of the scriptures, and collection of the Jewish oral traditions that understanding important truths such as many practising Jewish people still follow resurrection, many of them were not saved. now. Similarly, in New Testament times, the Their legalistic tendencies were a symptom of Pharisees were a highly respected group of their underlying condition. They constructed religious leaders. In contrast to the Sadducees, a system of laws they could keep, to try to hide who were an elitist group that had their power the fact that they could not keep God’s law as base in the temple in Jerusalem, the Pharisees given in the Old Testament. This, of course, were men of the people. They were associated was humanly impossible because of the sinful with locally based synagogues and would have human condition. been well known in their communities. In Luke chapter 15, the Lord Jesus told three The name Pharisee means ‘separated’ and they parables that were also directly addressed placed great emphasis on personal piety through to the Pharisees and scribes, v. 3. In each keeping the commands of the Old Testament parable, something had been lost, a sheep, law along with other oral traditions. Another v. 4, a coin, v. 8, and a son, v. 32. In all three reason the Pharisees were so popular is because parables, a seeking process took place. If one they protested at Roman rule and Hellenization looks carefully, there is a subtle twist to the last (the influence of the Greek language and parable, where the seeking process carried out culture), in contrast to the Sadducees who by the father is not made towards the prodigal collaborated with the Roman authorities for son, as one might expect, but rather towards political advantage. Consequently, many the self-righteous son. The so-called ‘parable Pharisees took great pride in their identity of the prodigal son’ is as much a parable about and standing. Prior to his conversion on the self-righteous son. He is the son for whom the Damascus road, Paul was a Pharisee. we read, ‘therefore came his father out, and He described himself as ‘an Hebrew of the intreated him’, v. 28. Behind the exclusive Hebrews’ and as ‘blameless’ with respect to ‘the attitude of the Pharisees was a failure to realize righteousness which is in the law’, Phil. 3. 5, 6. that they themselves were also lost and that God’s offer of forgiveness was open to all. Given this information, what then was so wrong with the Pharisees and why was the Lord Jesus One reason the Pharisees feature so much often at variance with them? Paul provides a in the New Testament is that the Lord clue in Philippians chapter 3. He describes his Jesus had a great love for them and was pre-conversion experience as ‘having mine fully aware of the grave danger they stood own righteousness, which is of the law’, v. 9. in eternally. The Lord Jesus uttered some The chief problem with the Pharisees was self- of His strongest words to the Pharisees righteousness. This one fundamental error lay to shake them out of this complacency at the root of many of their other behaviours. and ignorance. Along with publicans and sinners, He was also seeking them. It is Several of the most well-known parables told clear that certain of the Pharisees (see Acts by the Lord Jesus were directed towards the 15. 5), including named individuals such as Pharisees. In Luke chapter 18 verses 9 to 17, Nicodemus and Paul, responded in faith.

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