An international magazine to encourage the study FEBRUARY 2020 of the scriptures, the practice of New Testament church principles and interest in gospel work Vol. 75 | No. 1

‘Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?’ Mark 6. 3. BOOKS ORDER FORM

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Following the interest in Volumes 1 to 4 from the Precious Seed archive, we have decided to print Volume 5.

This book covers the years 1952-­53 and the reports section alone is a fascinating history of gospel outreach from Cornwall to Shetland. With expositional material, such as that on the Pastoral Epistles by W. E. Vine, together with practical and devotional articles, it is also the same eclectic mix of papers that will be a blessing to the reader.

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Every Christian should be concerned to learn and obey the New Testament’s teaching in respect of the church. Warmly welcomed when first published, Church Doctrine and Practice has now been fully revised to include further biblically focused doctrinal and practical teaching. Major sections include the church (both local and universal), unity, baptism, fellowship, worship and prayer, spiritual gifts, service, elders, and discipline. New additions strengthen coverage of leadership, gospel outreach, and a variety of pastoral topics. This book challenges us to return to apostolic practice, and suggests many practical ways of both sharing the gospel and building up the churches of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. A companion volume New Treasury of Bible Doctrine is also available from Precious Seed Publications. This book, and its companion volume, are also available in North America and Canada from Steers Christian Supplies.

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Christ and His Apostles will take you through the New Testament in a year, offering a programme of readings as well as a meditation for each day.

Living in the Promised Land covers the Old Testament from Joshua to the end of 2 Chronicles and provides the same programme of daily readings and comment.

As part of a clearance of some of our warehouse stock, we are now able to offer these two volumes at a special price of: per copy £3.00 plus postage at cost.

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PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 FEBRUARY 2020 Editorial Vol. 75 | No. 1 ‘Be thankful unto him, and bless his name’, Ps. 100. 4. As we move into another decade, there would be no spiritual life God and the subject of God’s eternal 2020 sees the 75th anniversary of within, no spiritual power to live, purpose, Eph. 1. 18. It behoves us to the first publication of Precious and no security for the future, Rom. value believers as such, and to grasp Seed magazine and, on behalf of 8. 9-11; Eph. 4. 30. As the Lord Jesus something of the intended purposes the current Committee, we readily Himself declared, that indwelling that God had in linking us all together acknowledge the kindness and presence enables an insight into the as saints – that we may be able to faithfulness of the Lord. For the inspired word of God and He would ‘comfort them which are in any vision and the endeavours of all those teach us ‘all things’, John 14. 26. trouble’, 2 Cor. 1. 4. who have been involved in the work How blessed we have been to have of writing, editing and publishing the had access to this unparalleled book, As we launch into the coming year, magazine, sometimes at considerable which has been the unshakeable, and it is the prayer of the Committee personal expense, we express our totally sufficient resource for all the that we should be marked by a thanks. people of God down through time, 17. dependence on the Spirit of God, 17! It is interesting to note that after dedication to the word of God, and Much has changed in our world the mention of Mnason of Cyprus devotion to the people of God. If in and society since 1945 and, indeed, in Acts chapter 21 verse 16, the title any way this issue of the magazine among assemblies of the Lord’s ‘disciple’ is not used again in the New encourages that, then we, like those people, but the need of believers is Testament. Instead, the title used who have contributed to it over the still best met in the resources given to becomes ‘saints’, and in his address last seventy-five years, will ascribe us by a gracious God: the Spirit, the to Agrippa, as the apostle recounts it to the goodness and mercy of the scriptures and the saints. his story, he describes those who he Lord, Ps. 23. 6. ‘shut up in prison’ as ‘saints’; those What kindness on God’s part to who he once viewed as subversives, impart the Holy Spirit to every he now affectionately calls ‘saints’! individual who places faith in Christ! He had come to appreciate their SANDY JACK Without His indwelling presence value as those who were precious to Ministry Articles Editor Contents The Messianic Psalms What is God’s plan for Characters in the early years Psalm 72 ...... 2 my life? ...... 15 of the Lord: Anna ...... 28 By RICHARD CATCHPOLE By SAM TAUFEEK By MICHAEL WILKIE

An Assembly of the Lord’s ‘We are leaving’...... 16 Word for Today ...... IBC people will be a people among Anon By BRIAN CLATWORTHY whom . . . – Part 6...... 4 By STUART SCAMMELL 1 Thessalonians Chapter 2 – Book Reviews The marks of a true ...... Inside Back Cover Flap The Epistle to the Colossians messenger...... 18 By JOHN SCARSBROOK – Part 8 ...... 6 By PETER DAVIES By WILLIAM M. BANKS Question Time Old Testament Women who ...... Outside Back Cover Flap The Sacrifice of the Son appear in the New Testament: By RICHARD COLLINGS – Part 1 ...... 8 Lot’s wife...... 20 By KEITH R. KEYSER By JOHN SCARSBROOK Handley Moule: His life The Gospel of Mark – Part 9...... 10 and legacy...... 22 By JOHN BENNETT By HOWARD BARNES

What does the Bible tell us Angola...... 24 PULL-OUTS about the future? ...... 12 By BRIAN HOWDEN By IAN JACKSON Nehemiah The only One who always By MALCOLM DAVI S The Twelve Tribes of Israel delivers and doesn’t and JONATHAN BLACK – Gad ...... 14 disappoint ...... 26 By LLOYD STOCK By DAVID BRAUCH YPS 1

embracing the integrity and wisdom to exercise that authority righteously. The Messianic Psalms Both things will be found with the Lord Jesus. In reference to the prerogative and liberty to act, Psalm 2 verses 7 to 9 records, ‘the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this PSALM 72 day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for By RICHARD CATCHPOLE South Norwood, London, England thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of Speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul asserted, ‘He iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces must reign’, 1 Cor. 15. 25. Although denied by a-millennialists, like a potter’s vessel’. In regard to His the One whom men rejected and crucified at His first coming integrity and wisdom, note Isaiah is appointed to have a throne and a kingdom in the very scene chapter 11 verses 2 to 5, ‘the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the of His rejection. God has determined it; the scriptures testify spirit of wisdom and understanding, to it, and in Psalm 72, His reign of righteousness and peace is the spirit of counsel and might, the graphically described. spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of In the Hebrew Bible, the Psalms are ‘Give the king thy judgments, O the Lord: and he shall not judge after divided into five books corresponding God, and thy righteousness unto the sight of his eyes, neither reprove to the five books of the Pentateuch. the king’s son’, v. 1. In verses 2 to after the hearing of his ears: But with Psalm 72 concludes the second book, 17, it opens out into prophecy, as righteousness shall he judge the poor, that section of the Psalms which the writer anticipates the fulfilment and reprove with equity for the meek begins with Psalm 42 and corresponds of his request and its delightful of the earth: and he shall smite the to the book of Exodus. The second consequences.1 It concludes in verses earth with the rod of his mouth, and book of Moses, Exodus, concludes 18 to 20 with a note of praise to the with the breath of his lips shall he with the glory of God filling the One who will bring it all to pass. slay the wicked. And righteousness tabernacle and thus it is no accident, shall be the girdle of his loins, and but a mark of divine inspiration, The subject of the Psalm faithfulness the girdle of his reins’. that Psalm 72 concludes on a similar The Person who reigns: ‘the king/ note, looking on to the golden age of the king’s son’, v. 1. Because of His reign will be marked by justice Messiah’s kingdom when ‘the whole Adonijah’s attempt to claim the and equity, ‘Behold, a king shall reign earth [will] be filled with his glory’, throne for himself, Solomon was in righteousness’; His sceptre will v. 19. anointed king while David was yet be a ‘sceptre of righteousness’, His alive.2 If the psalm was written by millennial capital, Jerusalem, ‘the city The superscription to David in those latter days, Solomon of righteousness’.3 the Psalm in his own right bore the title of ‘A psalm for Solomon’, although the ‘king’ but, equally, when viewed in Four distinct groups of people are margin says, ‘A psalm of Solomon’. If relation to David himself, he was ‘the mentioned in verses 2 to 4 of Psalm the first title is correct, this is a psalm king’s son’ and as such the rightful 72: ‘Thy people’, who will enjoy written by David for the instruction heir to the throne. Needless to say, righteous government, v. 2; the ‘poor’, of Solomon and likely written at the this distinction is but a reflection of i.e., the afflicted and oppressed, who very end of David’s life. If, however, the personal greatness and glory of will find justice and vindication, the writer was Solomon, then here is a the ‘greater than Solomon’, Matt. 12. vv. 2, 4; the ‘children of the needy’ son giving expression to and wanting 42. In the glory of His person as the or ‘the destitute’, those who are the to see realized, the desire and longings eternal Son of God, the Lord Jesus most vulnerable in society, these will of his father’s heart, v. 20. Either way, has an inherent right to rule; He is the be delivered and avenged, v. 4; the it is evident that the initial subject King of kings, the Lord of lords. But, ‘oppressor’, who will be broken in of the Psalm was Solomon himself equally, relative to His manhood, as pieces and crushed, v. 4. Here is a King and although the substance was in the seed of David, He is the rightful with whom there will never be any some measure realized in his reign, heir to David’s throne, Luke 1. 32. failure or injustices. for its total fulfilment, it awaits the reign of ‘a greater than Solomon’; the The principles that characterize Righteousness will issue in something millennial reign of the Lord Jesus His reign, vv. 1-4. The psalmist else: peace. Isaiah says, ‘the work of Christ. requests two things: ‘Give the king righteousness shall be peace; and thy judgments’, embracing the the effect of righteousness quietness The sections to the Psalm prerogative and liberty to act as judge; and assurance for ever’, Isa. 32. 17. The psalm begins with a petition, and give the king ‘thy righteousness’, In Psalm 72, the writer says, ‘The 2 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 mountains shall bring peace to ‘his enemies shall lick the dust’; the the delightful character of His reign, the people’, v. 3. The mountains of most distant gentile kings, ‘kings the heart of the psalmist overflows in Israel are especially in view, from of Tarshish and of the isles’, and gratitude and praise to the One who which, in former days, invaders often the most opulent kings, ‘the kings will bring it all to pass, blessing God descended. In that day, there will of Sheba and Seba’. He will have for what He does and what He is, vv. be no conflicts but ‘an abundance universal dominion, for ‘all kings shall 18, 19. of peace’, v. 7. Today, men measure fall down before him: all nations shall the security of their kingdoms by the serve him’, v. 11. All David desired for his seed, his strength of their military capabilities throne and his kingdom, will be but in that coming day it will be The proficiency of His reign, vv. attained in Christ; David’s ‘prayers are measured by the security that allows 12-15. These verses speak of ‘the ended’, he need not ask for anything boys and girls to play in the street, needy’, ‘the poor’, and ‘him that hath more. Does all that we desire likewise ‘the streets of the city shall be full of no helper’, those who are often the focus upon Christ occupying the boys and girls playing in the streets victims of injustices and are all too throne and being pre-eminent? thereof’, Zech. 8. 5. frequently ignored and forgotten in the corridors of power, but not with The permanence of His reign, this King. Because of the beneficence vv. 5-7. The section ends much as it of His reign, some will express their begins. The idea in verse 5, ‘They shall appreciation in the gifts they bring to fear thee as long as the sun and moon Him, others in their prayers for Him. endure’, is that they shall fear God day Daily shall men praise Him, not only and night throughout all generations. for what He does but also for what He Then, in verse 7, there will be an is in himself. ‘abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth’, or literally, ‘until The prosperity of His reign, v. the moon is not’, again emphasizing 16. The earth will enjoy abundant its abiding character. In between, fertility, ‘There shall be an handful we have two important statements. of corn in the earth upon the top The first describes the initial effect of of the mountains; the fruit thereof Christ’s coming, especially upon the shall shake like Lebanon’. The top of Jewish nation ravaged in tribulation mountains and deserts are not areas days, ‘He shall come down like rain that men currently cultivate, but in upon the mown grass: as showers millennial days these areas, once that water the earth’. The picture is barren, will be fruitful. Whereas today of grass that has been cut down and there is an emphasis upon industry, in is ready to wither beneath the hot that day, with the curse removed, the eastern sun unless refreshed by rain. focus will be upon agriculture.4 The second statement asserts that, under the reign of this righteous king, The pre-eminence of the ruler, v. righteous men will flourish, and the 17. ‘His name shall endure for ever, nations will prosper and expand, v. 6. his name shall be continued as long as All preceding kingdoms have risen, the sun’ or ‘while the sun shines His flourished, and declined, but not this name shall be perpetuated’, i.e., ‘shall one. produce fresh progeny’ or ‘send forth new shoots’.5 In that day, the promise The perimeters of His reign, vv. God gave to Abraham, ‘in thee shall all 8-11. It is recorded of Solomon that, families of the earth be blessed’ will ‘he reigned over all the kings from be fulfilled, Gen. 12. 3, men ‘shall be the river even unto the land of the blessed in him’, v. 17. All nations shall Philistines and to the border of call Him ‘blessed’, acknowledging Egypt’, 2 Chr. 9. 26. Great king though Him to be the author and the source Solomon was, there were limits to his of their salvation and prosperity. Two kingdom; but not to Christ’s. Psalm 72 different Hebrew words are translated verse 8 says, ‘He shall have dominion ‘blessed’ in this verse. The second also from sea to sea, and from the one could be translated ‘felicity’ or Endnotes river unto the ends of the earth’, or ‘happiness’, conveying the pleasure 1 Note the repetition of the word ‘shall’ thirty-one times in verses 2 to literally, ‘land’, and no doubt Israel’s that Messiah Himself will find in the 17. inheritance is specifically in view. But blessing of men. 2 1 Kgs. 1. 5-40. the Psalm then opens out to embrace 3 Isa. 32. 1; Heb. 1. 8; Isa. 1. 26. 4 Isa. 35. 1, 2; Amos 9. 13; Mic. 4. 3, 4; nomadic tribes, ‘those that dwell in The prayers of David ended, vv. Rom. 8. 19-21. the wilderness’; the subjugation of 18-20. Having been occupied with 5 W. Kay, Psalms, 2nd edition, enemies who formerly opposed Him, the King of divine appointment and Rivingtons, 1874, pg. 230. 3 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 doing this he reminds us of a simple An Assembly of the Lord’s people lesson that should be obvious to us, ‘how shall they hear without will be a people among whom . . . a preacher?’ We often think that others will do it, the gifted ones, the brave, the ones that God calls, yet, in 2 Timothy, Paul reminds THE GOSPEL IS Timothy that he, though not an evangelist, should be doing the work of one. It is the challenge that we all need to face up to. How do SOUNDED OUT we tell others the greatest news By STUART SCAMMELL Cardiff, Wales Part 6 we have ever heard? How do we tell others of the person that has changed our lives? How do we tell The activities of the apostles were surely motivated by their others of His love and work that has changed our eternity? appreciation of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The more they understood about who He was and what it was that He had done The answer for each one is personal for them, the more that stimulated their love for Him to grow. and the Lord Himself will reveal to John expressed this in 1 John chapter 4 verse 19, ‘we love him, us the sphere that we should serve because he first loved us’. Him in.

Personally, the Lord revealed to me John also teaches us that we in the synagogue and, to those that very clearly that some of my time should express our love for our happened to be there, in the market was to be devoted to serving Him Lord and Saviour by keeping His place. This may have been, in a in prisons and on the streets. There commandments, John 14. 15. He paradoxical way, a great advantage. are many more experienced and preceded that statement in John When we are faced with difficulty gifted than myself. However, I have chapter 13 verse 34 with a ‘new or opposition, then, just as in nature come to understand increasingly commandment . . . that ye love one the hedgehog rolls into a ball or that God calls, God equips, and another’ and in the next verse we a rabbit looks to his burrow for God gives you just what you need are told that this obedience will protection, we can often retreat to a to face each circumstance. There identify us as disciples of Jesus place of safety. is a massive lack of reapers for the Christ. ‘plentiful harvest’. The Lord did not command us to Our obedience to Him is not stay in our Gospel Halls and preach We often hear of a land that has optional or selective. The fact that the gospel but to ‘go into all the turned its back on God, and, to we call him ‘Lord’, should indicate world and preach the gospel’. It some extent, that has to be true that our lives are directed by His is true that there are examples in as we see laws being passed that will. In Mark chapter 16 verse 15, the the scriptures of those that came are contrary to the word of God. Lord Jesus calls on His disciples, to the Lord Jesus, one famous However, when talking on the ‘Go ye into all the world, and example would be Nicodemus in streets to people, it is also true that preach the gospel to every creature’. John chapter 3. However, the Lord we have a rudderless generation This means that we should be a certainly visited people in their that know that life seems empty people from whom the gospel is need when maybe they were not and I often hear the phrase, ‘there sounded out. seeking Him. In the next chapter, is something missing’. Stress levels the Lord Jesus came to a city of for some are off the scale, many are Over many years I had been all too Samaria and engaged a lady in struggling with money issues, many aware that we were very good at conversation. It is very evident from are reaping the lack of morality in preaching the gospel to those that the recorded dialogue that this lady their lives and drugs are wreaking knew it well and were in the good of knew her life wasn’t right but was havoc in so many lives today. Many it. However, I had been increasingly doing little or nothing about it. As in the world are asking, ‘What is it challenged as to how to reach I try to engage with people on the all about?’ or even, ‘Where is God?’. out to those that had never heard streets, very often I meet people just What we cannot do is sit back in our the gospel message. The Apostle like this! They know things aren’t comfortable halls and lament that Paul did not have the privilege of right, but they don’t know where to they won’t come in. a comfortable Gospel Hall or any turn. similar facility in which to organize So, what should we do? I had the his meetings. In Acts chapter 17 In Romans chapter 10 verse 14, the great privilege of standing on Mars verse 17, we read that he met with Apostle Paul is teaching us about Hill not so long ago. There I thought Jews to reason through the gospel Israel rejecting the gospel; while how Paul chose his words carefully 4 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 yet told a consistent message, greatest message has got lost in the farmer that sowed no seed would preaching the gospel appropriately trivial messages of man. We must be then be astounded to see a bumper using what was around him. The bolstered by the fact that we have crop. unknown God is where we are at a God-given commission to ‘Go . . . with this generation. Every time we into all the world and preach the As people who have met in Gospel don’t speak out, when we are not gospel’. The call couldn’t be a higher Halls, we should be a people willing to do a certain work, we are one. The commission is one of great synonymous with sounding out in danger of handing territory to dignity as it is from God. the gospel and as God’s people we Satan. should want to be obeying our Lord What stops us being obedient? This Jesus Christ and ‘going’! Last Christmas I stood in the main is a challenging question. Maybe, street of Cardiff and preached. I had for many, it is that they are out As we go and sound out the gospel the title on the board, ‘The Way in a of practice. When I was a boy, we in different ways to reach different manger’, and used John chapter 14 would often go to gospel campaigns echelons of society, we remember verse 6 where the Lord Jesus states, and there would be more gospel that it is for the ‘whosoever’. What ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: outreach activities than maybe there we are actually doing is teaching no man cometh unto the Father, but are today. As opposition grows or others, the younger believers by me’. A man listened for about efforts see less fruit, it should be coming through, that it is their five minutes. After I had finished, that we look to redouble our efforts reasonable service and that the he walked up to me and shook my rather than shrink away from the gospel can be effective in the lives hand. He thanked me for what I challenge. of those around us. had just said. The man was around forty years old. The next thing he It is true for most assemblies that When we see the full effects of said astounded me. He told me that in this generation we have seen the gospel, those that are saved, he knew Jesus had something to do fewer saved than in previous baptized and then, in time, added with Christmas, but until that day generations, and we must remember to the assembly are a massive he had never understood what! At that Lamentations chapter 3 encouragement to us. Over recent first I wondered if he was joking. verse 26 teaches us that it is years in the assembly in Cardiff, He was not. Generally, Christians the ‘salvation of the Lord’. But we we have seen a number saved, have been quiet for too long. The are told to be the sowers and the many of them have been baptized and are now in fellowship. When they gather with us, maybe for the first time, to break bread, it is wonderfully uplifting. The reality of having those with us that God has saved is encouraging. Hearing a male taking part, thanking God for His Son and that He died to be his Saviour, is a delight, not just to God, but to the believers who sounded out the gospel to him.

So, as God’s people, we need to look for avenues that God would take us down to reach people for His glory and their salvation. We, of course, do not just strike out on our own; we need to be before God in prayer asking for direction, operating in His strength and exercising wisdom in the literature we use, and title and format of meetings we convene.

We should also be ready to live out the gospel in front of those that we encounter. The vast majority of the generation before us do not read God’s word but they do read our lives. Only if our lives are right will they turn to us in their crises and want the joy and peace that we have through Jesus Christ. 5 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 neither is that circumcision, which THE EPISTLE TO THE is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose COLOSSIANS praise is not of men, but of God’. Elsewhere, Paul could say, ‘For By WILLIAM M. BANKS Hamilton, Scotland Part 8 we are the circumcision . . . and have no confidence in the flesh’, Phil. 3. 3. The physical act is now The c aution The character The method The answer – Christ is the of the intruder adopted answer in each case superseded (it was restricted to males!) and a new sign given in vv. 4-7 ‘Lest any man’ The clever deceiver Beguiling ‘with ‘Christ Jesus the Lord’, v. 6 Christian baptism, v. 12. enticing words’, ‘faith in Christ’, v. 5 v. 4. ‘walk ye in him’, v. 6 ‘rooted and built up The result of the circumcision in him’, v. 7 is clearly indicated, ‘putting off vv. 8-15 ‘Lest any man’ The vain philosopher Spoiling ‘through ‘In him dwelleth all the [divesting] of the body of the flesh’, philosophy and fulness of the Godhead v. 11 JND. This means divesting vain deceit’, v. 8. bodily’, v. 9 ‘after Christ’, v. 8 and discarding acts associated ‘in him’, vv. 9, 10 with the old life. The word ‘body’ ‘in whom’, v. 11 has the idea of wholeness or ‘by . . . Christ’, v. 11 ‘with him’, vv. 12 (twice), 13 totality as used, for example, in the term ‘the body of truth’. Here vv. 16, 17 ‘Let no man’ The legal judge Judging in ‘The body is of Christ’, v. 17 ‘meat . . . drink . . . it means the full gamut of fleshly holyday’, v. 16. activity (the totality of carnal and evil propensity in self). It can be vv. 18, 19 ‘Let no man’ The idol worshipper Worshipping ‘of ‘Holding the head’, v. 19 angels’, v. 18. compared to the ‘body of sin’ in Romans chapter 6 verse 6. Note that the word ‘flesh’ in the New Editor’s note: The table above The appeal to their baptism Testament can mean the physical corrects the version printed in the based on a new circumcision, body, humanity or inherent evil – previous issue. vv. 11, 12 here it means the latter. The essential lesson is that they Warnings and answers, 2. 4-19 mustn’t depend on the flesh any The sphere of the circumcision (continued) more, in contrast to the vain is indicated at the close of the philosophers, but rather on their verse, namely, ‘by [en = in as the The vain philosopher, vv. link by baptism to Christ. If baptism sphere of its operation or basis of 8-15 – spoiling ‘through was to be a reality there must first its effectiveness] the circumcision philosophy and vain deceit’ be the cutting off of the flesh. of Christ’. This, of course, has no In the last paper, we concluded our reference to the literal circumcision discussion on the first major warning The circumcision envisaged links of the Lord as an infant of eight and noted the dangers in this second. them with a new dispensation, ‘in days; it is figurative of His It is essentially motivated by cosmic whom’, v. 11. It is an additional crucifixion. The idea, therefore, powers that control the world; (to the three we saw last time is that of ‘the inward cleansing basically, it is intellectualism with in verses 5 to 7) intrinsic link brought about by His death, unhealthy motivation. with Christ, ‘in whom also ye are resurrection, and indwelling circumcised’. However, the nature presence in those who are united to It was shown that the answer is of the circumcision is distinctive; him by faith’.1 again to be found in Christ, with it is ‘made without hands’. It is three significant antidotes to clear that this is not the literal In verse 12, the apostle now applies the philosophical troublers: the circumcision that was given as the the lessons from their spiritual supremacy of Christ, vv. 9, 10; the basis of the covenant to Abraham circumcision. The evidence of significance of their baptism ‘with in Genesis chapter 17 but rather their death to sin, i.e., ‘divesting him’ based on a new circumcision, vv. a spiritual circumcision as, for the body of the flesh’, is now seen 11, 12; and the total triumph of Christ example, indicated in Deuteronomy in their burial, ‘buried with him in at Calvary, spoiling the controlling chapter 10 verse 16, ‘Circumcise baptism’. Since only dead people powers behind the pagan philosophy, therefore the foreskin of your heart, are buried, their participation and publicly shaming their empty and be no more stiffnecked’, cp. in Christ’s burial (aorist tense illusions, vv. 13-15. The powers of evil Jer. 4. 4. The true nature of this indicating their participation – in are totally defeated. The first antidote circumcision is detailed in Romans the purpose of God this has already was considered in the last article. The chapter 2 verses 28 and 29, ‘For he is been accomplished) is setting the latter two are considered here. not a Jew, which is one outwardly; seal on His death and ours, cp. 6 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 Rom. 6. 3, 4. Thus, there is death to was still the need to account for The legal judge, vv. 16, 17 – sin, to self and to the world.2 their ‘uncircumcision’. This was judging ‘in meat . . . drink . . . answered in the forgiveness of all holy day’ – ritualism The evidence of new life is seen trespasses, v. 13. These trespasses The apostle now seems to be in the fact that we are ‘risen with are explained in verse 14 as ‘the addressing Judaizing teachers him’. Baptism is seen here as death, handwriting [word found only still wanting to maintain the burial and resurrection, cp. 3. 1; here and meaning a legal signed legalistic requirements of certain Eph. 2. 6. The power to effect this document] of ordinances that was Old Testament restrictions with in the life of the believer is seen in against us, which was contrary respect to food and holy days. the balance of the verse. What God [used only twice in the NT; on However, there was no place has done for Christ He has done for the other occasion translated for these restrictions in their us. In our case there is a necessary “adversary”] to us’. The ‘legal new resurrection life. Note the expression of faith in the operation demands’ [ESV] of the law are seen ‘therefore’; their practice was to (energeia, power) of God. Thus, the as the signed acknowledgement be determined by the doctrine just power of God is the subject of faith of an accumulated ‘mountain of enunciated, not to be called into and is available for the believer to bankruptcy’ incurred by violating question by legalizers. walk in newness of life, cp. 3. 1. The the law and cancelled by His evidence of that divine power has death.4, 5 The questions addressed, v. been displayed in the resurrection 16 of Christ, cp. Eph. 1. 19, 20. His The twofold method adopted The subject of food and drink was resurrection was also a display of the to effect forgiveness is, first, by one of serious consideration at glory of the Father, Rom. 6. 4, ‘The ‘blotting out’ the ‘mountain of that time.8 There was the necessity glory of the Father demanded it and bankruptcy’ so as it can no longer for consideration of the tender the power of God performed it’.3 to be seen; ‘out of the way’; the slate conscience of a weaker brother and is wiped clean. This is the private the permission of liberty – think The triumph of Christ, aspect known by the individual. of the weak. On the other hand, in vv. 13-15 The second method is by ‘nailing the question of food there was the In this third section, giving the it to his cross’. This is the public need to avoid legality. To others, the antidote to the illusory philosophers aspect seen by others. It is an question of festivals was important of verse 8, the apostle shows that ‘act of triumphant defiance’; the – holy days (annual, e.g., the Day of the subtle controlling powers accusation against His people is Atonement); new moon (monthly) behind their pagan philosophy made public, as His was, to show and sabbaths (weekly).9 have been totally conquered. The their liberation from bankruptcy Colossian believers, and we too, and bondage. 6 The reality affirmed, v. 17 have been linked ‘with him’ in His The apostle asserts that restrictions triumph! The final triumph of Christ is relative to meat and drink and the seen in verse 15 as the spoiling of matter of festivals were looking There were, however, two ‘principalities and powers’. Thus, forward as ‘a shadow of things to conditions requiring transformation the controlling powers of those who come’. However, the reality was for this link with His triumph were bankrupt are totally defeated, Christ – He was the substance.10 The to be effective. They were ‘dead and that publicly, He ‘made a shew term ‘of Christ’ indicates that the in . . . sins’, and part of the of them openly, triumphing over members of ‘His body’, the church, ‘uncircumcision of . . . flesh’, i.e., them in it’, ‘stripping them of the enjoy the reality; there is no need to symptomatic of the condition armour in which they trusted, and indulge in the shadow! of Gentiles, cp. Eph. 2. 1, 11, 12. held them aloft in his outstretched Transformation was necessary, hands, displaying to the universe and it was effected; they were their helplessness and his own Endnotes ‘quickened together with him’, unvanquished strength . . . the 1 F. F. Bruce, The epistle to the sharing in new life with Christ. Note shameful tree has become the Colossians, William B. Erdmans Publishing Company, 1984. the repetition of the intimate link victor’s triumphal chariot, before 2 Rom 6. 11; Gal. 6. 14; Gal. 2. 20; Col 2. ‘with Christ’. This quickening took which his captives are driven in 11. account of their ‘dead’ condition. humiliating procession’.7 3 A. Leckie, What the Bible teaches – Ephesians, John Ritchie Ltd 1983. The interesting development should 4 cp. Exod. 24. 3 for the Jew and Rom. be noted: in verse 20, ‘dead [died The ultimate triumph of Christ is 2. 15 for the Gentile. JND] with Christ’, cp. Rom. 6. 8; in thus affirmed and He shares it with 5 F. F. Bruce, The epistle to the Colossians, William B. Erdmans verse 13, ‘quickened together with us, cp. 2 Cor. 2. 14, ‘God . . . always Publishing Company, 1984. him’; in verse 12, ‘risen with him’, causeth us to triumph in Christ’. 6 Ibid. all aorist tenses. There is no need for the Colossians 7 Ibid. 8 cp. Rom. 14. 3; 1 Cor. 8-10; 1 Tim. to listen to the vain philosophers; 4. 2, 3. While the quickening took they, and we, have someone far 9 See, e.g., Lev. 16; Num. 10. 10; 28. 11- account of their first condition superior who has destroyed their 15. 10 See John 1. 45; 5. 46; Heb. 8. 5. requiring transformation, there motivating power! 7 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 with all our heart, soul, and mind, Matt. 22. 37. The bloodless grain/ meal offering demonstrates the purity THE SACRIFICE of life that He requires. The peace offering brings God and the offeror together in reconciled communion. The sin and trespass offerings were Part 1 similar, with the latter emphasizing OF THE SON restitution. As Wiersbe explains, By KEITH R. KEYSER Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania, USA ‘The trespass offering emphasized the damage done to others by the offender, while the sin offering emphasized In a world that doubts God’s goodness, Christ’s sacrifice stands the offender’s guilt before God’.3 as the historic proof of divine love, grace, and righteousness. Gooding asserts that these offerings His propitiatory death undergirds the believer’s justification, collectively show the Most High’s holy sanctification, and eventual glorification. It also manifests the requirements, as well as demonstrating appointed way of salvation by grace through faith, thereby the comprehensive nature of Christ’s rejecting mankind’s meritorious schemes of salvation. It reveals person and redemptive work, saying, ‘The very fact that God provided a the truth about God: He is incomparably holy and loving. It number of different sacrifices with also exposes humans as utterly lost without His intervening different characteristics for the ancient deliverance. God demonstrated His love for humanity and His Hebrews shows the wealth that there commitment to justice by sending His Son to the cross, Rom. 3. is in our blessed Lord – that it takes 23-26; 5. 8. A preacher once declared, ‘In the cross of Christ I see all these prefigurements, pictures and the love of God working out through passion and power for the prototypes to adequately illustrate his redemption of man. In the cross I see the light of God refusing ministry, person and sacrifice’.4 to make any terms with iniquity and sin and evil. The cross is the 1 The types’ inadequacy historic revelation of the abiding facts within the heart of God’. Despite the ubiquitous offerings in To understand both God and man, therefore, one must grasp the Israelite life, they often hardened their significance of Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary. hearts against God; they did not use the rituals for their intended spiritual purposes. In the eighth century BC, Painting a realistic picture a sacrifice of the flock ‘by faith’, v. 4. for example, the Almighty complained of humanity Since faith is a response to revelation, concerning them, ‘To what purpose Humanity’s desperate condition this suggests that they were instructed is the multitude of your sacrifices is graphically portrayed in the Old in the proper approach to their Maker. unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of Testament sacrifices. Sin’s entrance Noah, Abraham, and the patriarchs the burnt offerings of rams, and the into the world was met by divine continued to draw near with burnt fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in judgement and later by grace. After offerings, Gen. 8. 20, 21; 12. 7. the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or exposing their sin and bringing of he goats. When ye come to appear them to confess it, God pronounced National sacrifice, before me, who hath required this at judgement on Adam and Eve; the international Saviour your hand, to tread my courts? Bring penalty was spiritual and physical Sacrificing an unblemished lamb was no more vain oblations; incense is an death. Afterwards, He provided them central to Passover, Exod. 12. 1-13. After abomination unto me; the new moons with skins to cover their shame. the exodus, Israelite lives revolved and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, These clothes imply animal death; the around bringing the prescribed I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even beginning of bloodshed to atone for sacrifices for worship, thanksgiving, the solemn meeting. Your new moons sinners. Chafer remarks, ‘Few types and atonement. Leviticus chapters 1 and your appointed feasts my soul are as complete as this. God undertakes to 7 spell out the five major categories hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I for man; the imputation of sin to a of offering: 1. the burnt offering; 2. the am weary to bear them. And when ye substitute is implied; and the covering grain offering (also known as the meal spread forth your hands, I will hide of the sinner is revealed’.2 Sin is so or meat offering); 3. the peace offering; mine eyes from you: yea, when ye costly that it brings about the slaying of 4. the sin offering; 5. the trespass make many prayers, I will not hear: a sacrificial victim. The penalty must offering. The Israelites were repeatedly your hands are full of blood’, Isa. 1. be carried out on a substitute before reminded of sin’s high cost by the ritual 11-15. He expressed similar disdain humans could come near their holy slaughtering of birds, bulls, sheep, and through the later prophet Malachi, Mal. Creator. goats. 1. 7, 8. Israel went through the motions without displaying true faith. Cain and Abel were taught to come near The burnt offering showed the divine God with an offering, Gen. 4; Hebrews requirement of the totality of the The New Testament’s first mention of chapter 11 affirms that Abel offered sacrifice. He wants us to love Him sacrifices is a negative citation of first- 8 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 century Judaism’s empty practices, an offering that only He could give. creatures, Col. 1. 21, 22. It robbed death Matt. 9. 13, showing that the Jews were Psalm 49 says, ‘None of them can by of its sting and enabled God to judge of the same stripe as those faced by any means redeem his brother, nor sin justly, while just as righteously the former dispensation’s prophets. give to God a ransom for him: (For the justifying sinners who believe in Jesus, They missed the point of the sacrifices, redemption of their soul is precious, Rom. 3. 21-26. and thought that their conformity to and it ceaseth for ever:)’, vv. 7, 8. But ceremonial statutes would curry favour the Son of God, uniquely uniting full The cumulative effect of His once-for- with God. Despite their blindness, the deity and perfect humanity, could offer all sacrifice was to open the way into Lord Jesus proceeded to fulfil all the a sacrifice of infinite worth that paid for God’s presence. Gooding joyfully Old Testament types, prophecies, and human sins. declares, ‘We can now do what Israel’s shadows. The forerunner, John the high priest could never do. He could Baptist, marked Him out as ‘the Lamb 3. Sufficient enter only the Most Holy Place in of God, which taketh away the sin of Christ is the true Boaz, Ruth 3. 18, a the tabernacle on earth; every day of the world’, John 1. 29. He was the true strong kinsman-redeemer who restores our lives we can enter the immediate Passover who died as a sacrifice for what He did not steal, Ps. 69. 4, and presence of God in heaven’.5 This sin, 1 Cor. 5. 6-8. Hebrews chapter 10 pays the debts of humanity. Only the access stemming from Christ’s death is verses 5 to 7 contrast His death with Son of God could offer the satisfactory expressed in a well-known hymn: those of the Old Testament victims, payment for sin; only He could become ‘Wherefore when he cometh into the the propitiation for the sins of the ‘Rent the veil that closed the way world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering world, 1 John 2. 2. No one else could To my home of heavenly day, thou wouldest not, but a body hast accurately say, ‘I have glorified thee In the flesh of Christ the Lord, thou prepared me: in burnt offerings on the earth: I have finished the work Ever be His name adored!6 and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no which thou gavest me to do’, John 17. pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the 4, or, ‘It is finished’, 19. 30. Hebrews Considering the perfect nature of volume of the book it is written of me,) chapter 10 verses 11 to 14 confirm the Christ’s sacrifice, one should worship to do thy will, O God’. completion of His sacrificial work, in the triune God who planned and contrast to the Old Testament system, executed salvation’s immense work. The fullness of Christ’s ‘And every priest standeth daily Bonar expresses it well, ‘O perfect sacrifice ministering and offering oftentimes the sacrifice, what is there that a sinner, In contrast with Judaism’s offerings, same sacrifices, which can never take burdened with guilt, and weary of the His sacrifice was: away sins: but this man, after he had evil within him, does not find in Thee? offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat Peace for trouble, liberty for bondage, 1. Spotless down on the right hand of God; from righteousness for unrighteousness, Just as the Passover lamb was henceforth expecting till his enemies be fulness for emptiness, holiness for ceremonially unblemished, even so made his footstool. For by one offering pollution, rest for weariness, light for Christ was morally perfect. He was he hath perfected for ever them that are darkness, life for death – all, all in absolutely impeccable in His Father’s sanctified’. Thee’!7 eyes in life and death. Yet as the substitute, He became ‘sin for us, who 4. Sublime Endnotes knew no sin; that we might be made the Christ’s sacrifice fulfilled the typical 1 G. Campbell Morgan, ‘The Purpose of the Advent’, in The Westminster righteousness of God in him’, 2 Cor. 5. 21. teaching of the Old Testament Pulpit, Vol.1, Wipf & Stock, 2012, pg. offerings. His life was given sacrificially 323. 2. Solitary for God’s glory and man’s eternal good, 2 L. S. Chafer, ‘Soteriology’, in Bibliotheca Sacra 104.413. Jan. 1947, The Lord Jesus presented Himself as and it reconciled the Creator and His DTS, 1947, pg. 21. 3 Warren Wiersbe, Be Holy, ‘Be’ Commentary Series, Victor, 1996, pg. 25 [Italics original]. Another adds: ‘The names of these offerings, guilt-offering (trespass-offering) and sin-offering, are the names of the offences for which they are to atone, ’āšām (“guilt”) and h. at.t.ā’t (“sin”)’. R. J. Thompson, ‘Sacrifice in the Old Testament’, New Bible Dictionary, IVP, 1996, pg. 1041. 4 David Gooding, Prepared For Glory: A Myrtlefield House Transcript, Myrtlefield Trust, 2019, pg. 29. 5 David Gooding, An Unshakeable Kingdom: The Letter to the Hebrews for Today, Myrtlefield House, 2013, pg. 185. 6 R. C. Chapman, Hymn: ‘Oh my Saviour Crucified’. 7 Horatius Bonar, The Christ of God, Robert Carter & Brothers, 1874, pg. 80.

9 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 that which was altogether new and THE GOSPEL OF dynamic. In the first illustration of the garment, Judaism is portrayed as something old and worn out by use. It has been weakened to a point where it cannot be repaired MARK or improved. To add in the new, the By JOHN BENNETT Kirkby-in-Ashfield, England Part 9 unshrunk piece of cloth, would be to destroy the old cloth. The lesson As we continue in the Galilean with a question of His own, ‘Can the is that the new cloth cannot be sewn ministry of the Lord, we come to: children of the bridechamber fast, into the old; the gospel cannot be while the bridegroom is with them?’ bound into Judaism. The concern of John’s v. 19. This indicates the Lord in His disciples, vv. 18-22 character as the Bridegroom and His In the second illustration, the new Within this third section of chapter disciples as the Groom’s attendants. wine symbolizes the joy and power 2, we see that the meal that Levi had It also portrays a scene, not of of the gospel. New wine cannot organized was also a point of concern sadness and sorrow for sin, but of joy be contained in old bottles or for the disciples of John. Mark’s in the presence of the Saviour. This wine skins. They do not have the account does not specify exactly who was essentially the Baptist’s witness flexibility or elasticity to contain it. asked the question, but Matthew’s in John chapter 3 verse 29, ‘He that Equally, Judaism cannot contain the account clearly attributes it to the hath the bride is the bridegroom: but Christian faith. One is based upon disciples of John, Matt. 9. 14. They the friend of the bridegroom, which the observance of laws and rituals, had been brought up on the austerity standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth whereas the other is based upon faith of John’s ministry and found the greatly because of the bridegroom’s in Christ. A double loss would ensue, Saviour, in the words of the scribes voice’. Wiersbe comments, ‘Our as the bottles and the wine are both and Pharisees, ‘eating and drinking Lord had performed His first miracle lost. with publicans and sinners’. at a joyous marriage feast, John 2. 1-11. Now He was inviting people to This brings us to the last section Their inquiry, v. 18 come to the wedding!’3 within chapter 2. Their basic enquiry was, ‘Why do . . . thy disciples fast not?’ Whether But in these statements of the The cornfields and the the question was fuelled by the Saviour, there was also the clear Sabbath, vv. 23-28 antagonism of the Pharisees, or testimony that ‘the bridegroom shall As the Lord and His disciples went not, cannot be ascertained from the be taken away’, v. 20. There is no through the cornfields, this event verses. What seems clear is that they room for doubt, ‘the days will come’. opens a section that deals with were fasting at that time.1 Although The Lord knew that and did not hide incidents on the Sabbath. In the first there was no specific requirement it from His disciples. The words also chapter, 1. 21, the Lord had delivered in the law, other than on the Day indicate that the taking away would the man possessed of an unclean of Atonement, these disciples had be by violent means.4 He knew the spirit. Here, the plucking of the voluntary fasts at least twice a way in which the opposition of men corn from the corn fields, and then, week.2 It seemed incongruous, at was moving and what would be the 3. 1-6, the man with the withered best, for the Lord and His disciples ultimate outcome of that hatred. hand healed on the Sabbath, are a to be feasting on the day that they That day would be the moment for combination of actions which draws were fasting. His disciples to mourn. Hiebert out the opposition and hatred of the comments, ‘When His removal has Pharisees. The Lord’s ministry in Matthew become a sad reality their resultant chapter 6 teaches that fasting, like sorrow will provide a proper occasion The accusation of the Pharisees is personal prayer, was to be a private for fasting as the appropriate clear from verse 24, ‘Why do they matter. It was not to be done with a expression of their true feelings’.5 on the Sabbath day that which is desire to draw attention to the one not lawful?’ The law stated that fasting, ‘that thou appear not unto The Lord’s illustrations, vv. on the Sabbath day they were not men to fast, but unto thy Father 21, 22 to do any work, Exod. 20. 10. The which is in secret’, Matt. 6. 18. This In these two illustrations used by the definition of what is meant by work did not fit with the practice either Lord, He shows that the old system is not given in this instance. There of the disciples of John or of the and teaching were past and done. was only scriptural instruction given Pharisees. The forms and rituals of Judaism pertaining to various situations that could not be mixed with the gospel. could arise, particularly in respect The Lord’s inference, The two are incompatible. What the to a man’s animals. To fill this vv. 19, 20 Lord brought was not something perceived void in the regulation of The Lord answers their question that could be built into the old but the law, the Pharisees had developed 10 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 their own additional ‘laws’. These had become handed down and enshrined in tradition, carrying equal weight as the law in the minds of the Pharisees. What the disciples were being accused of was reaping the corn and threshing it with their hands. Vincent comments, ‘The offence given the Pharisees was the preparation of food on the Sabbath’.6 Cole adds, ‘it is very noticeable that they were not able to bring anything against Jesus personally, not even the most trivial charge of breach of the ceremonial law’.7

The Pharisees pressed their case. On the significance of the word ‘said’, Hiebert states it ‘is in the imperfect tense; they continued to press their objection’. Whilst the Pharisees thought the disciples guilty, they desired to hold the Lord responsible for the actions of His followers.

The Lord again poses a question that gets to the heart of the problem. Was their interpretation of the law of God appropriate and justified? Whilst There is a significant parallel in the eyes of these formalists who strained the Lord could have mentioned the example that the Lord uses. The out a gnat and swallowed a camel’.8 beast that had fallen into a pit that eating of the shewbread by David could be got out on the Sabbath and his followers was brought about Sadly, the scourge of legalism did without breaking Sabbath regulation, because he was being hunted by Saul. not cease with the Lord’s death He chose to deal with the case of Saul had vowed to kill David and and resurrection. Believers can David. The beast in the pit could the rejected king sought sustenance add to the scriptures today. It be rescued in order to preserve its from the House of God. The Lord was may be for what are claimed to life. David went into the temple and the rejected King in the midst of the be good reasons, but taking an asked for the shewbread and did so people and the Pharisees were, in unflinching stand on principles that to preserve life. The Lord’s words their turn, planning His death. are not underpinned by scripture were, ‘when he had need and was is a dangerous and potentially an hungered’, v. 25. The compassion It is sad to see that what God had destructive approach. Indeed, such and care of David for his followers provided for the rest and blessing are not often biblical principles. was emphasized. However, the law of men had been turned, by the They are little more that personal that David broke was not pertaining Pharisees and other religious leaders, preferences and preserving them to the Sabbath. It was a serious into something that was a burden. becomes a burden to the saints. violation of that which was set aside The law had provided evidence of the May the Lord enable us to preserve as holy and for the priests alone. humanitarian and compassionate biblical principles but also seek the What was David’s punishment? On grounds upon which the law of the welfare and blessing of His people. this, scripture is silent. Sabbath could be legitimately broken. A strict, legalistic interpretation was Endnotes We might note that the Lord takes in total opposition to this principle, 1 Other translations give this sentence the Pharisees up on their own ‘the sabbath was made for man, and as: ‘The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting’, NKJV, JND. charge. They had accused the not man for the sabbath’, v. 27. But That an actual fast was taking place disciples of that ‘which is not lawful’, more than this! The Lord teaches is also indicated by the RV and ESV. v. 24. The Lord says of David that that the interpretation of what is and 2 See Cole, op. cit., page 71, et al on this point. he ‘did eat the shewbread, which is what is not lawful on the Sabbath is 3 W. Wiersbe, Be diligent: Mark, not lawful to eat’, v. 26. The present not the prerogative of the Pharisees David C. Cook, Logos software case raised by the Pharisees was and scribes but of the Lord Himself, resource. 4 See John D. Grassmick, op. cit. an interpretation of the law. The ‘the Son of man is Lord also of the 5 D. E. Hiebert, op. cit., pg. 78. other was a definite violation of Sabbath’, v. 28. Wuest comments, 6 M. R. Vincent, op. cit. the scriptural law. How much more ‘The word [also or] “even” points to 7 A. Cole, op. cit., pg. 72. 8 K. Wuest, op. cit., pg. 61. serious was David’s case! the Sabbath as so inviolable in the 11 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 kingdom. Our Saviour spoke of this What does the Bible tell when He said, ‘And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we us about the future? are one’, John 17. 22. In a distinct manner, the church shall share in the manifested glory of Christ.

The Church and In Revelation, there is an unbroken chronology from chapter 19 verse 1 to chapter 21 verse 8. This covers the the Millennium Part 6 marriage of the Lamb, the coming again of Christ as the warrior king, the By IAN JACKSON Eastbourne, England binding of Satan, the millennial reign, the final rebellion of Gog and Magog, The Millennium come, when all things will be seen to the great white throne and the eternal The millennium, the one thousand be under His feet, He is now crowned state. Then, from chapter 21 verse 9 to year period of Christ’s manifested with glory and honour, 2. 9. chapter 22 verse 5, John describes the reign, is described in the New character of the church in the period Testament as: In Revelation chapter 20 verse 4, of the millennial kingdom. three companies of people are seen ‘the regeneration’; descriptive connected with the heavenly side Under the figure of a city, which in of a new state of things in which of that kingdom, who ‘reigned with scripture represents not only a system everything shall be brought into Christ a thousand years’. of social life but also the activity of conformity with His will, Matt. 19. 28; government, John describes the bride l There are those on thrones, of the Lamb in governmental and ‘the times of restitution of all the twenty-four elders, who millennial blessing. The angel said to things’, in which everything which are seen now not so much in him, ‘I will shew thee the bride, the has broken down in man’s hand will relation to worship in heaven, as Lamb’s wife’ and shewed him ‘that be restored in Christ’s hand, into in Revelation chapter 4, but in great city, the holy Jerusalem’, Rev. which the Father has given all things, relation to the administration of 21. 9, 10. It seems clear, therefore, Acts 3. 21; John 13. 3; the earth. that the city is not to be thought of as literal but in this book of signs, it is ‘the dispensation of the fulness l A second company consists of that which declares the character of of times’, which will be the last saints who, in the first half of the the church at that time. of the series of ‘times’ which have tribulation period, were beheaded constituted human history and in for the word of God and for the In Revelation chapter 21, the city is which everything will be under one testimony which they held as to twice seen by John coming down head, even Christ, Eph. 1. 10; the coming of Jesus, Rev. 6. 9-11. from heaven; as to its sphere, and from God, as to its source. It is in ‘the reconciliation of all things’ in l The third company consists of contrast to mystery Babylon, the which everything in heaven and earth saints who, in the second half of mother of harlots and abominations (though not things under the earth) the tribulation, do not bow to the of the earth. The origins of that city will be reconciled unto Himself, Col. beast or receive his mark, 13. 15-17, are in man, Gen. 11. 1-9, its sphere is 1. 20; refusing to share in either his the earth and it is developed in the political or religious interests. latter days by Satan. In verse 2, ‘the ‘the world [aion] to come’ which holy city, new Jerusalem’ comes stands in contrast to ‘this present evil The church is included in the first down ‘prepared as a bride adorned for world’ [aion], Heb. 2. 5; Gal. 1. 4. of these companies. When our Lord her husband’ following the judgement is revealed from heaven, ‘he shall of the Great White Throne; this is The age to come has been put in come to be glorified in his saints’, 2 connected with eternity. In verse subjection to man, rather than Thess. 1. 10, and ‘admired in all them 10, however, the bride, the Lamb’s angels, Heb. 2. 5. Angels shall then that believe’. The church shall then wife, is seen as ‘that great city, the be servants who will carry out the reign over the earth with Christ, from holy Jerusalem’ coming down after righteous judgements of the saints, 1 a heavenly location. Saints of this the Judgement Seat of Christ. This Cor. 6. 3. The administration of that church age ‘rejoice in hope of the is connected with the millennium. millennial age is pre-eminently in the glory of God’, Rom. 5. 2, knowing that It has often been pointed out that hand of Christ, the heir of all things, He is ‘bringing many sons unto glory’, she is called the Lamb’s ‘wife’ at the Heb. 1. 2, but it is also in the hand of Heb. 2. 10. These references to ‘glory’ beginning of the millennium but His saints, as linked with Him. At this are not to be limited to heaven; they ‘bride’ a thousand years later. Nuptial present time, in anticipation of the speak of all that we shall share with joy never diminishes for the Lamb exercise of His dominion in the age to Christ in the glory of His manifested and His bride. 12 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 The city has the throne of God and share. Her ‘light’, or her ‘shining’ was v. 25. Remarkably, the church will be of the Lamb, 22. 1. It is one throne, ‘like unto a stone most precious, even the medium of that light to the world. symbolic of the public, millennial like a jasper stone, clear as crystal’, The city shall be one great body of government of God, of which this v. 11. The jasper stone is mentioned glory and light, having glory that whole passage speaks. The church three times in connection with the shall never fade and light that shall is associated with God in the city, in verses 11, 18 and 19. Perhaps never grow dim. The nations of the government of the millennial world. the jasper and the other precious saved will walk in its light, and kings God, supreme, reigns in might and stones, mentioned in connection and nations will bring their glory and majesty and the Lamb in grace and with the foundations speak of the honour to it, vv. 24, 26. The rule of the meekness administers the power and communicable glory of God known by heavens is, therefore, acknowledged authority of the throne. the church. in that day.

The number ‘twelve’ is a number The city has no temple, v. 22, because There is no defilement in that city, closely connected in scripture to the ‘Lord God Almighty and the Lamb nor anything that makes either an the thought of administration and are the temple of it’. A temple in a abomination or a lie, v. 27. Only those is prominent in connection with the city has always implied that some are there whose names are written city. It has twelve gates, signifying would be nearer than others to God in the Lamb’s book of life. They shall the perfection of administration on but this is not so in the holy city. The reign unto the ages of the ages, for earth. Twelve angels are at the gates, Lord God Almighty, in His unrivalled so long as Christ is on the throne. servants waiting to do the bidding greatness, has acted and ruled The millennial kingdom is set up on of the saints in their administration throughout history, working all things earth to manifest the fulfilment of of the world. On the gates are the according to the counsel of His own the counsels of God, but His reign names of the twelve tribes of Israel will; He is now revealed in glory, by over all creatures, being eternal in its who, in the millennium, will be the Lamb, equally in every part of the character and independent of change, judged by the twelve apostles of the huge city of gold. It is a temple city in shall never cease. Lamb, Matt. 19. 28, whose names are which all shall serve in the immediate inscribed in the twelve foundations, presence of God and His glory. which are twelve pearls. Its equal ‘And the glory which thou gavest me length, breadth and depth is twelve The light of the sun and the moon I have given them; that they may be thousand furlongs, so that the is not required because of the glory one, even as we are one: I in them, city is foursquare. From whatever of God. He is the source of the city’s and thou in me, that they may be angle you look at it it is perfect and light, whilst the Lamb is the lamp made perfect in one; and that the complete, signifying the fact of the of divine glory, diffusing that light world may know that thou hast sent unity, perfection and symmetry of through every part of it. Darkness is me, and hast loved them, as thou hast the church in glory. The tree of life dispelled, for there is ‘no night there’, loved me’, John 17. 22, 23. ‘bare twelve fruits’, yielding her fruit every month.

That throne upholds and strengthens the city and from it proceeds a river of fullness of life and gladness. This river of blessing is always flowing through the heavenly city and, as with all else there, it is bright as beautiful crystal. There will be no more curse. Biblical history has seen many curses, but in the heavenly city, the church, there will be not be any curses, nor the ill effects that accompany them. His servants shall perfectly serve Him. They shall see His once-marred face and be marked as belonging to Him by having His name in their foreheads.

The millennium provides the opportunity for God to display His glory publicly to the world. The city, the church, has the glory of God, v. 21. 11, and radiates it to all the world. This is not the essential glory of God, which no man can look upon and live, but is that glory which He is able to 13 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 Inevitable conflict The Twelve Tribes of Israel We noted when looking at Reuben that his tribe settled east of the river Jordan. Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh joined him and Gad’s western border ran the length of the Jordan. These were lush plains, ideal GAD pasture grounds for the tribes’ flocks By LLOYD STOCK Bury St. Edmunds, England and herds. Ideal for other peoples as well; ideal for the Ammonites Regrettable contention 21; cp. Num. 32. 29; Josh. 4. 12. who occupied the territory east of In the order of birth that we have The Chronicler speaks of eleven Gad. Sure enough, the Ammonites been following from Genesis Gadite warriors who dug in with spent eighteen years relentlessly chapters 29 and 30, the next son David when he was on the run from oppressing the tribes in the Gilead after Napthtali is Gad. ‘When Leah Saul. They are described as ‘men region, cp. Deut. 3. 12, 13, reaching saw that she had left bearing, she of might’, ‘men of war’, having the and crossing the plains of Jordan, took Zilpah her maid, and gave ‘faces of lions . . . swift as the roes Judg. 10. 7-9. Yet they were only able her Jacob to wife’, Gen. 30. 9. The upon the mountains’, 1 Chr. 12. 8-15. to do so because God permitted it last time we thought about Leah’s Today, we would call them special on account of the wickedness of His children, she was praising God. It forces, highly capable individuals people. We are reminded that God’s seems that it didn’t take much for prepared for the most challenging people are never truly vulnerable that joy to fade. She will not mention assignments. Scripture has left when walking in His will. But the God again until He graciously these, and other similar accounts, flesh is always hungry for territory; provides Issachar some time later. on record and we do well just to there is an inevitable battle going on ponder the harsh realities of battle for our devotion and we must strive Just how long it took for her to take expected of the people of God. Lives to remain single-hearted towards this drastic course of action we were on the line in order to work out our God. cannot be certain. In all probability His purposes. What about you and she wouldn’t have waited long. I? Whether it is the battle for truth, Favourable conclusion Although the list in Genesis chapters 2 Tim. 2. 3, the battle for souls, 2 Within Gadite territory, an 29 and 30 appears to be following Cor. 5. 20, or the battle for devotion, important place was fortified under a steady sequence, there is room in Gal. 5. 17, what do we really know Jeroboam’s reign. It was Penuel, the text for thinking that the various of these things? How much are we where Jacob had prevailed with pregnancies and births may have contending for them? God. Jacob clearly saw a little of coincided. Some readers will be himself in Gad, for his closing aware that several commentators words to his son were of his tribe hold to this view.1 The expressions being overcome, ‘but he [Gad] shall regarding ‘when’ Rachel and Leah overcome at the last’, Gen. 49. 19. became aware of their barrenness Despite Gad’s exploits in the land, opens up this possibility. This would they ultimately abandoned the one also explain how despite Leah’s who fought for them. They fell with period of barrenness, thirteen their trans-Jordanian comrades children were born to Jacob in seven when Assyria rose to power. They years, including Dinah. The point were truly overcome and they have to ponder is whether the order of yet to recover. There is a nod to names is chronological, or more them in New Testament times, with designed to highlight the intense the city of Gadara, in what would struggle between the two matriarchs. have been Gadite territory. But It should never cease to amaze us today, their territory falls under that God graciously worked amidst it the Kingdom of Jordan. Israel may all to work His purposes out. contend for the territory, but it will take God to see to it that Gad, like Remarkable capability all Israel, shall finally prevail. Praise As you scan scripture to survey the God that though we are sometimes history of the tribe of Gad, one of the overcome, though we do sometimes things that particularly marks them fall, we will ultimately, by God’s out is capability in warfare. Moses grace, overcome at the last. refers to the tribe as a crouching lion, ‘[tearing] the arm with the Endnote crown of the head’, Deut. 33. 20. 1 For instance, see C. F. Keil and F. He also implies that they may have Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on taken a leading role in battles, 33. the Old Testament. 14 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 Dates and historical setting of the book An overview 445 BC Artaxerxes I permits Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem as Governor of of Nehemiah Judah to rebuild the city walls. By MALCOLM DAVIS Leeds, England 444 BC The reforms of Ezra. 432 BC The reforms of Nehemiah after Introduction Analysis of the book his return from a period away The Book of Nehemiah is named Chapters 1-2: The events which led to from Jerusalem in Babylon. after its main character and its Nehemiah’s appointment as Governor opening words. In Old Testament of Judah, and his initial survey of the All these events are recorded in canonical lists, it has been classified damaged walls of Jerusalem, 445 BC. Nehemiah, which is a primary as a historical book. It is the natural Chapter 1: Nehemiah learns about the historical document for them. sequel to the Book of Ezra. In both conditions of the Jews in Hebrew and Greek Bibles of the earliest Jerusalem, and then prays The Book of Nehemiah records the centuries, Ezra and Nehemiah were for the city. third return of Jewish exiles from treated as one book. Their separation Chapter 2: Nehemiah obtains Babylon to the Promised Land, that into two books can be traced back to permission from is, after both Zerubbabel and Ezra. the Latin Vulgate Bibles. Artaxerxes to return to Artaxerxes I’s royal edict was issued Jerusalem, then surveys in the month Nisan, in the twentieth Purpose of the book the damaged walls year of that king, see chapter 2 verse The Book of Nehemiah continues the privately at night. 1. It authorized Nehemiah to come theme of the preceding Book of Ezra, to Jerusalem for the first time to namely, the historical account of how Chapters 3-7: The rebuilding of the repair the damage which the city had the Lord sovereignly accomplished walls is finished in fifty-two days. sustained. This has been demonstrated the gradual restoration of a remnant Chapter 3: List of people who rebuilt to be 14th March, 445 BC. Nehemiah’s of Jews to their Promised Land, after the walls. second coming to Jerusalem, after his their seventy years of exile in Babylon. Chapter 4: Opposition encountered, later brief visit to Babylon, was ‘in the In this restoration there were three Nehemiah’s prayer, and two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes’, stages altogether. First, in 536 BC the rebuilding continues. or about twelve or thirteen years later Zerubbabel led a contingent of nearly Chapter 5: The problem of debt than this, see chapter 13 verse 6. This 50,000 returnees, who rebuilt the resolved. was 432 BC. Therefore, Nehemiah temple at Jerusalem. Then, in 458 BC Chapter 6: More opposition could not have written this book before Ezra led back a much smaller group of encountered, but the wall about 430 BC, but probably soon after 2,000 Jews to reinstruct the remnant is finished. then, since the unhappy events of in the commandments of the law of Chapter 7: List of all returnees with chapter 13 were evidently still fresh the Lord, and to regulate their lives Zerubbabel. in his mind when he wrote the record according to it. Now, thirdly, in 445 of them. Thus, this book is the latest BC, the Lord moved the Persian king, Chapters 8-13: The reforms of Ezra and of the historical books in the Old Artaxerxes I, to allow Nehemiah to Nehemiah, 444-432 BC. Testament. Esther, which follows it return to Jerusalem with a further Chapter 8: Ezra reads and explains canonically, is to be dated in the reign small group of exiles. This was to the law of God, then the of Ahasuerus, otherwise known as rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, which Feast of Tabernacles is Xerxes I, who ruled the Persian Empire had been almost totally destroyed by celebrated. before the time of Nehemiah, but after their surrounding enemies, and to Chapter 9: Confession and covenant the time of Zerubbabel. Esther is to reinstruct the returnees in spiritual made by the priests and be dated between the books of Ezra and moral matters. The account of Levites. and Nehemiah. The latest prophetical the reconstruction of the city, and Chapter 10: List of those who sealed the book in the Old Testament, Malachi, the restoration of the Jews’ spiritual covenant. was probably written about the time life is, as in the Book of Ezra, a very Chapters List of priests and Levites of Nehemiah’s reforms, or a little later, chequered one, but one that was 11-12: who returned with because it reflects conditions among eventually marked by a measure of Zerubbabel, followed by the returned remnant, very similar success and the Lord’s blessing on the dedication of the walls. to those which Nehemiah found in His people. The book demonstrates Chapter 13: The reforms of Nehemiah, Jerusalem when he returned from his how the Lord raised up and used including the expulsion visit to Babylon. mainly one man to accomplish His of foreigners from the purpose in the return of the exiles, temple, the renewing of Author although during part of the process support for the Levites, the Most commentators agree that of restoration Ezra again became enforcement of Sabbath- Nehemiah himself was the author of involved in teaching the word of the keeping, and the annulling the book that bears his name, since Lord to the people. of mixed marriages. much of it is autobiographical, being i PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 00 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 00 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020

written in the first person, see chapters commandments of scripture, cost 1 to 7, and chapter 12 verse 27 to chapter what it may, and showed no partiality 13 verse 31. The intervening part of towards those who were breaking the the book, which is written in the third law of God and required disciplining. person and largely concerns Ezra, could His ability to organize the rebuilding easily have been incorporated into the of the wall of Jerusalem in fifty-two record by Nehemiah. days was remarkable. Finally, it is noticeable that he gave all glory to God Nehemiah’s name means ‘the comfort for the success that he achieved. A truly of the Lord’, while his father’s name, remarkable servant of God, whom we Hachaliah, means ‘the darkness of should emulate today! the Lord’. Certainly, Nehemiah’s book tells how the Lord ministered The book’s message for today comfort through him to his people, If the primary message of the book of the Jews, following the long dark Ezra is that of the restoration of the Chairman’s night of discipline that they had people of God from the results of their endured during their seventy years sinful ways and consequent divine Notes of exile in Babylon. Judging from discipline, then the primary lesson In the November 2019 notes, I the name which his parents gave of the book is the need to re-establish commented on the significant him, perhaps we may gather that their shattered testimony before the changes that had taken place in Nehemiah was brought up in a godly world around and reconstruct their the year, some more noteworthy home. Certainly, at the beginning of spiritual life of worship and service. than others! Perhaps, as we face the book, we find him enjoying a very The reconstruction of Jerusalem’s 2020, we should do so with the favoured and responsible position protecting wall was absolutely expectation that ‘he that shall come in the king’s court, as the latter’s necessary to separate the Lord’s people will come, and will not tarry’, Heb. cupbearer. His circumstances in exile from the heathen nations around them, 10. 37. What a glorious prospect! were comparatively comfortable. But and their unhelpful influences. Only Nehemiah was a true believer whose after this line of separation had been As the editor has indicated, 2020 is heart was really with his afflicted rebuilt could the Lord’s people once the 75th Anniversary of the launch brethren in his home city of Jerusalem. again worship Him acceptably and of the magazine in September 1945. He was a man of God, filled with the serve Him effectively. As we enter that seventy-fifth year, Spirit of God for the task which he we welcome a new member to the most desired to accomplish. Therefore, A further lesson of the book is that the Trust. Andrew Dutton, of the New when king Artaxerxes I gave him the Lord Himself will sovereignly raise up Costessey assembly in Norwich, opportunity to express his deepest suitable leaders to assist their fellow- Norfolk, should be no stranger desire for his fellow-countrymen, he saints in this work of reconstruction. to readers of YPS in particular. took it with both hands, in complete Without such leaders, believers will With us all, I am sure he would dependence on God for the ability to do tend to revert to their old sinful ways, value your prayer support as he it. He was permitted to relinquish his which brought them into such distress commences the work. role as the king’s cupbearer for a time, and disgrace even before the world. in order to become the Governor of We have also been asked to Judah and oversee the reconstruction Every saint today should seek draw the attention of our North of Jerusalem with his people’s help. to emulate the characteristics of American readers to a change Nehemiah himself. All of us need to live of address. Those who wish to At every stage of the work, he turned our lives in the atmosphere of constant support the work of the magazines to his God in prayer, which punctuates prayer and dependence on the Lord’s and publications by contributing the whole book. He had a very personal help and guidance day by day. Unlike through the Truth and Tidings knowledge and appreciation of the Old Testament saints, Christians now Gospel Trust facility should now Lord. He was not afraid of hard have the Holy Spirit of God living contact them at: work and was an inspiring leader permanently within them. Only He of his workforce. When confronted can enable us to become exemplary Precious Seed International with opposition, whether from his workers for our God, like Nehemiah in c/o Truth & Tidings Gospel Trust enemies or his fellow-Jews, he stood his day. May we yield our lives to Him USA courageously, firm and immoveable in consecrated service every day of our 37177 White Tail Court from his task until it was completed. witness here on earth! Farmington Hills He grieved deeply over the sins of his MI 48335 people and their distresses. His fear of [Extracted from Coming Back God saved him from the fear of man. from Exile – Volume 7 of the This replaces the previous address. In his dealings with his countrymen Old Testament Overview series he was transparently honest, just and published by Precious Seed JOHN BENNETT Chairman and General Editor fair, an exemplary leader of men. Publications] He was committed to enforcing the iv PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020

previous one – ‘be not conformed to this world’, v. 2. The world’s What is God’s standard view is that all service for God is ludicrous, because the people of the world go by sight plan for my life? and sense; the believer should go by faith and the Spirit. I have no By SAM TAUFEEK Toronto, Canada doubt that if Abraham had shared with those around him his desire to leave his place and head towards Hebrews chapter 11 is known as the chapter of faith. The word an unknown destination, he would ‘faith’ appears thirty-two times throughout the book of Hebrews, have been ridiculed. and twenty-four of those occasions are in chapter 11. In brief, the passage outlines three aspects of faith: its foundation; its Similarly, the fourth step is, ‘be ye decisions; and its results. While we know that our spiritual transformed by the renewing of your mind’, v. 2. Since the natural foundation is our faith in God and His promises, this faith should man does not receive the things of dictate our decisions, which, in turn, will determine results. the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 2. 14, our minds need to be renewed by the grace of God and the power of the By faith, Abraham decided to leave How, then, can I know the plan of Holy Spirit. We need the eyes of our his home with no predetermined God so that I can make the right understanding to be enlightened by destination, leading to many decisions, decisions that will bring the word of God before we can prove generations being blessed by God. glory to our Saviour? Romans and understand the will of God. For Moses’ faith directed his decision chapter 12 is very relevant and useful example, naturally, it is considered to leave Egypt, leading to the when handling this difficult topic. wise to avoid decisions and choices furtherance of God’s great plan and that would lead to pain and the freedom of a nation. Through The will of God is ‘good, and suffering; however, in the Christian faith, Rahab decided to receive the acceptable, and perfect’, v. 2, but we life, suffering does not mean a bad Israelite spies, sparing both her and each need to ‘prove’ that personally, decision was made. Suffering may her family from certain death. that is, test it by experience. Paul be part of the plan of God to make can’t prove for me, and I can’t prove us perfect, stablished, strengthened From an outside perspective, these for you. It has to be a personal and settled, 1 Pet. 5. 10. decisions were not reasonable. In experience. This raises the question fact, they would have been seen as as to how we prove the will of God If we want a life that is pleasing to downright foolish. The three men of for ourselves. God, it is important to understand Judah decided it was better to go into His big plan for us: to be conformed a furnace than disobey God. Daniel The passage suggests the first to the image of His Son, Rom. 8. 29. decided that the lion’s den was better step: ‘present your bodies a living We should not rush into decision- than his safe government job. sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto making, but take time to be led God’, v. 1. Most of the choices we by the Lord. We should be ready In life there are big decisions and are going to make in our lives can to happily accept any redirection small decisions but I don’t believe be influenced by either the flesh or or correction to our path whilst there are unimportant decisions. I the Spirit. We cannot please God seeking first the kingdom of God had to make a big decision when I if we are still living for this world. and His righteousness, Matt. 6. 33. decided to leave the Middle East, The flesh can be a great hindrance risking the life of myself and my against knowing and obeying the wife; however, my daily decisions in will of God. Our wisdom in Christ is my peaceful new home country may totally different from the wisdom of not be less weighty. this world, Rom. 8. 9-13.

David wrote, ‘So teach us to number The second step is to think about our days, that we may apply our our ‘reasonable service’, v. 1. Is the hearts unto wisdom’, Ps. 90. 12. When Lord Jesus Christ and His glorious we number our days, we discover that work at the centre of our thinking, even the longest life is quite short as this will affect all of our service? when compared to the span of history; It is the only way that such service however, even extremely short can be acceptable to God, despite lives have eternal impacts. Thus, all how unreasonable such decisions decisions are important since they will may seem to those around us. impact upon the numbered days that were given to us by God. The third step flows from the 15 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 resentment rather than stimulating spiritual vitality.

I recall clearly the moment when ‘We are leaving’ one of the children told me that ANON they no longer wished to go to any of the assembly meetings. When challenged as to the reason for this Editor’s Note: The subject matter of this article is not an easy decision I was told that they wanted one; however, in the reflections of those who have personal to see what the world had to offer. experience of reaching out with a spiritual care to help in Despite this, they assured me that this area, there is much for us to consider and learn. I am their salvation was not in doubt; sure that it will be understood by our readership why this they were certain they were saved. article is anonymous. Much of the work of a shepherd in such The other children continued to circumstances must be done quietly and anonymously. We do come with us to the assembly for a few more years but, in the process pray that as this article is read, and the very honest thoughts of time, each of them decided to and feelings are shared, there will not only be an increased leave. None of them had ever been awareness of such difficult issues, but a deepening exercise in fellowship so it was not a case amongst believers to prayerfully support the work of true of leaving the assembly but rather shepherds among the Lord’s people. a discontinuation of attending the meetings.

This article is submitted with the we had our family Bible time and, To our great sadness we watched prayerful desire that it may help in addition, the children did their the family move further from the and encourage parents who have own Bible study using an excellent Lord, and get more involved in experienced, or who will experience, course designed for those of their the pleasures of the world. All our a situation similar to that which age group. Thankfully, it was never cherished hopes of being a family follows. Whilst trying to give as clear a problem to get them to attend the united in the joys of the Lord a picture as possible, details are various meetings of the assembly, evaporated, and I was left to reflect deliberately vague so as to preserve not only in our hall but those in on the way I had brought them the anonymity of the family as neighbouring assembles also. A up. Various questions and regrets much as is possible. two-hour conference session can entered my mind. Had I been be a marathon stint for children so too restrictive or too strict? Had I My wife and I had the inestimable we would make a point of dropping insisted on an orthodox conformity privilege of being brought up by into a favourite eating place on the to certain preferences about which parents who loved the Lord, who way home, or giving them some I could have been more tolerant? taught us the scriptures and who other treat as a reward for their Just where did it go wrong? I knew were in assembly fellowship. When endeavours. that each had made their own we married, we resolved that if we decisions and, as adults, they were should be entrusted with children Our home was a place of laughter now responsible for their lifestyle of our own we would follow the and fun, and we did all that we choices, but I could not help example we had been set by our could to maintain a close bond questioning my failures as a father. parents. After some years the Lord with the children. Although life More than once I have wished I graciously blessed us with children was busy, and the pressures of could wind the clock back and just and, despite being conscious that bringing up a family presented its do some things differently. we did not make the perfect parents, fair share of challenges, we had we sought to bring them up in the so much cause to be thankful for Never once did we feel that taking ‘nurture and admonition of the the way things were progressing. them to meetings, having the daily Lord’. Equally, we felt that it was However, at different times and in Bible time at home, supporting important that we invested time different ways the world began to other assemblies, and encouraging and effort in giving them a balanced exert its influence and my wife and them to do their own Bible study upbringing so that they would I observed a noticeable drop in the was unbalanced or unreasonable. mature into socially adept people interest our family were taking in I had no regrets concerning the who could relate to their peers as spiritual things. Their willingness amount of time I spent with the well as those of an older age group. to attend meetings slowly but family as they were growing up, for I surely declined, and their own Bible was not an absent dad. My wife and They, like Timothy, were taught the studies dropped off. Eventually, I spent countless hours playing with holy scriptures from their infancy I concluded that the family Bible the children, going to the beach, and each made a profession of time was counter-productive and having family picnics, meeting up salvation before they had reached any insistence that it continued with friends and having a day in the secondary school age. Each day was only creating a measure of countryside, etc. Yet, despite our 16 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 best efforts, it all seemed to be in about either a work of salvation and I may well have been proud of vain; spiritually they were nowhere. or restoration in each of the lives what I had done. of the children. Friends of ours Many of our friends had the joy of also shared this concern, and their If our children had always been in seeing their own children getting prayers for the family were a great assembly fellowship, there is a real baptized and coming into assembly encouragement. Very recently, I possibility that I may have had a fellowship. Be assured, we were met an old brother living in another wrong attitude towards those who genuinely pleased for them, but it part of the country and he said to do not share my convictions relative only added to my sense of failure me that he prays for our family to church truth. My awareness of and frustration. It is at those every day. I was shocked, for I Christians who meet in various low moments of doubt and self- cannot recall ever having a private different churches would have been appraisal that resentment can creep conversation with him, nor did I very limited and my opinion of in. Seeing your family give up, or, at know him that well. them would have been prejudiced best, hold lightly to the values that by ignorance. I am so thankful you laboured to instil in each can be Today the family are grown up, to the Lord for those who have so disheartening, and love can give married and have children of their supported and prayed for my family way to hardness. The danger I was own. Bit by bit the Lord has been and shown much Christian grace, conscious of was that of distancing working in the lives of each of our even though there would be some myself from the children. On a children, even though it has not aspects of doctrine about which we spiritual level we had less and less been an easy path for them. We do might have little in common. in common, and it would have been not want to elaborate on details but relatively easy to let them pursue it is a joy to report that there have If our family had not lived as they their interests and for me to focus been significant changes in the have, we would not be able to solely on the assembly and other attitude, behaviour and spiritual empathize with others who have aspects of the Lord’s work. condition of each. The word of God had similar, or far worse, challenges is read in their homes, and they and disappointments. The Lord Mercifully, the Lord gave my wife teach it to their children. We can has had to soften our hearts and and I the grace to help us through talk freely with each of them about has given us some sense of care for the times of doubt, resentment and the things of the Lord and they will others whose children are away sadness. We were both convinced contact us asking for prayer about from Him in the ‘far country’. that it was vital that we continued various matters as well as assuring to treat the children with love, us of their prayers on our behalf. and to keep the bond of friendship They are not all in an assembly but between them and us from being each of them are part of a Christian undermined in any way. Whilst they fellowship in the various localities remained in our home, there were where they live. standards about which we were not prepared to compromise, yet we I want to close by referring to wanted them to be assured that our a few things that many readers relationship and affection for them may not be able to relate to nor was not going to be jeopardized accept. However, if you have not by the spiritual breach that now experienced the sadness of seeing existed. your family go away from the Lord it is understandable that you may find At this point it is necessary for me the following comments strange, to highlight that each of the family but please bear with me. still insisted that they were saved and never at any time did they show If I could have chosen in advance disrespect or contempt for those a pathway for my family, it would things we had taught them. In fact, not have been the one they have they appreciated the way they had trodden. However, this has not only been brought up, and we shall be been a ‘learning curve’ for them forever thankful to the Lord for this. but for my wife and I also – me in Even though they had no desire particular. Had it been that each of to attend any meetings, they were the family had got saved, baptized, always happy to chat to anyone joined an assembly and lived a life from the assembly if they met them of devotion to the Lord, there is in the home or outside somewhere. a real possibility that I may have taken some credit for that. I might Burdened about their spiritual have thought that because I brought welfare my wife and I prayed up the family in the right way their earnestly for the Lord to bring spiritual success was down to me 17 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 Their trust, vv. 4-6 1 Thessalonians Chapter 2 In verse 4, he speaks of themselves as being put in trust with the gospel – being entrusted with it and given responsibility for it. It had been given The Marks of a to them not to keep to themselves, but to preach. But the apostle felt the responsibility not only of preaching it but also of the way in which it True Messenger was preached. God’s message must be By PETER DAVIES Swansea, Wales communicated in a God-honouring way. So many today feel that as long as the gospel is shared with others, the Introduction way in which it is shared is immaterial. The church in Thessalonica was a model church, so blessed in Not so, for this is a sacred trust that has its worship and witness – a light from God in a dark place. They been committed to us. Notice verse 3, were a company of believers whose lives had been revolutionized the appeal ‘was not of deceit’ – it was by the power of God; seen, not only in their conversion, but also not based upon error, not intended in their continuance. A people of vision and vitality, with a faith to lead astray, or divert people from so positive, love so practical and hope so real. What a wonderful the truth; ‘nor of uncleanness’ – no impure or unworthy motive; ‘nor fellowship they shared together, the kind of fellowship the Lord in guile’ – not to draw them after would have us enjoy and share. When we think of a church like Christ under false pretences. I fear this, we must, of course, ask ourselves, how did such a work as that we are not honest at times, when this begin? Who sowed the seed and laid the foundation? What we present the Gospel in a way that was the secret of their success? The answers are found in this gives the impression that to trust chapter and we would do well to take note and follow the example Christ is the end of all our problems given. We know that it was teamwork, for it was Paul and Silas and and difficulties, and that the way their helpers, Timothy being one of them. And when Paul is writing thereafter will be easy. Sometimes we are in danger of making it sound as if here, he is not just writing of himself, but he includes his fellow the world and Christ were not all that workers. Note the references to ‘us’ and ‘we’. A team evidently of far apart – that would not be true to one mind and one heart, and now we are going to see that mind the trust that has been committed expressed, that heart revealed. What did they think, how did they to us. Let us beware of making the feel, when they approached this pagan city? message of God plausible and pleasant to the ears of the unbelieving. ‘We speak; not as pleasing men, but God’, Their trials, vv. 1, 2 our faith and our trust in the Lord. v. 4. The objective is not to be popular First, he reminds the saints of what Consider the effect these trials had on with men but to be pleasing to God; they already knew: they had to pay these godly men. nothing for self-glory, personal gain or a price to bring God’s message to advantage but all for His glory. Thessalonica. They had come from Their testimony, vv. 2, 3 Philippi where they had been publicly ‘We were bold in our God’. They Their tenderness, vv. 7, 8 flogged and cast into prison. It was did not come in fear and trembling Perhaps we would be tempted to say only the mighty overruling of God because of what they had suffered that such men, so exact, so zealous that brought about their release, but previously, rather they experienced for truth and reality, must be hard these messengers were not put off by a fresh boldness and were given a men, but note the gentleness, v. 7. the hostile reception and they pressed new courage. They found the Lord Tenderness is required of a nursing on to Thessalonica where they came poured His strength into them, so mother with a suckling baby; care and up against more opposition. In fact, that they could carry on with their attention are given to the dependent unbelieving Jews tried to cause ministry with renewed enthusiasm and defenceless child as she provides trouble for them by stirring up the in the battle against the forces of for its every need and protects it from whole city against them, so much so evil and gain a great victory too.1 every ill. They did everything in their that the Christians advised them to It was not a failure but a success. power to promote strong and healthy leave, fearing for their safety, Acts 17. The church that was planted there spiritual growth, watched over and 10. Theirs was the experience of many was a demonstration of this. The cared for the believers and ministered trials, but they did not give up, they blessing and the power of God was to every spiritual need. Love was did not lose heart. We know so little abundantly evident among them. Let expressed in sacrificial service. Does of suffering for Christ’s sake, and yet us learn the lesson that God alone such compassionate care and Christ- how soon we become discouraged. is the source of our strength in the like concern humble us? Would to The trials that come our way are sent conflict that we face; He alone is the God we loved, as they loved, seeking to prove us, test the genuineness of secret to real success. the good of others. 18 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 Their travail, vv. 9, 10 and their manner of life should be them of the suffering and opposition ‘For labouring night and day’, v. irreproachable. that the churches in Judaea were 9; not a moment to call their own. experiencing to let them know They did not spare themselves. As They had a balance in their teaching. that they were not alone in their God’s servants they had the right to There was the stimulating word sufferings. In verse 15, he reminds make demands upon these young – ‘we exhorted you’; the soothing them that the Lord Jesus, in whom converts. They could have expected word – ‘and comforted’; and the they had trusted, also met with the them to support them materially, but searching word – ‘charged’. All this hatred of the world, even to death. they did not. If, then, they were not was essential to their training. It is supported, how did they live? They interesting to observe the phrase Their trophy and triumph, worked with their hands; they carried ‘every one of you’. It appears this was vv. 17-20 on their trade; they made and sold not just a ‘platform’ ministry but a Was there to be a reward for these tents so that they could pay their personal ministry. There is a work dedicated servants of Christ? Was it to way. Physically, mentally, as well as for each one of us to do! The purpose be a success story in the end? Would spiritually they threw themselves of this ministry is described in verse they triumph and win the prize? into this work of church-planting and 12, ‘that ye would walk worthy of The answer, without hesitation, to building. Why such effort? ‘Because God, who hath called you unto his all of these questions is certainly ye were dear unto us’, v. 8. kingdom and glory’, reminding us of ‘yes’! Paul treasured the memory of the dignity and destiny of our calling. their fellowship and reflects on their Their training, vv. 11, 12 hurried parting as they were forced Converts had to be prepared to stand Their thanksgiving, vv. 13-16 to make a quick getaway from the on their own when the missionaries In his writings we often find the city because of the bitter opposition, had moved on. I like the comparison apostle giving thanks to God. Are we though separated only in body but that is used here, ‘as a father doth characterized by thanksgiving? We ‘not in heart’. He tells them how time his children’. Previously, the ought to be. What is the cause of his and again he had tried to return but comparison was a caring mother, thanksgiving here? ‘Because . . . ye had been hindered by Satan. But, if now it is a counselling father. They received it [the word of God] not as Satan can hinder and frustrate our were mother and father to these the word of men, but as it is in truth, fellowship now, there is coming a babes in Christ. Observe that this the word of God’. They were not day when all will be changed! ‘For training was given in two ways. just hearers of the word but doers, what is our hope . . . Are not even First, by example, v. 10, and then, by receiving it into their hearts. That ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus exhortation, v. 11. They were given living word worked effectually and Christ at His coming?’ We long to see the model as well as the message! powerfully in their lives, causing you now, he says, but our greatest They lived lives separated to God, them to turn from idols to God. longing, our earnest expectation, ‘holily’ – their conduct showed Would it not be wonderful to see the our exhilarating joy, is the prospect that they were devoted to God. word of God working more powerfully of seeing you then, when He comes. Furthermore, they were fair and in our lives? It will if we not only hear Seeing you in the presence of our honest in their dealings at all times, it but allow the Spirit of God to work Lord Jesus Christ at His coming – ‘justly or righteously’. They also in us as we obey His word. Paul and that will be the culmination of our lived their lives so carefully so that his fellow workers were so thrilled to hope and the consummation of our there was nothing wrong which they see the word of God in their lives that joy; the crowning of all our labours. could be accused of – ‘unblameably’. they gave ‘thanks without ceasing’. As if it wasn’t just enough to say it By example, they taught these He gave thanks that, in spite of the once, Paul says it again in the last converts that their motives should be persecution they were suffering, they verse, ‘ye are our glory and joy’. pure, their methods should be right were pressing on faithfully, and tells They have brought the messengers honour, not dishonour; given them joy and not sorrow. As converts, that should challenge us. The writer to the Hebrews calls us to consider the outcome of our lives when he writes, ‘Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you’, 13. 17. Are we living today to bring joy in that day?

Endnote 1 See verse 1, ‘For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain’. 19 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 good within the city. Such was the depth of depravity, however, that the Old Testament Women who stench had reached up to heaven and appear in the New Testament judgement must fall. In Luke chapter 17, the Lord Jesus faced a demand by the Pharisees regarding the kingdom of God, v. 20. Knowing that it came from hearts with no genuine desire for instruction, LOT’S WIFE the Lord gave them a suitably By JOHN SCARSBROOK Killamarsh, England enigmatic reply. He then turned to His disciples and explained to them We do not know her name, her age, her appearance or her family the circumstances which would precede and accompany his yet future background. All we know is that she passes before us briefly on return in glory. In order to emphasize the page of both Old and New Testaments as a salutary warning, that His coming would suddenly simply known as Lot’s wife. break upon an unsuspecting world, He drew, by way of illustration, upon Lot’s wife does not make an Old Testament appearance until two historical events, thus stamping Genesis chapter 19 verse 15, when the two angels, sent by God to His authority on the early chapters of destroy the cities of the plain, are urging Lot to take his wife and Genesis, so disparaged by many of the world’s academics and theologians. two daughters out of Sodom, before the imminent destruction falls. The first was that of Noah. Those days were characterized by unbelief, in spite of the efforts of the ‘preacher We have no clear indication to to draw that conclusion from the of righteousness’ who, for some one determine the place Lot’s wife knew record of Genesis. If, however, hundred and twenty years, sought to as her home. What we do know is that we lacked the testimony of Peter warn the men of his day of coming Lot, the nephew of Abram, journeyed regarding Lot, we would be left judgement. Ignoring the overtures with him from Ur of the Chaldees. wondering if the man had any virtues of mercy extended to them, they When Abram went down into Egypt at all. Peter tells us that Lot was just, immersed themselves in the daily and later returned, Lot followed. Strife or righteous, one of few so designated round of life, eating, drinking, then ensued between their relative in scripture. Whilst ‘dwelling among’ marrying and giving in marriage until herdsmen, resulting in a parting of the the inhabitants of Sodom, he was the day that Noah entered into the ways. Abram graciously offered the offended daily by their behaviour and ark and the flood came and destroyed choice of direction to Lot, suggesting manner of life which he deemed to be them all. that he might consider the left hand, ‘filthy’, 2 Pet. 2. 7, 8; the question must westward toward Bethel, ‘the house arise in any rational mind, ‘Why on The second example was that of Lot. of God’. It would seem, however, from earth did you stay there, Lot?’ Those were days of moral depravity, the narrative, that Lot dismissed that thinly veiled beneath a façade of opportunity and ‘chose him all the As Abram’s nephew, Lot would no normality. They ate and drank, plain of Jordan’, a decision which doubt have been somewhat younger bought and sold, planted and built. would cost him the loss of everything. than the man of faith with whom he But no veneer could hide the reality In Genesis chapter 14, Lot is taken left the idolatrous Ur of the Chaldees. from the all-seeing eye of God. It is a captive by a confederate army; there Perhaps it would not be overly significant tribute to the longsuffering is no mention of his family, just ‘his ungenerous to suggest that Abram of a God who is ‘not willing that any goods’. Since the next mention is in provided a ‘prop’, or at least some should perish’, that, knowing the chapter 19, where he is found living moral and emotional support for the grievous nature of their sin, He would in Sodom with a family of at least six younger man. Sadly, the experience still say, ‘I will go down now, and see children, it may not be unreasonable in Egypt left an indelible mark on whether they have done altogether to suggest that his wife was in fact Lot’s mind which determined his according to the cry of it . . . and a resident of that city. If that is so, choice of the plain of Jordan within if not, I will know’, Gen. 18. 21. He it would, at least, provide some sight of Sodom. Before long he had then commissioned two angels to explanation for her reluctance to abandoned his tent, the characteristic take the journey to Sodom, while He leave, bearing in mind also that most mark of a pilgrim, and was found lent a sympathetic ear to Abraham’s of her family were still there and dwelling in the corrupt city. The entreaty. There is no reason to perished in the overthrow. opening verse of chapter 19 would believe that Abraham ever visited suggest that Lot had become involved Sodom; he didn’t need to, in order If we had no New Testament in the administration of Sodom as to know its wickedness. His plea for confirmation that Abraham was a he ‘sat in the gate’. It may be that he the city is, however, a masterpiece of man of faith, it would not be difficult thought he could be an influence for intercessory prayer. The question is 20 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 often asked, ‘Why did Abraham stop remains a desolate, uncultivated, arid emphasize that the lessons learned at ten righteous, when the Lord had so land. Saline outcrops mark the shores from the life and experiences of this graciously responded to his repeated of the lifeless water. The relentless man and his family are a warning requests?’ It may be that the man of desert sun beats down on this most to succeeding generations. There faith considered the possibility that inhospitable place where Lot’s wife is much on the very surface of our Lot had at least influenced his own remains entombed, a pillar of salt, a society which is guaranteed to inflame family. We know that Lot and his wife monument to all ages of the folly of the fleshly nature and believers are had two unmarried daughters. He also disobedience to the word of God. not exempt. The corruption of Sodom had at least two married daughters held Lot and his family in its depraved since Lot spoke to his sons in law, The closing scene of Lot in the book grip, even if only as observers. The plural, making a total of eight. The of Genesis records the totality of his Apostle Paul will later write, ‘have no angel made reference to his sons, loss. Added to the loss of his security, fellowship with the unfruitful works again plural, so a minimum of ten in his liberty and his testimony, he has of darkness, but rather reprove them. the family overall. The tragedy is that now lost his family and ultimately his For it is a shame even to speak of those although Lot spoke to members of his dignity. All issued from one fateful things which are done of them in family and warned them of coming decision when he ‘chose him all the secret’, Eph. 5. 11, 12. destruction, he seemed to them ‘as plain of Jordan’; how careful we need one that mocked’. The loss of his to be! But the Lord Jesus must have the testimony now followed his loss of last word. To emphasize the need for security, in leaving Abraham, and of It is surely significant that, in a book awareness, preparedness and to hold his liberty in becoming subsumed in where genealogies and life spans with a light grasp the things of this Sodom’s society. are meticulously recorded, there world, He simply warned His hearers is no record of the death of Lot. It to ‘Remember Lot’s wife’; never forget Lot awoke the following morning almost seems that the Spirit of God Lot’s wife; be constantly recalling Lot’s to the insistent voices of the angels, has omitted this detail in order to wife – ‘Almost, but lost’! urging the family to escape without delay. Incredible as it may seem and in spite of what he had already seen and been told by the angels, Lot lingered! With no time for delay, the angels physically removed Lot and his family from the city with instructions to ‘Escape for thy life; look not behind thee . . . lest thou be consumed’. But, even then, Lot was inclined to remonstrate with the heavenly messengers. It almost beggars belief that, faced with the certainty of judgement revealed in the scriptures, men and women today find every excuse imaginable to resist, ignore, oppose and contradict the word of God.

Utter destruction rained down upon the cities, the plain, the inhabitants and everything that grew. Then comes the ‘but’; Lot’s wife looked back, an act of disobedience to the express command of the angels. Here is a woman who stands on the page of history as a solemn warning. She was privileged to be married to the only righteous man in Sodom. She was the object of direct angelic attention. She even held an angel by the hand and experienced the mercy of God. Yet she perished because her heart remained in Sodom! Her intention to flee was overcome by her reluctance. The traditional location of the cities of the plain, at the south end of the Dead Sea, 21 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 William Hoste (1861-1938), the one-time editor of the Believer’s Magazine (1931-1938), was a theology HANDLEY MOULE student at Cambridge University and a member of the Church of His life and legacy England when Handley Moule was at the height of his influence at the By HOWARD BARNES Westhoughton, England university. While Hoste eventually left the Church of England, having seen New Testament assembly truth, Introduction he had, by then, obtained the basis Handley Carr Glyn Moule (1841-1920) was an evangelical of his well-known careful exposition. Anglican academic and theologian, writer and poet, who, for the last twenty years of his life, occupied the prestigious position of Moule was an Honorary Chaplain to Queen Victoria from Bishop of Durham. December 1898 until her death in January 1901, then an Honorary As a measure of the acceptability of his teaching, readers can Chaplain to Edward VII for a check for themselves that Moule has been favourably cited about couple of months until he was twenty-six times over the years in this magazine; in Believer’s appointed bishop of Durham. Magazine four times; while in Assembly Testimony magazine there In December 1901, he received are twenty-two quotations from his writings. At the same time, the higher doctorate, Doctor of Divinity (DD), from the University of individual authors, such as W. E. Vine and John Phillips, were very Durham. happy to quote from his works, especially citing his accurate translations from the Greek. On the Stempublishing website, we His conversion read his name seven times; for instance, A. J. Pollock generously Most important for us is to go back called him ‘the saintly bishop’ and quotes approvingly his statement and consider the circumstances of that, ‘When the Lord Jesus became a living and unutterably his conversion in 1866. Many years necessary reality to me, I remember that one of my first sensations later Moule remembered – in his of profound relief was, HE [the Lord Jesus Christ] absolutely trusted own words – ‘that glad day’ when the Bible. Although there are things in it inexplicable and intricate he was ‘permitted to realize the presence, pardon and personal that have puzzled me much, I am going, not in a blind sense, but love of the Lord, not reasoned, reverently, to trust the Book because of HIM’. just received’. During his 1866 Christmas vacation, he wrote to his father, describing what had His life and career like his great-uncle, he became happened. ‘I was able to find and to So, who was this man, known known affectionately as ‘Holy accept pardon and peace through familiarly as Handley Moule? He was Mouley’. the satisfaction of the Redeemer, born into a very interesting family as I had never done before; and to as the eighth and final son of Henry Moule was home educated feel a truth and solid reality in the Moule (1801-1880), an inventor, and before entering Trinity College, doctrine of the Cross as I have ever the vicar of Fordington, Dorset, UK Cambridge in 1860, where he been taught it at home’. for over fifty years. Handley Moule’s became a multi-medallist. He was brothers, George Evans Moule elected a Fellow of Trinity College Moule’s literary output and Arthur Evans Moule, were in 1865, and, for a while, was an Moule was a prolific writer, missionaries in China, and another assistant master at Marlborough eventually authoring over sixty brother, Charles Walter Moule, College before he was ordained books and pamphlets. His published was president of Corpus Christi into the Anglican ministry in 1868. works, still often quoted today, College, Cambridge. Two more From 1867, he was his father’s include: brothers, Horatio Mosley Moule and curate at Fordington, Dorset, with l The Epistle of St. Paul to the artist Henry Joseph Moule, are a stint of five years as Dean of Romans, Hodder and Stoughton, chiefly remembered as friends of Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge, London, 1894 Victorian novelist Thomas Hardy, 1873-1877. In 1880 he became the l Secret Prayer, Thomas Whittaker, who was well known to the Moule first principal of Ridley Hall, New York, 1895 family. Interestingly, Moule’s Cambridge, and then, in 1899, he l The Epistle to the Ephesians, grandnephew, C. F. D. Moule, was became Norrisian Professor of with Introduction and Notes, Lady Margaret’s Professor of Divinity at Cambridge, until his University Press, Cambridge, Divinity at the University of eventual promotion to be Bishop of 1888 Cambridge for twenty-five years, Durham, succeeding the famous B. l Colossian Studies: Lessons in from 1951 to 1976. Apparently, just F. Westcott, in September 1901. Faith and Holiness from St. Paul’s 22 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 Epistles to the Colossians and 1879 to 1889. Lightfoot was followed Moule, who wrote, ‘To Him, Philemon, A. C. Armstrong and by Brooke Foss Westcott, a man tempted, teaching, suffering, dying, Son, New York, 1898 called by Moule ‘a saint, as true risen, “it is written” was a formula of l Ephesian Studies: Expository a servant of the Lord and of his infinite import . . . But all the more Readings on the Epistle of Saint brethren as the great Culdee St. is [Anderson] in the right when he Paul to the Ephesians, 1900 Aidan’. analyses with the utmost rigour the l Philippian Studies: Lessons in flaws in the modern analysis of the Faith and Love from St. Paul’s He told the people of the Diocese Book, and calls reverent attention Epistle to the Philippians, 1900 of Durham, ‘I need and seek your to the mysterious facts of its l The Old Gospel for the New Age, prayers. Ask for me especially . . . organic structure, and gives us both And Other Sermons, 1901 a real effusion in me of that grace precept and example for an always l The Epistle of Saint Paul to the of the Spirit whereby Christ dwells deepening study’. Romans, 1902 in the heart by faith; a strength l Messages from the Epistle to the and wisdom not my own for my Moule was also active in the Keswick Hebrews, Elliot Stock, London, pastorate, and for the preaching movement and was one of the 1909 of Christ Jesus the Lord; and a will inaugural speakers at the first wholly given over for labour and Keswick Convention. Anyone using the Online Bible, service at our Master’s feet’. eSword or any similar Bible study Handley Moule’s aids will probably have downloaded His wider activities lasting legacy The Cambridge Bible for Schools When the American editors of the Amazingly, you can read every one and Colleges. So many of the seminal The Fundamentals series of Moule’s sixty or so books free contributions in that series are, in of evangelical publications wanted online at: fact, the work of Handley Moule. someone to write the very important http://onlinebooks.library.upenn. article on Justification by Faith, they edu/. Of course, anyone reading his Moule and the Church turned to Moule and got a clear and writings intelligently will be able of England concise chapter on this fundamental to sift out the few statements made Handley Moule was essentially doctrine. Three million copies of the which arose from his position in the the last of the well-known galaxy four-volume series were issued by established church of those days. of Victorian English evangelical the Bible Institute of Los Angeles in Having done that, readers will then Anglican star Bible scholars. Among 1917. This is where the much used be able to benefit greatly from his these were J. B. Lightfoot (1828- and misused word ‘fundamentalist’ thoroughly evangelical scholarship. 1889), J. C. Ryle (1816-1900), Dean comes from. Alford, B. F. Westcott (1825-1901), as We can do no better to end our well as the greatest Greek scholars When Sir Robert Anderson needed consideration of Handley Moule’s of the day, C. J. Ellicott (1819- an authoritative preface for his life and legacy than by quoting from 1905), F. W. Farrar (1831-1903), and important book The Bible and his important work The Epistle of Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885). Modern Criticism, he asked Handley Paul the Apostle to the Romans: Most were bishops and many were professors at Oxford or Cambridge at ‘We have “received the some time in their careers. By 1900, reconciliation” that we may now it was said of Handley Moule that he walk, not away from God, as if was ‘the most influential member of released from a prison, but with the evangelical party in the Church God, as His children in His Son. of England’, and he was outspoken Because we are justified, we are to be in his condemnation of the effects of holy, separated from sin, separated liberalism and Catholicism. to God; not as a mere indication that our faith is real, and that therefore Becoming Bishop of Durham was we are legally safe, but because we very special to Handley Moule. were justified for this very purpose, While on holiday in Switzerland that we might be holy . . . The grapes in 1901, Handley Moule was called upon a vine are not merely a living to become the eighty-fifth bishop token that the tree is a vine and is of Durham. The office was one of alive; they are the product for which personal interest to him because the vine exists. It is a thing not to be Nicholas Ridley, after whom Ridley thought of that the sinner should College in Cambridge was named, accept justification – and live to had been designated to be bishop himself. It is a moral contradiction of Durham but ‘received first the of the very deepest kind, and cannot martyr’s crown’. Moule’s Cambridge be entertained without betraying teacher, Joseph Barber Lightfoot, an initial error in the man’s whole had been bishop of Durham from spiritual creed’. 23 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 later, we have modern classrooms, over 600 pupils and some really committed Christian teachers. But more importantly, we have a new generation of young people ANGOLA who can read, and many of these By BRIAN HOWDEN Camundambala, Angola are now in assembly fellowship and reaching out in evangelism Angola’s recent history is marred by the quest for absolute in the surrounding villages. We power, which cost the lives of so many and set the country on a are thankful for the small band of downward spiral which is proving to be massively difficult to arrest, committed teachers that we have, many of whom are believers from despite six years of peace. The legacy of communism lingers on the local assemblies in Saurimo. Our in the hearts of many and also in the mindset of those in power. role is purely supportive and the A nominal democracy exists at best, which militates against the day-to-day running of the school is attempts of those who want to open Angola up to tourism and the in the hands of nationals who follow changes that would demand. We have been actively involved in the the Angolan state curriculum. We work of the Lord here for twenty-four years, and the frustrations of simply seek to supply the needs the people have not changed in that time; no hope of employment of the school, from furniture and exercise books to paying the wages for the majority, even with a university education. There is a day- of those who are not covered by to-day fight for survival, a literal hand-to-mouth existence eked the government. It is a rewarding out in a culture marked by jealousy and the demands of the task, especially seeing many of the extended family, and certainly no help from the state. No water young people from school attend the and no electricity is the lot of the vast majority and, what’s more, assembly gatherings. no hope of ever having these facilities in their homes. We count it a privilege to share with the people what their life in Angola is like, The main need in Angola today and, even though we clearly have so much more than they have, it remains the same: a consistent public presentation of Bible truth, is humbling to hear believers weekly in the prayer meeting thank coupled with the patience needed the Lord for calling us and that we are prepared to share their lives to work with smaller groups of men with them in the heat and hardship of life here. who are able to study the Bible, helping them to grasp its truths and to encourage them to teach Those who wish to know how the that slowness back to the inability others. This is essential for the work work of the gospel began in this to read and to comprehend what is to develop healthily, rather than so-called ‘Beloved Strip’ must read. The ability to read is a great be dependent on missionaries. It read Angola Beloved,1 but dwelling blessing which, perhaps, we take is slow, but we are thrilled to see on past triumphs of the gospel for granted in the West, but here, it work here locally and praise the really can produce a romantic locally, we have had to prepare the Lord for the privilege of seeing New impression of missionary work and ground and create the conditions Testament principles work in our be quite misleading in present-day to enable children to be taught to generation. Angola. We live in the little village read. Reading informs, instructs, of Camundambala consisting of communicates, and motivates and We have been able to maintain six perhaps 200 homes, just six miles when someone is saved by God’s separate Bible studies each week: from the town of Saurimo. The grace and the Holy Spirit indwells on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays village sprang up as a result of the them, the scriptures are a very real at 7pm with believers from the mission station that was started here revelation to the hungry soul. assembly here at Camundambala; in 1938, and it was much larger in Saturdays at 9am and 2pm with the 1950s, but the wars of 1975-2002 In 2005, just a couple of years after changed that. the end of the war, the elders of Debbie and Brian Howden the assembly at that time had the The local assembly at vision to recommence a primary Camundambala, with which we school that had existed before the have been in fellowship since 1997, war, but, in their poverty, they could is growing numerically and a good never have started the work. So, number of believers are developing we built our first classrooms with spiritually. We have several local mud bricks. The locals did what men who are clearly gifted in they could and we, as missionaries, preaching and teaching the word of did our part. Ruth Hadley laboured God. Progress has been made, but tirelessly to get the school it has been slow and we can trace established and now, fifteen years 24 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 young men from two assemblies from Saurimo; and then Sundays at 5pm with another group of young men from Camundambala assembly. There are many more that want to start studies in Saurimo, but, at present, time does not permit. We are thankful though, that two brothers from Camundambala assembly are taking on responsibilities and leading two Bible study groups with local young people, which is a great help.

Literature is a massive part of our commitment here in Angola, and we are so very thankful for the work of the Angolan Literature Fund, which, through the generosity of the Lord’s people, goes a long way to meeting the enormous literature needs in the country. With more young people having an opportunity to go to this is a work supported by the maintenance and just trying to live school and learn to read, there is an Angolan Literature Fund and meets in the heat and stress of Angola, life increasing need for literature. The big a great need. is full, busy and tiring. challenge we face is the distribution of literature to areas beyond, We also try and help supply We would earnestly covet the approximately 100 km from our medicines to a small medical post prayers of the Lord’s people as we points of distribution, but, together which is run by nationals with live for Him in Angola. There are with a few committed national minimum training, but, in the big challenges that only the Lord believers, we do what we can. absence of anything else, we have to can resolve in assembly testimony Generally, it takes about two years for use what we have. Malaria treatment, nationally. Departure from biblical us to get through 15,000 Portuguese paracetamol, and basic antibiotics truths is increasing and the Bibles and there is a constant call are needed mostly, and, by the Lord’s autonomy of the local assembly for Bibles in national languages too. goodness, we are able to meet the is now being openly challenged. Through the work of the Literature needs of the immediate population Spiritual battles are hard, often made Fund we have been able to maintain and those who travel from town personal, and, at the time of writing, a good supply of Bible study aids, a looking for medicines. Paul’s words are very apt for us and variety of good commentaries and those who are standing alongside daily reading books. When we arrived in Angola in 1995, us, ‘We were troubled on every side; we never envisaged that we would without were fightings, within were We run a small printing work in the be covering such a wide and varied fears’, 2 Cor. 7. 5. But we are deeply capital and in Saurimo, where, using service for the Lord, but living thankful for the local, faithful and high speed duplicators, we can meet amongst folk in such deep poverty loving believers who are our fellow the demand for Emmaus courses we cannot ignore the enormous labourers and stand with us in prayer. and small Bible commentary study needs that we see daily. Each day books. This is entirely operated by we feel we could have done more to Endnote two national believers with only help if we had the time and energy. 1 T. E. Wilson, Angola Beloved, Gospel minimal supervision by us. Again, So, along with vehicle and generator Folio Press, 2007. 25 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 their ancestors’ days of travelling through the wilderness between The only One who Egypt and Canaan. In the area around Jerusalem, they built and lived for always delivers and a week in small shelters (booths) consisting of palm branches and willow boughs in remembrance of doesn’t disappoint their ancestors’ journey, Lev. 23. By DAVID BRAUCH Waunakee, Wisconsin, USA C. S. Lovett wrote, ‘The 8th day All quotations are taken from the New King James Version was most solemn, marking the close of the feast. For each of seven days before, the priest, in ceremonial Much in life is overstated. In the build up to a major sporting procession, carried golden vessels of event there is an abundance of ‘hype’. The broadcasting networks water from the pool of Siloam into advertise the event as the ‘greatest thing going’ and send the temple courts and poured them back reports of every little news bite, tiny morsel, or rumour. out upon the altar.1 This pictured the Sometimes, when the game is actually played, it is boring or carrying of water in the Wilderness. disappointing to watch and you wonder why you decided to On the 8th day this was NOT done, watch it in the first place. Similarly, a number of products and celebrating the entrance of Israel into the promised land where the services do not consistently deliver the satisfaction and pleasure people drank from live springs. The that were promised ahead of time in the advertisements. pool of Siloam was fed from a spring beneath the altar. When Jesus speaks Even in the spiritual realm water that I will give him will become of Himself as a fountain, He employs disappointing results are experienced in him a well of water springing up the imagery of the living spring under by those who accept at face value into everlasting life’, John 4. 13, 14. the altar which fed the pool. On this the forecasts of the false teachers The Lord contrasted the physical day, the people took boughs from discussed by the Apostle Peter and with the spiritual water that He their dismantled booths and beat on Jude. Note that both of these authors was offering. It is a privilege for us, the sides of the altar, picturing the illustrate the lack of satisfaction in as believers, to constantly ‘fill up’ rock smitten by Moses. Hence Jesus terms of water, which is absolutely at this fountainhead with complete is also offering Himself as the Smitten essential to life. Often, this vital assurance that every spiritual need Rock.2 As the rock mass was struck commodity was, and still is, in short will be fully met. In the ‘Sermon on with a rod by Moses for the sake of the supply in the Middle East. The the Mount’, the Lord guaranteed, Israelites, so also was Christ struck Apostle Peter accused these heretical ‘Blessed are those who hunger and for our sakes during the brutal night- teachers of raising false expectations. thirst for righteousness. For they time interrogations before Annas, and Like springs which, when approached, shall be filled’, Matt. 5. 6. Caiaphas, as well as the extremely contain no water, or like storm-driven savage whipping inflicted by the clouds which temporarily darken the The Bible is full of glorious promises Praetorian guard, 1 Pet. 2. 24. earth, as if it will soon rain heavily, of satisfaction, ‘Jesus said to them, they prove to be dry, 2 Pet. 2. 17, 18; “I am the bread of life. He who When Jesus speaks of Himself as a Jude 12, 13. comes to Me [in faith] shall never ‘fountain’, He employs the imagery hunger, and he who believes in Me of this living spring under the altar. The temporary but barren darkness shall never thirst”’, John 6. 35. In Note that He is promising that not these clouds cast is indicative of the the next chapter, we read, ‘On the just a paltry amount but rather an great darkness which will be their last day, that great day of the feast, abundance of living water is there fate forever. Perhaps, when each Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If for the asking. Wuest translates the penned their letters, they had in anyone thirsts, let him come to Me offer made by Christ, ‘If any man mind Proverbs chapter 25 verse 14, and drink. He who believes in Me, is thirsty, let him be coming to me ‘Whoever falsely boasts of giving is as the Scripture has said, out of his and let him be drinking’.3 There is a like clouds and wind without rain’. Of heart will flow rivers of living water.” continuing aspect to this offer. Isaiah what value is a dried-up spring to a But this He spoke concerning the recorded a similar invitation to drink, thirsty traveller? Spirit, whom those believing in Him ‘Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to would receive; for the Holy Spirit the waters; and you who have no Likewise, what is the worth of was not yet given, because Jesus money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, Spiritless teaching to thirsty souls? was not yet glorified’, 7. 37-39. It is buy wine and milk without money Not so our Lord. He boldly declared interesting to note that the feast here and without price’, Isa. 55. 1. to the Samaritan woman, ‘Whoever mentioned is one of the Jewish fall drinks of this water will thirst again, (autumn) celebrations, namely, the Physical thirst is the most powerful but whoever drinks of the water that I Feast of Tabernacles. Many Jews drive known to mankind. However, will give him will never thirst. But the journeyed to Jerusalem to recall here our Lord does not specify any 26 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 particular type of thirst. Some have invitation receive the Holy Spirit as a The torturous death of crucifixion thirsted for God himself. David permanent, indwelling, life-changing had not been devised when David wrote in Psalm 63 verse 1, ‘O God, presence. To speak of ‘streams of wrote his prophetic words. Note that You are my God; early will I seek living water’ highlights ‘four facts all four Gospel authors record how You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh about the ministry of the Holy Spirit the Roman soldiers tried to prepare longs for You in a dry and thirsty land in the believer: him for this suffering. ‘They also where there is no water’. The Sons of 1 He takes up residence within the gave me gall for my food, and for Korah sang, ‘As the deer pants for the “inner being.” my thirst they gave me vinegar to water brooks, so pants my soul for 2 He “flows” with an inexhaustible drink’, Ps. 69. 21; Matt. 27. 34. They You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, supply. offered to our Saviour a stupefying for the living God. When shall I come 3 He brings the life of God to the liquid concoction to deaden His and appear before God?’ Ps. 42. 1, 2. soul. senses to the pain and constriction 4 He satisfies the deep thirst inside that He would soon experience. Our D. L. Moody wrote, ‘How this every heart’.5 Lord would have none of it. He was world is thirsting for something determined to fully taste the sum that will satisfy my soul in places of It is touching, and a paradox, that total of the horrors of the cross – amusement, the dance houses, the our Lord, who sought to entirely physical, emotional, and spiritual. He music halls, and the theatres, night slake the spiritual thirst of mankind didn’t want His senses deadened. after night? Men and women are would suffer intense physical thirst thirsting for something they have as part of the agonies of the cross. According to Luke chapter 16, the rich not got. The moment a man turns his He endured extreme dehydration man, before whose gate the beggar back upon God, he begins to thirst; for some six hours on the cross. Lazarus sat, ended up in Hades. He and that thirst will never be quenched About 1,000 years before Jesus was knew the pain of eternal torment for until he returns to “the fountain born, David accurately predicted our his sins. Much more so our Lord who of living waters.” (Jer. 2:13) As the Lord’s thirst and how His persecutors took as His own the accumulated prophet Jeremiah tells us, we have would respond to it. Psalm 22 verse trespasses of all mankind – past, forsaken the fountain of living waters, 15 reads, ‘My strength is dried up like present, and future. Jesus’ sufferings and hewn out for ourselves cisterns, a potsherd, and My tongue clings were so intensified that they were broken cisterns, that can hold no to My jaws; You have brought Me to equivalent to the sum total of that of water. There is a thirst this world can the dust of death’. It is difficult to all unbelievers spending an eternity never quench: the more we drink of imagine a more thorough fulfilment in the Lake of Fire. its pleasures, the thirstier we become. of this prophecy than in our Lord’s We cry out for more and more, and experience on the cross. Frederick In summary, unlike watching a we are all the while being dragged W. Krummacher vividly describes favourite sporting event or acquiring down lower and lower. But there is the cross-induced thirst of our Lord: some coveted gadget, personally a fountain opened to the House of ‘The blood vessels of His sacred body trusting in Jesus and His sacrifice David for sin and for uncleanness are almost dried up. A dreadful fever for our sins brings about complete (Zech. 13:1). Let us press up to it, and rages through His frame. His tongue satisfaction. drink and live’.4 cleaves to His jaws. His lips burn’. He concludes, ‘There is scarcely a greater According to John chapter 7 verse torment than that of insatiable Endnote 39, those who respond to Christ’s thirst’.6 1 Note that the Pool of Siloam, discovered in 2004, was the only permanent water source for the city of Jerusalem in the first century AD. It was fed by the waters of the Gihon Spring diverted through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, built in the 8th century BC. 2 C. S. Lovett, John, Vol. Four, Personal New Testament Commentary, 1969-1970, pg. 135. 3 Kenneth. S. Wuest, The New Testament: An Expanded Translation, Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977, pg. 230. 4 D. L. Moody, The D. L. Moody Year Book: A Living Daily Message from the Words of D. L. Moody, found at https://www.preceptaustin.org/ bybook/43. 5 Extracted from here: https://www. preceptaustin.org/john_739_ commentary. 6 F. W. Krummacher, The Suffering Saviour. Found here: http:// www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/ BooksoftheBible/TheSuffering SaviourbyFWKrummacher.

27 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 it easy’ will be seen to have been wasted Characters in the Early so far as eternity is concerned.2 Let us see to it that, as much as lies within us, we follow Anna’s example, who ‘served Years of the Lord God . . . night and day’, v. 37.

But then there came the day that must have been the highlight of her whole life. Moving through the temple, as she had no doubt done many times before, she came across a little group of four ANNA people: two men, a woman, and a child By MICHAEL WILKIE Inverness, Scotland of a few weeks old. The long-promised Messiah had come at last, and she was Of all the people who surrounded the Lord Jesus in the earliest there to witness it! In such a scene of days of His life, probably the least prominent is Anna. All we know joy, it was only natural that her heart of her is found in one of Luke’s characteristic pen-portraits in would rise in praise to God, and that she would want to tell others of what three verses in Luke chapter 2. Two major things are said of her: she had seen. There is something she was a prophetess and she was a widow. It is interesting that Itawa Gospel Hall greatly encouraging about this; even at when her family and social circumstances are described, they are the advanced age of eighty-four, there linked with her status as a prophetess, while the description of her was still something that she could do spiritual activity is connected with her widowhood. Perhaps the that God valued enough to cause it to obvious lesson from this is that God does not differentiate between be recorded in holy scripture.3 First, our social circumstances and our spiritual service. As believers, she gave thanks to the Lord, v. 38. we must be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking that it is Notice the order of things here; before she speaks to man, she will give to God. acceptable to be a different sort of person in the assembly from the It is an abiding principle of scripture sort of person I am when at work – every aspect of my life ought to that God must have His portion first be characterized by godliness. and then man can be blessed. It was the order of angelic praise in verse 14, and it ought to be the attitude of our A prophetess A widow hearts also. But, second, she speaks In many ways the description of Anna How lonely those eighty-four years had of Him ‘to all them that looked for that is given under this heading is been we can only guess. The scripture redemption in Jerusalem’, v. 38. Let unremarkable. Of her father, Phanuel, makes no mention of children, so it this be a challenge to all our beloved nothing more is known. She came may be that she had none. Perhaps the elderly brethren and sisters: is there from the tribe of Asher, but again, hopes and dreams of her early married still the desire to evangelize that there there is little said of the members of years had come to nothing – all that was in earlier days? While it is true this tribe in scripture.1 Her husband, stretched before her were empty days, that society is changing, the need of who had obviously been dead for a when it would have been so easy to mankind is still the same; while it may number of years, is not even named. become resentful at the solitary path also be true that my sphere of service All in all, there was very little, God had called her to tread. And yet, her may shrink as age advances, surely seemingly, about this aged woman devotion to God is seen in the fact that there will always be opportunities to that would cause her to make her mark she ‘departed not from the temple’, Luke speak to others about Him. May God in history. And yet, the Spirit of God 2. 37, and spent her days in fasting and help us to do so, so that if the Lord records that she was ‘a prophetess’, prayer. If God had removed all else from spares us we, like Anna, may ‘bring someone through whom the mind her, it must only be so that He Himself forth fruit in old age’, Ps. 92. 14. of God could be made known to His would become everything to her, and people. From this we learn that God is so she would devote her service to Him. Endnotes not dependent on a man or woman’s Let us learn from this; in this modern 1 However, it is interesting that the first social prominence in order to be able world there is great danger, with its mention of Asher, the father of the to use them in His service. He can, of emphasis on comfort and self-interest, tribe, is linked with praising women. 2 This is not meant to imply that course, use kings and prophets and that we begin to regard our Christianity periods of rest and relaxation mighty men if He so chooses, but from a purely selfish point of view. It can are wrong, but, if the attitude of He is equally able to reveal His mind become a hobby that we engage in when my heart is that any difficult or exhausting thing is to be avoided, I through the humblest of believers. Let it suits us, rather than the defining focus cannot expect to receive much praise this be an encouragement to each of of our lives and an overriding duty that of God in that day! us – no matter how lowly our position we owe to our Creator. When I stand 3 Some take the view that her widowhood alone had lasted eighty- in the eyes of the world, God is able to at the Judgement Seat of Christ, it will four years, and that her actual age work through us if we are prepared to not matter how much time I gave to my was around 100. The point remains be usable in His hands. career and the time that I spent ‘taking the same! 28 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 the prophetic word, the ‘gospel of God’. This source he identifies as WORD FOR TODAY being ‘the holy scriptures’, Rom. By BRIAN CLATWORTHY Newbury, England 1. 2. Similarly, in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 3 and 4, he Graptos (Painted/Written) the Babylonian kingdom, Dan. 5. 5. shows why the scriptures are to be This can be compared to the finger regarded as uniquely authoritative. Graphe (Written characters) of God in both Exodus chapter 8 This sense is taken up by other Grathma (A Letter/Document verse 19 and as indicated above. New Testament writers, such In the New Testament, graphe as James, who applies an Old Record) occurs at least fifty times and Testament text, Lev. 19. 18, to an refers to written characters, or everyday situation and describes Many years before the invention essentially the art of writing. the text as ‘the scripture’, Jas. 2. 8. of pens and keyboards, writers It is almost exclusively used, Peter also makes reference to the in antiquity found a variety of though, by New Testament word when he draws down on it in ways of communicating with writers to define the Bible as the support of his argument in 1 Peter each other through different sacred writings or scripture, thus chapter 2 verse 6. The expression forms of pictorial and written confirming the canonical text of he uses, ‘For it stands in scripture’ text. Writing, in fact, goes back both Testaments. In His dispute ESV, is used intransitively to mean some 5,000 years to the ancient with the chief priests and the ‘it is contained’ or ‘it is written’, Middle East, where individuals Pharisees in Matthew chapter 21 and this settles any argument as sought to communicate with verse 42, our Lord uses Psalm 118 far as he is concerned. each other through trading verses 22 and 23 in support of His activities and cultural exchanges. argument. He describes this text In passing, we should note that the Invading armies often imposed as ‘the scriptures’, which denotes term scripture does not just apply their systems of communication a certain part of the sacred text. to the Old Testament. Peter makes upon conquered nations. People Similarly, in Luke chapter 4 it quite clear that the writings of sometimes communicated through verse 21, when He hands back the the Apostle Paul are also to be wall paintings or clay tablets such scroll of Isaiah to the synagogue regarded as authoritative, as with as cuneiform, which represents attendant, He makes it clear that ‘other scriptures’, 2 Pet. 3. 16. one of the earliest systems of this text is ‘graphe’, that is, part writing invented by the Sumerians. of scripture. This statement is In summary, then, the use of the Forms of communication important because it not only word graphe highlights just how developed through the centuries confirms the opening words of much importance God places on when alphabets were produced Jesus’ public ministry, but firmly His written word, the scriptures. and written texts then became roots it as an eschatological event Whatever our circumstances in normalized. The Bible itself is a in the fulfilment of scripture life, may our constant watchword written or inscribed text and is the or, as Marshall comments, ‘It be, ‘what saith the scripture?’, product of human writers, being at refers primarily to the actual day Rom. 4. 3. the same time, the inspired word on which Jesus spoke as being of God. the day when prophecy began to be fulfilled (cf. 2. 11), but this For further reading/study Derivatives of the Greek noun original “today” has become part Introductory graphe occur in the Septuagint of the era of fulfilment, the “year ‘Scriptures’ in The Illustrated Bible (LXX) and many of the texts where of the Lord’s favour” which has Dictionary (IVP), pp. 1404, 1405. these words are included underpin now come and remains present (2 Advanced the authority of the word of God. Cor. 6. 2). Hence this “today” does ‘Graphe’ in Gerhard Kittel (Ed.), For example, in Exodus chapter 24 not refer only to the past, so that Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Vol 1), pp. 749-761. verse 4, Moses formally inscribes salvation belongs to the past and the terms of the covenant with not to the present’.1 According to God in a written text. The Ten the Lord, these scriptures (graphe) Commandments are referred to bear witness of Him, John 5. 39, in Exodus chapter 31 verse 18 as and also confirm that those who ‘two tables of testimony, tables exercise faith in Him will receive of stone, written with the finger the gift of the Holy Spirit, 7. 38, 39. of God’. Isaiah also inscribes the Here, in this immediate context, word of God on a large scroll as he it is the whole of scripture that is is instructed, to ‘write in it with being emphasized as graphe. a man’s pen’, Isa. 8. 1. The word Endnote 1 I. Howard Marshall, The Gospel is again used to describe what is The Apostle Paul also confirms the of Luke (The New International inscribed on Belshazzar’s wall reliance that he places on the Old Greek Testament Commentary), relating to the imminent demise of Testament as revealing through William B Eerdmans Publishing Co. 29 PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 Book Reviews

Church Doctrine and Practice (Revised Edition) Ken Totton (editor) Paperback, 394 pages, Published by Precious Seed Publications, 34 Metcalfe Avenue, Killamarsh, Sheffield, S21 1HW, UK. ISBN: 978-1-871642-93-3.

This year will see the fiftieth fellowship and one of the develop the book by a slight anniversary of the publication articles replaced; three articles restructuring of its contents. of this helpful book, now have been removed from He has retained what has revised. The fact that the the section on spiritual gifts proved of worth whilst original volume was reprinted and service; the section on adding in what should have a in 1971, 1975, 1984, 1999, and pastoral responsibilities has resonance for the present. 2004 bears some testimony been retitled ‘Elders’ and its to its lasting value amongst scope enlarged; the section The publisher’s desire is that believers. entitled ‘God’s Workmen’ this revision will provide a has been retitled ‘Service’ reference resource for a new Bearing this in mind, it is and a number of articles generation, challenging us good to see that the editor added to it; the section all to return to or maintain has retained the bulk of the entitled ‘Gospel Work’ has practices that date back articles that formed the old been significantly expanded; to apostolic times. This is edition. The main changes are and a new section entitled material that will build up the as follows: the introduction ‘Pastoral Topics’ included. Lord’s people, establishing the has been removed – one of The bibliography at the back biblical basis on which they the articles being moved of the book also contains a list should gather. into the section entitled ‘The of other publications that the Church’ and the other into interested reader can source This book is highly the section entitled ‘Warnings for additional help on the recommended. and Exhortations’; two articles topics covered in the book. have been removed from the section on unity; one article From that brief survey of has been removed from the the changes, it is evident section on reception and that the editor has sought to

Hope – Anchor of the soul Robert Plant and Amanda Le Bail Paperback, 77 pages, Published by John Ritchie Publishing, 40 Beansburn, Kilmarnock, Scotland, KA3 1RH. ISBN: 978-1-912522-56-9.

This small, full-colour booklet hymns by Fanny Crosby, is made up of thirty-one Horatio Spafford, John readings consisting of Bible Newton, Joseph Scriven and verses, simple meditations, others, as well as some poems hymns and poems. As the written by one of the authors. introduction indicates, There are also true stories ‘it is written with the sole based upon other themes. intention of helping to ease Overall, there is a diverse mix the pain often caused by of material that is intended sickness, sorrow, disease, and to offer hope to those in life’s death’. Chapters include: The darkest times. passing storm; A God full of compassion; A blessed hope; It is clear that considerable Just standing; and Help in the attention has been given to time of need. the overall presentation of the book’s content and this For those affected by serious reviewer is confident that illness or bereavement, this there will be something to book will be a welcome help. encourage and uplift the It is beautifully illustrated and reader. The only minor each meditation should take irritation is the occasional only a few moments to read. error that careful proof- There are selected Bible verses reading might have spotted. and passages that fit the day’s Otherwise, it is a very timely theme. There are well-known and helpful book.

PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 Conducted by Question Time Richard Collings

QUESTION ANSWER Is any It must be a real source of comfort and and blessed by God, it would be necessary encouragement to every Christian to for them to be circumcised. In particular, aspect of the know that, in these days of upheaval and the Epistle to the Galatians highlights this Mosaic law insecurity, our God is consistent and problem. unchangeable. This glorious fact is declared binding on in several verses throughout the Bible. In Throughout Galatians chapter 3, the Apostle Christians? the last book of the Old Testament, we read Paul contrasts the law with the promises ‘For I am the Lord, I change not’, Mal. 3. of God contained in the gospel and shows 6. Hundreds of years later, James wrote, that the law was intended to be temporary, ‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from ‘Wherefore then serveth the law? It was above, and cometh down from the Father of added because of transgressions, till the lights, with whom is no variableness, neither seed should come to whom the promise shadow of turning’, Jas. 1. 17. These and was made’, Gal. 3. 19. Later in the chapter, other verses present to us the immutability we read, ‘Wherefore the law was our of God’s eternal nature. schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after However, the fact that God is immutable that faith is come, we are no longer under a as to His nature does not detract from His schoolmaster’, vv. 24, 25. sovereign prerogative to operate in different ways in His governance of mankind. The The opening six verses of Romans chapter various dispensations found in the Bible are 7 present further help in respect of our clear examples of the variety of means God position as Christians in relation to the has chosen, both to reveal His character and law of Moses. Space does not permit an to impose His rule over people. Many Bible exposition of this section but, in summary, teachers believe that there are seven distinct the apostle is teaching that we, having died dispensations and it is the fifth one of those, with Christ, are no longer liable to the claims the dispensation of law, which is being of the law, ‘ye also are become dead to the referred to in the above question. law by the body of Christ’, Rom. 7. 4. When Christ died on the cross, He satisfied the In one sense, the phrase ‘the Law’ embraces requirements of the law that had highlighted three different components. There was our sinful state and He met the holy the ceremonial law that related to the demands of God. This truth applies to every sacrificial offerings and the functions of Christian; it is not a state we are to aspire to, the priesthood. There was the civil law, but a positional truth that relates to all who where God set out His decrees for Israel to are in Christ. follow in their daily lives relative to their judicial system, etc. Then, there was the Whilst it is clear that the believer’s salvation moral law that we commonly refer to as the owes nothing to law-keeping or ritual, what ‘Ten Commandments’. These three aspects of the believer’s sanctification and personal formed ‘the Law’. However, when people walk? The law established that there should refer to the law they are primarily thinking be love towards God and towards each other of the moral law, as given to Moses on Mount and these instructions are now presented to Sinai and which was written on tablets of us in the New Testament, not as aspects of stone. the Mosaic law, but as God’s requirements for His people today. Therefore, we should In the early years of the church age there was seek to carry out these imperatives, not as much contention between Jewish teachers law-keepers but as Christians adhering to the and Gentile Christians. Even converted Jews teaching of our Saviour. Galatians chapter 5 found it difficult to let go of some of their also indicates how we should seek to carry former practices and customs and this led them out, ‘If we live in the Spirit, let us also to tensions in the church at Rome as well as walk in the Spirit’, v. 25. It is only the Spirit elsewhere. In addition, adherents to Judaism of God that can empower us to do what is sought to infiltrate assemblies and tell pleasing to God and if we are led of the Spirit Gentile converts that, in order to be saved we ‘are not under the law’, Gal. 5. 18.

PRECIOUS SEED – FEBRUARY 2020 The Committee Chairman and General Editor: YPS: JOHN BENNETT STEPHEN BAKER 19 Alfreton Road, Pinxton, Nottingham NG16 6JZ Editors can be contacted through the email address below or by post to the Treasurer: Chairman. MICHAEL BUCKERIDGE PO Box 10544, Grantham NG31 0HW Other Trust Members: Jonathan Black, Brian Clatworthy, Secretary: Richard Collings, Andrew Dutton, JOHN SCARSBROOK Frank Proudlock, Stephen Sherwin, 34 Metcalfe Avenue, Killamarsh, Ken Totton. Sheffield S21 1HW All committee members can be contacted at Ministry Articles Editor: [email protected] SANDY JACK or via 0044(0)1142 511700

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