sum BiSLI HHl GIFT F f3 jBummarized Bible Qomplete jSummary of the Old t5estament By KEITH L. BROOKS Author of 'Simple Studies in Bible Marking" Published by BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES 536-558 South Hope Street Los Angeles, Cal. Copyright 1919 KEITH L. BROOK w ex PREFACE Chiefly for the purpose of stimulating Christians to take up th chapter method of Bible study, this work is compiled. It is designed t act as an aid to the ordinary reader in gathering into a nut-shell, as i were, the definite spiritual lessons for the daily life contained in ever; chapter of the Bible. Many of the statements contained in the cor elusions will be found to be familiar, and the writer does not claim origin ality throughout the work. The work was compiled largely from note made in the margins of the author's Bible, kept, for the most part withou regard to their sources. The course through the Bible, chapter by chapter, may well be use< as a system of daily devotional reading, and we commend it for tha purpose as it gives the Word of 'God its proper place. The "strikin facts" will center the reader's attention upon Jesus Christ, while th " strong verses" may often be taken as promises for the day or as memor; verses. The work is also adapted to be used as a text book for teachin chapter summary work. Members of a class may be required to wor out for themselves the points suggested on each chapter. The comparin of their ''leading lessons" will make most interesting class work. Th teacher may then read the statements given in the Summarized Bible a a guide to the student. In this connection, we would recommend fo the use of students, the chapter summary note book designed by Re^ John H. Hunter and published by Biola Book Room, Sixth and Hop Streets, Los Angeles California. This is comprised of blank pages rule into divisions for "prominent persons"; "best verse"; "leading lesson and "principal subject." The Summarized Bible will also be found of value as a reference worl For the preacher who is in search of Scripture illustrations for his sei mons, the "conclusions" will often suggest helpful applications. Man suggestive outlines will be found throughout which may be used as skel< tons for sermons. The "striking facts" furnish foundation material fo a study of Jesus Christ, as He appears in all the Scriptures. If this work may be used of God to bring some to apply themselve wholly to the Scriptures and the Scriptures wholly to themselves, w shall feel abundantly repaid for the effort. KEITH L. BROOKS. 415539 frO DO WITH THE BIBLE . w. H. PIKE i'i HE Bible is wonderful because it gives us a knowledge of God, of men, of the Universe, and of Redemption. No other book can be compared to it in this respect, but it not only informs us about these important truths, but it also tells us what we are to do with it. We have within the Bible itself instruction as to our attitude toward it We are exhorted to: 1. "Read it." Neh. 8:8. And may I suggest that it be read slowly, carefully, prayerfully, in large portions, repeatedly, rever- ently and with a willing spirit to follow its precepts. 2. "Believe it." Rom. 10:8. Because it is the Word of faith. It has been given to increase our faith in God and His working in the Universe. 3. "Receive it." Jas. 1:21. Here it is the engrafted word that is to be received as the soil received the seed, or the tree receives the graft. Taking the Word of God in our heart life, allowing it to grow and bear its own fruit in motives and actions. 4. "Taste it." Heb. 6:5. For it is the good Word of God. Some seem to be afraid of the Bible for fear it will require them to do something they do not wish to do. Be not afraid; it is good and right in all its requirements. 5. "Eat it." Jer. 15:16. This process suggests that we not merely taste but actually live by it, as Jesus said, "Ye shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matt. 4:4. 6. "Hold it fast." Tit. 1:19. It is a faithful word. All its promises are true; all its history is true; and its statements are truth. Therefore we are to rest our faith upon it. 7. "Hold it forth." Phil. 2:16. Because it is the Word of Life. All who come under its benificent rays feel its life giving power. 8. "Preach it." 2 Tim. 4:2, Here it is called simply the Word. It suggests that we are not to preach any one part of it or any one phase of it, but preach it in its entirety and fulness. 9. "Search it." John 5:29 R. V. This suggests work and patience. The Greek word carries the idea of "ransack" as the housewife goes through the home at housecleaning time; or "to track" as the hunter laboriously fol- lows the game through the brush, so we are to search for truth and run down the lines of God's revelations to man. 10. "Study it." 2 Tim. 2:15. Here is a word that means close applica- tion to the Word of God, as the builder minutely studies the plans of the architect before erecting the structure. 11. "Meditate on it." Ps. 1:2. This word has much the same meaning as "eat" for it means literally "to chew the cud." Turning the Word of God over and over in the mind till the sweetness of its truths feed our souls. 12. "Compare it." 2 Cor. 2:13. This is not so much what we do with the Scriptures as what the Holy Spirit does with them in our hearts. This is a divine commentary always at hand. Or as John puts it in his first epistle 2:27 R. V. "The annointing which ye received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you, but as His annointing teacheth you con- cerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even so as it taught you, ye abide in Him." 13. "Rightly divide it." 2 Tim. 2:15. This is not an arbitrary divi- sion of subjects but the following of a line of truth from the first place men- tioned to the last place mentioned; noticing it in all its relation to other truths and as the word literally means "the cutting of a straight line" of truth in the Bible. 14. "Delight in it." Ps. 119:92. Seven times in this Psalm the Psalmist speaks of delighting in God's word. This should always be the heart ambition and attitude. "Study it carefully; think of it prayerfully; Deep in thy heart let its precepts dwell. Slight not its history; ponder its mystery, None can e'er prize it too fondly or well. Accept the glad tidings, the warning, the chidings, Found in this volume of heavenly lore, With faith that's unfailing, and love all prevailing, Trust in its promise of life evermore." BOOK OF GENESIS Page Five GENESIS Key Thought: Number of Chapters: Key Verse: Christ seen as: Beginnings 50 1:1 Seed of Abraham Writer of the Book: Date: Conclusion of the Book: The failure of man under Moses About 1500 B. C. every condition is met by the salvation of God. SUMMARY CHAPTER ONE Contents: Original creation and the renovating of earth for habitation of man. Creation of animal and human life. Characters: God, v. 1. Spirit, v. 2. Christ, v. 26 (See Col. 1:15-17; John 1:3) first man and woman. Conclusion: An all-wise, all-powerful, loving God formed all things perfect in the beginning. He made man, the crown of His creation, perfect and capable of fellowship with Himself and able to enjoy and govern Eden. Key Word: Beginnings, v. 1. Strong Verses: 1, 27. Striking Facts: v. 1. Be sure to compare John 1:1, 2, 3, 14. Not only was Jesus Christ present in creation, but creation was bound up with Him as its secret. Col. 1:15-17. See Heb. 1:3. Gen. 1 is not a history of the original creation, but of a reconstruction fol- lowing a cataclysmic judgment which had befallen the original creation, v. 1 Original creation, v. 2 Its destruction, v. 3 and on, Reconstruction. CHAPTER TWO Contents: God's Sabbath rest. The creative act of Gen. 1:27 explained. The Edenic covenant. Characters: God, Adam, Eve. Conclusion: Man is a threefold being, body, soul and spirit. The real man is soul and spirit, conferred directly from God. The body, the outward cas- ing, is dust and to dust it returns. Key Word: Man, v. 7. Strong Verses: 3, 7, 18, 24. Striking Facts: Eve, a type of the Church, the Bride of Christ, was not formed of dust, but came from an opened side. The Church is a heavenly Body, born from the opened side of the Second Adam, God's Son. CHAPTER THREE Contents: Temptation of Eve and entrance of sin into the race. God's cove- nant with fallen man and the expulsion from Eden. Characters: God, Satan, Adam, Eve. Conclusion: Doubt lies at the root of all sin. Altering the Word, v. 1; adding to the Word, v. 3 or taking from the Word, v. 5, are dangerous acts. Key Word: Serpent, v. 1. Strong Verses: 9, 15, 19, 22, 23. Striking Facts: Conscience, the realization of what man is, must be met by salvation, the revelation of what God is in Grace, before peace can be restored to man. Through woman sin entered and by her seed alone was salvation promised. Isa. 7:14; 9:6, 7. CHAPTER FOUR Contents: First sons of Adam, Cain and Abel. Murder of Abel. First civiliza- tion. Birth of Seth. Characters: Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Seth. Conclusion: Attainment can never take the place of Atonement. Without the recognition of Christ as our substitute and sacrifice there can be no approach to God. Page Six GENESIS Key Word: Offering, v. 4. Strong Verses: 4, 26. Striking Facts: There has been more persecution on religious grounds than on any other. The fruit of Cain's false worship was to avoid the presence of God and to lose himself in the world and its pursuits. CHAPTER FIVE Contents: Generations from Adam to Noah. Characters: Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methuse- leh, Lamech, Noah. Conclusion: By man came death. In Adam all die. In Christ shall all who believe be made alive. Key Word: Generations, v. 1. Strong Verses: 24. Striking Facts: Enoch, the seventh from Adam was translated and made the trophy of God's power over death. CHAPTER SIX Contents: Flood announced. Compromise of sons of God with daughters of men. Characters: Noah, Shem, Ham, Japheth. Conclusion: The true believer can float in peace on the very waters by which the wicked world is judged. Key Word: Flood, v. 17. Strong Verses: 8, 9, 18, 22. Striking Facts: The plan whereby Noah was saved was no invention of his own but one revealed by God, v. 13. Faith is governed by the pure Word of God. Heb. 11:7. The ark is a type of Christ as the refuge of His people from the judgment. CHAPTER SEVEN Contents: The flood comes. Noah and family preserved. Characters: Noah, his sons, and their wives. Conclusion: The blood of Christ keeps out the waters of judgment and makes the believers position "in Christ" a safe one. v. 16. Key Word: Ark, v. 7. Strong Verses: 16. Striking Facts: The hand that made Noah secure within, shut the others out. There was a window in the top of the ark whereby they could look up in communion with God, knowing that no judgment remained for them. Heb. 12:1-2. CHAPTER EIGHT Contents: Waters receding, exit from the ark. Noah's altar. Characters: Noah and family. Conclusion: When judgment days are past, the believer will find himself safely landed in a better world. Key W T ord: Rest, v. 4. Strong Verses: 1, 20. Striking Facts: Superstition would have worshipped the ark as the means of salvation, but Noah looked to the God back of the means. CHAPTER NINE Contents: Noamic covenant. Noah's shame and Ham's sin. Characters: Noah and family. Conclusion: The believer is as secure as God's promises are true. No promise of God can fail. Key Word: Covenant, v. 9. Strong Verses : 9,13. Striking Facts: The bow seen upon the storm clouds of judgment speaks of the cross where judgment never to be repeated has been visited upon the believer's sins. GENESIS Page Seven CHAPTER TEN Contents: Establishing of the nations. Characters: Noah, Shem, Ham, Japheth, Nimrod, Canaan. Conclusion: God made all nations of one blood and determined the bounds of their habitations. Key Word: Nations, v. 31. Strong Verses: 32. Striking Facts: From the seven sons of Japheth, the Gentile nations are descended. CHAPTER ELEVEN Contents: Failure under Noamic covenant. Tower of Babel. Scattering of the people. Ancestry of Abram. Characters: Shem, Terah, Abram, Lot, Sarai. Conclusion: Man ever builds under the heavens, seeking a name and a por- tion in the earth. The believer builds on an imperishable foundation laid in heaven by God. Man's devices all fail. Key Word: Confusion (Babel) v. 9. Strong Verses: 5, 9. Striking Facts: To exalt man without God in Christ is to elevate him to a dizzy height from which he is sure to fall into hopelessness. CHAPTER TWELVE Contents: Call of Abram. His worship and testing. The error in Egypt. Characters: Abram, Sarai, Lot, Pharaoh. Conclusion: The path into which God calls the believer may often be trying to the flesh, but this does not necessarily indicate that he is out of God's will. Key Word: Sojourners, v. 10. Strong Verses: 3, 8. Striking Facts: God's biddings are His enablings. Better suffer in Canaan in God's path than live in luxury in Egypt in the devil's path. The altar marks Abraham as a worshipper. The tent marks him as a pilgrim. These are distinguishing marks of the followers of Christ. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Contents: Abram's return to the land and the altar. Separation from Lot. Lots backsliding and choice of the land. Characters: Abram, Lot. Conclusion: Material blessings are often accompanied by moral blight. Let nature range where it will, it can never take faith's treasure. Key Word: Separation, v. 9. Strong Verses: 4, 17, 18. Striking Facts: Lot pictures a professing Christian trying to make the best of both worlds, v. 12. He who puts God and Christ first will never be bereft of that which is best for him. CHAPTER FOURTEEN Contents: Abram delivers Lot. Abram's" refusal to compromise with the King of Sodom. Characters: King of Sodom, Lot, Abram, Melchizedek. Conclusion: Genuine- faith never wraps itself in fleece while a brother shivers in the cold. The farther a believer lives from the world, the greater power he will have over it. Key Word: Deliverance, v. 20. Strong Verses: 22, 23. Striking Facts: The most effectual way to serve the world is to be separated from it. The first mention in the Bible of the kings, finds them fighting. The last of Revelation leaves them hard at it still. CHAPTER FIFTEEN Contents: Abrahamic covenant confirmed and spiritual seed promised. Characters: Abram, God. Page Eight GENESIS Conclusion: The promises to faith are more certain than the conclusions of logic (v. 25). Faith is the key that unlocks the cabinet of promises. Key Word: Seed, v. 5. Strong Verses: 1, 6. Striking Facts: v. 17. A smoking furnace suggests that the inheritance would be reached by passing through furnaces of trial. The bright lamp tells of God's relief which shines brighter as the road gets darker. CHAPTER SIXTEEN Contents: Birth of Ishmael. Characters: Sarah, Abram, Hagar, Angel, Ishmael. Conclusion: The moment the believer takes his eyes away from God's prom- ises he is ready for mean devices of unbelief which bring him untold suffering. Key Word: Despised, v. 4. Strong Verses: 13. Striking Facts: God promises faith believes hope anticipates patience waits. Heb. 6: 12. The heart prefers anything to the attitude of waiting. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Contents: The revelation of God. Abram's name changed. Covenant con- firmed. Circumcision established. Promise of Isaac. Characters: God, Abram, Isaac, Sarah, Ishmael. Conclusion: When man is in the dust God can talk to him in grace. In spite of the believer's mistakes, God is faithful. Key Word: Covenant, v. 2. Strong Verses: 1,2,19. Striking Facts: Abram means "father of altitude." Abraham means "father of breadth." The perpendicular of justice is transversed by the horizontal beam of embracing love. In the two names we see a picture of the cross. CHAPTER EIGH0HEEN Contents: Abraham, the friend of God. Promise of the seed renewed. The plea of Sodom. Characters: God, Sarah, Abraham. Conclusion: The closer the believer walks with God, the more he will know of God's mind about everything. The secrets of the Lord are with those who fear Him. Key Word: Communion, v. 33. Strong Verses: 17, 18. Striking Facts: The way to know the divine purpose about the world is not to be mixed up with its schemes and speculations but walking in com- munion with Christ. CHAPTER NINETEEN Contents: Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot's backsliding and escape. Characters: Angels, Lot and family, Abraham, Moab, Benammi. Conclusion: No Christian can find his pleasure and profit in the world and at the same time bear effectual testimony against the world. Key Word: Destruction, v. 13. Strong Verses: 27, 29. Striking Facts: In gaining great worldly influence, Lot had lost all influence and spiritual power, even over his own family, v. 14. Choose between the Word and the world. No heart can mature two crops. CHAPTER TWENTY Contents: Abraham's lapse at Gerar. Lying to Abimelech about his wife. Characters: Abraham, Sarah, Abimelech. Conclusion: Sin has many tools but a lie is a handle that fits them all. If the truth is stretched, expect it eventually to fly back and sting you. Key Word: Sin, v. 9. Strong Verses: 6, 17. Striking Facts: One is often struck with the amazing difference between what God's people in Christ are in His view and what they are in the world's view. God sees His own through Christ, although in themselves, they are often feeble and inconsistent. GENESIS Page Nine CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Contents: Birth of Isaac. Bondwoman and her son cast out. Abraham at Beersheba. Characters: Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Hagar, Ishmael, Abimelech. Conclusion: Behind every promise of God is the purpose and power of God, therefore faith should know that God's bonds are as good as ready money "at the set time." Key Word: Isaac, v. 3. Strong Verses: 1. Striking Facts: It often involves a struggle to cast the bondwoman and her son out. Gal. 5:1; Col. 3:9. Human religion would keep them in the house. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Contents: Offering of Isaac. Abrahamic covenant again confirmed. Characters: God, Abraham, Isaac, angel. Conclusion: The man of faith must keep his eye on God, looking not at cir- cumstances, nor pondering the results of what God asks of him. The trial of faith is precious. Key Word: Worship, v. 5. Strong Verses: 15, 16, 17, 18. Striking Facts: Isaac is a type of Christ "obedient unto death." Abraham illustrates the Father who "spared not His own Son." The resurrection is illustrated in the deliverance of Isaac. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Contents: Death of Sarah. Burial in cave of Machpelah. Characters: Sarah, Abraham, sons of Heth, Ephron. Conclusion: Although the man of faith knows that in the resurrection glory he shall be heir to the land, until that time he will be no debtor to those in temporary possession, (vv. 15, 16.) Key Word: Burial, v. 4. Strong Verses : 19. Striking Facts: One of the most zealously guarded places in the world is a rectangular building in Palestine, beneath which the cave of Machpelah is supposed to be, and in which are the remains of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God has never let it come into the hands of those who were disposed to disturb it. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Contents: Bride of Isaac secured by Abraham's servant. Characters: Abraham, servant, Bethuel, Laban, Sarah, Isaac. Conclusion: God leads in every detail of our lives. The marriage which is not according to His will as shown by His Word and the leading of His Servant, The Holy Spirit, will not -be blessed of Him. Key Word: Wife, v. 4. Strong Verses: 27, 40. Striking Facts: Abraham stands for the Father (Matt. 22:2). The servant stands for the Holy Spirit (John 16:13, 14; 1 Cor. 12:7-11). Rebekah stands for the Bride of Christ (Eph. 5:25-32). Isaac stands for the Bridegroom who is coming to receive His Bride (1 Thess. 4:14-16). CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE Contents: Abraham weds Keturah. Isaac becomes Abraham's heir. Death of Abraham. Generations of Ishmael and Isaac. Birth of Esau and Jacob and the sale of the birthright. Characters: Abraham, Keturah, Zimram, Jokshau, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, Shuah, Isaac, Ishmael, Esau, Jacob, Rebekah. Conclusion: The natural man values only what he can see and puts no value on the things of God. Many despise their birthright as sons of God because it is a spiritual thing, of value only as there is faith to appre- hend it. KeyWord: Birthright, v. 31. Strong Verses: 23. Striking Facts: Esau is a type of the man of the earth, Heb. 12:16, 17. In Page Ten GENESIS many respects a nobler man than Jacob, yet the fact that he was destitute of faith caused him to despise his birthright. God's choice of His children does not depend on their character, but their faith. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Contents: Covenant confirmed to Isaac. Isaac's lapse at Gerar, Isaac as a well digger. Characters: Isaac, Rebekah, Abimelech, Ahuzzath, Phichol, Esau, Judith. Conclusion: It is peculiarly comforting to see that God has ever been dealing with men of like passions as we are and patiently bearing with the same failures. When the believer falls, God is still with him. KeyWord: Blessed, v. 12. Strong Verses : 2, 24, 25, 28. Striking Facts: There is a great difference between God's blessing through Christ and His presence. One cannot always judge of a believer's spirit- ual condition by their circumstances, but God has a purpose in all His dealings. Before the chapter closes, we see Isaac coming into God's presence as well as His blessing, v. 24. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN Contents: Fraudulent methods of Jacob in getting Isaac's blessing. Remorse of Esau. Characters: Isaac, Esau, Jacob, Rebekah. Conclusion: Human nature in prone to scheme to bring about what God would do without any scheming. He does not need our cunning or deceit to accomplish His purpose. Seek spiritual blessings in the right way or get with them years of sorrow afterward. Key Word: Supplanter, v. 36. Strong Verses: 28, 29, 33. Striking Facts: One only needs to read the history of Jacob to learn that it does not pay to take things into one's own hands. The more pressing the temptation to take things out of His hands, the richer will be the blessing of remaining in His hands and awaiting His time. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT Contents: Jacob at Bethel and the Abrahamic covenant confirmed to him in a dream. Characters: Isaac, Jacob, Laban, Esau, Ishmael, Mahalath, angels. Conclusion: The believer should realize that he is ever in God's presence. However no heart can feel at home in His presence until emptied of self and broken. Key Word: Bethel (house of God), v. 19. Strong Verses: 12, 15, 22. Striking Facts: Bethel, to the Christian, stands for a realization, although often imperfect, of the presence of God through Christ, and the spiritual contents of faith. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE Contents: Jacob and Laban, two bargain makers, meet. Characters: Jacob, Laban, Rachael, Leah, Reuben, Levi, Judah. Conclusion: The believer who has erred may not be forsaken of God, but he is permitted to reap the shame and sorrow of his self-chosen way. Matt. 7:2. Key Word: Beguiled, v. 25. Strong Verses: 20. Striking Facts: Jacob at Haran, pictures the nation descended from him at the present time. He was away from the place of blessing, without an altar, but yet under the covenant care of Jehovah and eventually to be brought back. CHAPTER THIRTY Contents: Jacob's posterity in Padan-aram. Another bargain between Jacob and Laban. GENESIS Page Eleven Characters: Rachael, Jacob, Laban, Leah, Joseph. Conclusion: The toiling and scheming of men is the result of ignorance of God's Grace, and inability to put implicit confidence in God's promises. Key Word: Blessed, v. 27. Strong Verses: 27. Striking Facts: The success of Jacob's policy was not sufficient to justify it, had it been unjust toward the shrewd Laban, but evidently it was not unjust, for see 31:12. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE Contents: Jacob's resolution to return. Laban's hot pursuit; their quarrel and final agreement. Characters: Laban, Jacob, Rachael, Leah. Conclusion: The safety of believers under trying circumstances is much due to the hold God has on the consciences of bad men. In the path of obedience, we may count on God's care. KeyWord: Plight, v. 21. Strong Verses: 49. Striking Facts: The settlement of a quarrel is a jewel so precious, one can scarcely buy it too dearly. While the believer may resent injuries, he is not to avenge them but remember that God is the avenger. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO Contents: Jacob becomes Israel. Preparation for meeting Esau. Wrestling against the angel. Characters: Jacob, Esau, angel. Conclusion: Either we lean on God or on our own plans. The arrangements of unbelief and impatience prevent God acting for us and He must bring us to the end of our own strength. Key Word: Afraid, v. 7. Strong Verses: 24, 30. Striking Facts: To be alone with Christ is the only way to arrive at a know- ledge of ourselves and our ways. Jacob was a wrestled-with man, and until the seat of his own strength was touched, he did not reach the place of blessing. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Contents: Jacob meets Esau. Settles in Canaan. Characters: Jacob, Esau, Leah, Rachael, Joseph. Conclusion: How groundless are all the Christian's fears and how useless all his self-devised plans. "When a man's ways please the Lord, He mak- eth even his enemies to be at peace with him." Key Word: Meeting, v. 4. Strong Verses: 11. Striking Facts: "Acquaint now thyself with Him and be at peace." Failure in this, causes one, on every fresh occasion, to doubt and hesitate not- withstanding the evidence of God's faithfulness through Christ. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR Contents: Harvest of evil years comes on Jacob and family. Dinah defiled and the bloody revenge. Characters: Dinah, Jacob, Hamor, sons of Jacob, Simeon, Levi. Conclusion: Untaught maidens who go out to "gad" with the daughters of the land fall into a snare and involve their relatives in great trouble. Key Word: Defiled, v. 2. Strong Verses: 19. Striking Facts: God had directed Jacob to Bethel. He settled at Shechem. Partial obedience to Christ is responsible for much trouble which befalls Christian families. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE Contents: Jacob's return to Bethel and renewed communion. Death of Rachael. Birth of Benjamin. Death of Isaac. Page Twelve GENESIS Characters: Jacob, Deborah, Rebekah, Rachael, Benjamin, Reuben, Bilhah, Isaac, Esau. Conclusion: There is no perfect communion with God until all idols are put away and we come into His presence as He directs. Key Word: Altar, v. 1. Strong Verses: 3, 7. Striking Facts: "Arise and go to Bethel." God is ever calling the soul back to Himself. Christ says, "Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first works." CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX Contents: Generations of Esau and their settlements. Characters: Esau, Jacob. Conclusion: Though one have not a spiritual right by promise, they may still have, in the mercy of God, temporary rights to rich estates in this world. "But what is a man profited if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Key Word: Generations, v. 1. Strong Verses: 6, 7. Striking Facts: Edom, a name by which the foolish bargain was perpetuated, means "red pottage." If men sell their birthright in Christ for a mess of pottage, they must thank themselves when afterwards, it is remembered against them to their reproach. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN Contents: Generations of Joseph. Joseph hated and rejected by his brothers. Cast into pit. Carried away by Gentiles. Characters: Jacob, Joseph, Reuben, Judah, Potiphar. Conclusion: Envy is a canker to the soul and hates those excellencies it cannot reach. "Hatred stirreth up strife" and left to itself, only stops at murder. Key Word: Envied, v. 11. Strong Verses: 4. Striking Facts: Joseph, a marvelous type of Christ. Rejected because of his testimony to his brethren, sent by the Father on a mission of love, cast into a pit, sold to Gentiles, the Gentiles blessed through him. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT Contents: Shame of Judah and his sons. Characters: Judah, Hirah, Er, Onen, Tamar. Conclusion: The sins which dishonor and defile the body are evidences of vile affection and are very displeasing to God, often visited with quick punishment. Key Word: Shamed, v. 23. Strong Verses: 10, 26. Striking Facts: It is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah. Heb. 7:14. Divine grace is seen rising above man's sin to bring about His purpose. The Spirit is conducting us by this chapter, along the line through which, on the flesh side, our Lord came. Man would never have devised such a genealogy. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE Contents: Joseph tested in Egypt in the house of Potiphar. Characters: Joseph, Potiphar, Potiphar's wife, prison keeper. Conclusion: Loyalty to God may bring a believer into serious testings but the almighty grace of God will enable him to overcome the enemy's assaults. Though stripped of possessions, we need not be stripped of virtue. Key Word: Goodly, v. 6. Strong Verses: 2, 3, 21. Striking Facts: The one taken from the pit, into which he came through rejection, is coming to the place of ruler, the channel of blessing to the Gentiles, sustainer of life to the brethren. (Christ). GENESIS Page Thirteen CHAPTER FORTY Contents: Joseph in prison in Egypt. Interprets dreams. Characters: Butler, baker, captain of guard, Joseph, Potiphar. Conclusion: Whatever our lot in God's providence, we may ever be a blessing to companions in tribulation by showing a concern in their troubles and doing our best, by God's help, to lift their burdens. Key Word: Interpretation, v. 8. Strong Verses: 8. Striking Facts: Bad dreams cannot be given a good interpretation. If a minister of Christ deals faithfully with God's message and it proves unpleasant, it is not his fault. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE Contents: Pharaoh's dream. Joseph's exaltation in Egypt and his Gentile bride. Characters: Pharaoh, Joseph, butler, Asenath, Manasseh, Ephriam. Conclusion: The faithful believer will be abundantly recompensed for the disgrace he has patiently suffered and his righteousness will shine forth so all will know that God is with him. Key Word: Exalted (set over), v. 41. Strong Verses: 38, 39. Striking Facts: As Joseph solved Pharaoh's vexing problems, so Jesus relieves the heart of its burdens. Rejected, exalted, Jesus is now taking a Gentile Bride to be with Him when the "Time of Jacob's trouble" comes upon the earth. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO Contents: Joseph preserves his brethren from the famine. Characters: Jacob, Joseph, brothers. Conclusion: Times of testing await those who are guilty and often prove the effectual, means of awakening conscience and bringing sin to remem- brance. Keyword: Proved (tested), v. 15. Strong Verses: 8,23,24. Striking Facts: While Jesus is unrecognized by His brethren, the Jews, they are passing through deep troubles, but a tribulation awaits them which will bring them to the feet of Him Whom they crucified. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE Contents: Second visit of Joseph's brethren to Egypt in their necessity. Characters: Jacob, Benjamin, Joseph, Simeon, Judah, steward. Conclusion: The way to find mercy with men is to seek it of God Who has all hearts in His hand and who works in strange ways for His children, when they know it not. Key Word: Mercy, v. 14. Strong Verses: 14, 23, 29. Striking Facts: Before Him, who in their blindness they do not know, the Jews will plead for their Benjamin who has been lost to them, and in the agony of the hour, the opened heavens will reveal the Christ they cruci- fied, as their Deliverer. The sufferer and the conqueror are one. CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR Contents: Joseph's brethren further tested. Arrest on charge of taking a cup. Characters: Joseph, Judah, Benjamin, steward. Conclusion: Even in afflictions wherein the believer thinks himself wronged by men, he must own that God has a righteous purpose and possibly it is to make him confess his sin and develope his better nature. Key Word: Sorrow, v. 31. Strong Verses: 16, 33. Striking Facts: As Joseph laid a plan to bring about full confession from his brethren that they might come into fellowship with him, so Christ Page Fourteen GENESIS will deal with the Jews, culminating in a great day of confession and mourning. CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE Contents: Joseph reveals himself to his brethren whom he blesses and sends back to Egypt. Characters: Joseph, brothers, Pharaoh, Jacob. Conclusion: "He worketh all things together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose." He can work wonders for His own, when He has surrendered men through whom to work. Key Word: Revealed (made known), v. 1. Strong Verses: 5, 7, 8. Striking Facts: A sacred scene is coming for Israel (Ezek. 22:19) when Christ shall be revealed. As they stand self-condemned before Him, He will pour balm into their hearts (Zech. 13:1; 12:9) and will show all to have been decreed for their blessing (Rom. 11:11-12). CHAPTER FORTY-SIX Contents: Jacob's journey to Egypt and meeting with Joseph. Characters: Jacob, Joseph, brothers, their families, Pharaoh. Conclusion: A glorious meeting day is coming after the trials and mistakes of earth. Jesus prepares a place for the believer and comes again to receive him unto Himself, that where He is, there they may be also. Key Word: Meeting, v. 29. Strong Verses: 1, 3, 4. Striking Facts: The absolute will of God for Israel was in Canaan, not Egypt (26:1-5). His permissive will allows them to settle in Goshen and as far as possible He blesses them there. The Jews sidestepped God's absolute will by rejecting the Messiah, but a day of mingled joy and mourning awaits those living at His second advent. CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN Contents: Jacob and descendants exalted in Goshen. Characters: Pharaoh, Joseph, brothers, Jacob. Conclusion: Notwithstanding former unkindnesses received, the believer who is prospered in this world, must not overlook nor despise his poor rela- tives in their need. The measure of a truly great man is the way he treats men who in themselves have been small. Key Word: Nourished, v. 12. Strong Verses: 12, 29, 30. Striking Facts: Christ will, at His second advent, present His brethren, the Jews, in the court of heaven, restoring them to the place of blessing in the earth. As Jacob here blesses King Pharaoh, so Israel's portion in the Millenium will be that of blessing the kings of the earth. CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT Contents: Jacob on his death bed blesses Joseph's sons. Characters: Jacob, Joseph, Ephriam, Manasseh, Reuben, Simeon, Rachael. Conclusion: God in His grace, does not always observe the order of nature in bestowing His blessings, nor prefer those whom we think fittest to be preferred, but as it pleases Him, He chooses the weak to confound the mighty, thus His grace becomes more illustrious. Key Word: Blessed, v. 15. Strong Verses: 21. Striking Facts: v. 17. When the tribes were mustered in the wilderness, Ephriam was more numerous than Manasseh (Num. 1:32-35; 2:18-20) and is named first (Psa. 80:2). CHAPTER FORTY-NINE Contents: Jacob's dying blessing, prophetic of the tribes of Israel. Characters: Jacob, twelve sons. Conclusion: It is a great blessing to attend upon Godly parents in their last hours that we might learn how to die as well as live, and profit by GENESIS Page Fifteen their reproofs, counsels, and comforts. Though they cannot prophecy, they can tell us from God's Word what will befall us in the last day if we do not do the will of the Father. KeyWord: Prophecy (shall befall), v. 1. Strong Verses: 10. Striking Facts: The cunning, shifting and often faithless Jacob, the sup- planter, bargain maker, comes forth in the calm elevation of faith to bestow blessings and impart dignities. This will be Israel's part in the last great dispensation of earth, after Christ has returned. CHAPTER FIFTY Contents: Jacob's burial. Joseph's death. Characters: Jacob, Joseph, brothers. Conclusion: As it is an honor to die lamented, so it is a duty to honor the dead who have been useful in the Lord. Sincere and humble lament over Godly men is proper, for their death is a great loss to any place. Key Word: Mourning, v. 10. Strong Verses: 17, 19, 20, 21. Striking Facts: Finding man in a beautiful Eden, Genesis 1, we leave him in chapter 50 in a coffin in Egypt. Page Sixteen BOOK OF EXODUS EXODUS Key Thought: Number of Chapters: Key Verse: Christ seen as: Covenants 40 12:23 Lamb of God. Writer of the Book: Date: Conclusion of the Book: Redemption is by the Moses About 1500 B. C. blood and that alone. SUMMARY CHAPTER ONE Contents: Israel in Egypt and their bondage. Characters: Joseph, Pharaoh, Shiprah, Puah. Conclusion: God's providences may at times seem to thwart His promises that His peoples' faith may be tried and His power the more magnified. In their persecutions, He will sustain all who trust Him. Key Word: Bondage, v. 14. Strong Verses : 17,20,21. Striking Facts: It has been the policy of the persecutors of Israel throughout the centuries to represent them as a dangerous people, hurtful to provinces and untrustworthy, as a pretense for barbarous treatment. God's coun- sels stand and they still increase. CHAPTER TWO Contents: Deliverer prepared for Israel. Moses' birth, boyhood and marriage. Characters: Levi's daughter, Pharaoh's daughter, mother of Moses, sister, Moses, Pharaoh, seven daughters of priests, shepherds, Reuel, Zipporah, Gershom. Conclusion: When men are plotting the ruin of God's people, God is planning His peoples' salvation. One apparently marked for obscurity and poverty may be destined to rise before the world to show God's power. Even ene- mies may be used to carry out God's purposes. Key Word: Moses, v. 10. Strong Verses: 24, 25. Striking Facts: Moses is a striking type of Christ. Rejected by Israel, he turns to the Gentiles. In his rejection, he takes a Gentile bride, then later appears as Israel's deliverer and is accepted. CHAPTER THREE Contents: Moses called as deliverer. The burning bush. Characters: Jethro, Moses, angel. Conclusion: Those qualified for great service may expect for a time to be confined to obscurity for special preparation and the vision of God's pur- pose. If God gives opportunity and heart to serve Him, it is an ernest of His power to accomplish the work. Key Word: Deliverance, vv. 8, 10. Strong Verses: 7, 12, 14. Striking Facts: The burning bush pictures Israel in the furnace, yet never consumed. God's relations with Israel are eternal, v. 15. CHAPTER FOUR Contents: Moses' objections. Unbelief of the people and Moses' lack of eloquence. Return to Egypt. Message delivered to elders. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Jethro, Zipporah, elders. Conclusion: Unbelief refuses to believe God because it does not find in self a reason for believing. With God, the merest stammerer may prove an efficient minister, neither need he be uneasy as to the reception of the message. Key Word: Spokesman, v. 16. Strong Verses: 11, 12, 31. Striking Facts: The rod, symbol of power in Christ's hand, was not wrenched away from Moses, but cast down by Moses. It remained a serpent only EXODUS Page Seventeen while out of his hand. The rod, temporarily out of Christ's hand, will soon be taken up again and Satan's power will be over. CHAPTER FIVE Contents: Moses' first contest with Pharaoh. Characters: Moses, Aaron, Pharaoh, taskmasters. Conclusion: God, in coming toward His people in mercy may sometimes employ strange methods so that people will think themselves ill-treated. God suffers it to be so that we may learn to cease from man and cease depending on second causes. Key Word: Burdens, v. 4. Strong Verses: 3. Striking Facts: Those called to public service for Christ may expect to be tried, not only by the proud threats of enemies, but the unjust, unkind censures of friends who judge by outward appearances. CHAPTER SIX Contents: Jehovah's answer to Moses' first prayer. Covenant renewed. Fam- ilies of Israel. Moses' commission renewed. Characters: God, Moses, Pharaoh. Conclusion: Man's extremity is God's opportunity of helping and saving. God's covenants are as firm as the power and truth of God can make them and we may venture upon all His promises. Key Word: Covenant, v. 4. Strong Verses : 3, 6, 7, 8. Striking Facts: v. 12. Disconsolate spirits often cause us to put from us the comforts we are entitled to in Christ and we stand in our own light. If we indulge in fretfulness, we lose the comfort of His word and must thank ourselves if we go comfortless. CHAPTER SEVEN Contents: Contest with Pharaoh. First plague. Water turned to blood. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Pharaoh, magician. Conclusion: We see God's almighty power, the unstability of all things under the sun and the changes we may meet with in them. What is water today may be blood tomorrow. Sin turns man's comforts into crosses. Key W T ord: Smitten (waters), vv. 1, 17. Strong Verses: 1,5,17. Striking Facts: Satanic resistance to God's testimony of His Son is often offered by those who have "a form of godliness without the power thereof." The magicians finally failed, proving (8:7) their tricks "lying wonders" (Rev. 13:15). CHAPTER EIGHT Contents: Plagues of frogs, lice, flies. Pharaoh's compromising offej*. Characters: God, Moses, Pharaoh, Aaron. Conclusion: If God be against us, all creatures can be made to be at war with us. God can, as He pleases, arm the smallest parts of creation against men. He may choose contemptible instruments to defeat one, that He might magnify His own power. Key Word: Smitten, v. 2. Strong Verses: 1, 2, 19. Striking Facts: Pharaoh's compromises are types of those Satan makes with the Christian. "Be a Christian but stay in Egypt, or at least, don't be so narrow as to come out entirely from the world." CHAPTER NINE Contents: Plagues of murraine, boils and hail. Characters: God, Moses, Pharaoh, Aaron. Conclusion: The creature is made subject to vanity by reason of man's sins, liable to serve man's wickedness or share his punishment. When judg- ments are abroad, they may fall both on righteous and wicked but they are not the same to one as the other in the final reckoning. Key Word: Smitten, vv. 27, 15. Strong Verses: 5. Striking Facts: v. 12. The Lord hardened his heart. Before this, Pharaolj ; Page Eighteen EXODUS hardened his own heart, resisting God's grace. There is a time when God gives one up to their own reprobate mind. Wilful hardness is sooner or later punished with judicial hardness. If men persist in shutting their eyes, God will close them. CHAPTER TEN Contents: Plagues of locusts and darkness. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Pharaoh. Conclusion: God's terms of reconciliation are fixed and cannot be disputed or lowered. Men must meet the demand of God's will or God will permit their delusions and answer them according to their sin. Key Word: Smitten, v. 21. Strong Verses: 12, 17, 25. Striking Facts: v. 11. Godly men make a subtle compromise if they desire for their children, a position in the world, or (v. 24) if they fail to con- secrate all their possessions along with themselves to Christ. CHAPTER ELEVEN Contents: Last plague. Death of firstborn prophesied. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Pharaoh. Conclusion: Persistent enemies of God and His people will be made to fall under at last and those who have approved themselves, will look great in the eyes of those who have viewed them with contempt. Key Word: Death, vv. 1, 5. Strong Verses: 3, 7. Striking Facts: In some way, God will always redress the injured, who in humble silence, commit their cause to Him, and in the end, they will not be losers by their adherance to Christ. CHAPTER TWELVE Contents: Deliverance for Israel through the Passover. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Pharaoh. Conclusion: Deliverance for the believer is based entirely upon the shedding of the blood of a divinely appointed substitute and its application to the heart once for all. If death has taken place for us, it cannot come to us. Key Word: Passover, v. 13. Strong Verses: 2, 13, 14. 27. Striking Facts: v. 8. Secured by the blood, the believer feeds on the Person of the Lamb of God, roast with fire, not raw. If Christ is not seen as the One subjected to the fires of God's wrath against sin, one cannot feed upon Him. He cannot be an example if He is not first an atoning sacrifice. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Contents: Firstborn set apart for Jehovah. Directions for feast of unleav- ened bread and consecration of males. Characters: God, Moses, Joseph. Conclusion: The believer should retain remembrance of God's great deliver- ance and to impress it on the heart, should use the appointed means for preserving remembrance. So, under the Gospel, Christ said, "This do in remembrance of me." Key Word: Remember, v. 3. Strong Verses: 9, 16, 21, 22. Striking Facts: That which by God's special mercy has in Christ been spared to us should be peculiarly dedicated to God's honor. God who is first and best should have our first and best. CHAPTER FOURTEEN Contents: God's power exerted to redeem Israel. Passing the Red Sea. Characters: God, Moses, Pharaoh, angel. Conclusion: The believer cannot go ahead in the strength of Christ until he has learned to stand still in his own helplessness. God can then place Himself between us and our circumstances and wonderfully deliver. Key Word: Saved, v. 30. Strong Verses: 13, 14, 19, 30, 31. Striking Facts: By the blood, God comes between us and our sins. By His EXODUS Page Nineteei presence, if we will permit, He will come between us and every overcom- ing circumstance. The cross separates from sin; the cloud from circum- stances. CHAPTER FIFTEEN Contents: The song of the redeemed. Characters: God, Moses, Miriam. Conclusion: Those who love God triumph in His triumphs and what is His honor is their joy. Our first thought should be to give glory to God. Key Word: Triumph, v. 1. Strong Verses: 2, 6, 7, 18. Striking Facts: Bitter waters (v. 23) in the path of God's leading, remind us of the trials that come to God's people for their edification, not punish- ment. The tree (cross, Gal. 3:13) cast into the bitter waters, will make them all sweet. CHAPTER SIXTEEN Contents: Murmuring of the people. Manna and quails given by God. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: The believer is apt to forget a thousand mercies in the presence of one trifling privation. God is longsuffering. Better to be in a desert with God than in the brick kilns of Egypt with Pharaoh. Key Word: Murmuring, v. 2. Strong Verses: 4, 7, 12. Striking Facts: Jesus, the Bread of Life (John 6) is the true wilderness bread for believers, ministered by the Spirit through the Word. Christ may be partaken of unreservedly but we have no more of Him than faith appropriates, v. 16. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Contents: Smitten rock at Meribah. Characters: God, Moses, Joshua, Aaron, Hur. Conclusion: Fed by the Bread of Life; refreshed by the Water of Life (John 7:37) means victory for the believer in every conflict with the world, the flesh and the devil. Key Word: Jehovah-nissi (The Lord our banner), v. 15. Strong Verses: 7, 15. Striking Facts: Christ is the Rock (1 Cor. 10:4) He was smitten, and result- ing from His finished work was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit giving power to all those who believe. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Contents: Moses joined by his wife and children. Judges selected to solve the problems of the people. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Jethro, Zipporah, Gershom, Eliezer. Conclusion: Telling of God's wondrous works is good to the use of edifying What we have the joy of, let God have the praise of, thereby confirming others to faith and encouraging them to real worship. KeyWord: Told, v. 8 (testimony). Strong Verses : 8, 9, 10. Striking Facts: It will be noticed (Num. 11:14-17) that God ignored Jethro's counsel and his man-made organization, putting in its place, His own order (v. 18). We are not called to service on the ground of our ability, but Christ's ability. Phil. 4:13. CHAPTER NINETEEN Contents: Israel at Sinai and the preparation for receiving the law. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: Humble reverence should possess the minds of those who draw near to God for we are sinners in the presence of a holy and righteous Judge; mean creatures before the Mighty Creator. KeyWord: Ready, vv. 11, 15. Strong Verses: 5, 6. Striking Facts: (Cp. 1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10 with Ex. 19:5). Note that Page Twenty EXODUS what under law, was conditional, under Grace is freely given in Christ to every believer. Note also that God did not impose law until it was pro- posed and accepted by man. CHAPTER TWENTY Contents: Ten commandments delivered to Moses at Sinai. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: A holy and righteous God has holy and righteous standards. Those who love God will constantly endeavor to live as He requires, enabled by the Holy Spirit. Key Word: Commands, v. 6. Strong Verses: 3-17. Striking Facts: Law proposes life and righteousness as the end to be attained by keeping it, but proves at the outset that man is in a state of death (Rom. 5:20; 7:7, 13; 3:20). Life and righteousness cannot come by that which only curses, but only through the grace of God in Christ. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Contents: Laws concerning servants. Injuries to the person. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: The great God of heaven stoops to take interest in the detail affairs between man and man and makes regulations even as to the loss of a tooth. Key Word: Judgments, v. 1. Strong Verses: 12. Striking Facts: God who gives and maintains life, by His law would protect it. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Contents: Judgments on rights of property; crimes against humanity. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: Man's attitude to his fellow man will be based on his attitude to God and His law. KeyWord: Judgments, 21:1. Strong Verses: 29, 30, 31. Striking Facts: One is struck by the number of things we are told NOT to do. These negative commands reveal human nature to itself. All is changed in the New Testament through Christ's sacrifice. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Contents: Judgments on the national feasts. Instructions concerning the con- quest of Canaan. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: God's angels will keep the believer in the way, though it lay through the enemy's country and will bring him into the place God has prepared. A precept of obedience goes with every promise. Key Word: Judgments, 21:1. Strong Verses: 7, 12, 20, 22, 25. Striking Facts: Familiarity with idolaters is forbidden (32, 33). The believer by familiar converse with false worshippers, is often drawn into worship with them and his detestation of sin wears off. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Contents: Order of worship prescribed, pending the building of the taber- nacle. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, elders, Joshua, Hur. Conclusion: The unapproachable glory of God tells a sinner to keep off, but the altar shows him how he can feast and worship in God's presence. Key Word: Worship, v. 1. Strong Verses: 8, 17. Striking Facts: We never hear "draw near" (Heb. 10:22) from the shadows of the law. For Christ's work was not then done which entitled the sin- ner to draw near. Law always says "worship afar off." CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE Contents: Moses in the mount; first directions concerning the tabernacle. Characters: God, Moses. EXODUS Page Twenty-One Conclusion: The only way for God and man to meet is in the precise way and place which He has appointed (v. 22). When a righteous God and a ruined sinner meet on a bloodsprinkled platform, all is well. (1 Pet. 1:18, 19). Key Word: Pattern, v. 9. Strong Verses: 22. Striking Facts: The tabernacle in every detail foreshadows Christ. Gold is a type of deity; silver of redemption; brass of judgment; blue of heavenly origin; purple of royalty; scarlet of atonement, etc. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Contents: Further directions regarding the tabernacle. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: The wonders of God's presence are known only to those, who by the proper ceremonies, have come inside the curtains of His grace. The natural man is screened out from the things of the Spirit. KeyWord: Fashion (pattern), v. 30. Strong Verses: 30. Striking Facts: We as Christ's followers have here no continuing city, being strangers and pilgrims through this world to a better land, having a move- able tabernacle. The presence of God is not tied to any place. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN Contents: Directions about the brazen altar and the court. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: Sinful man dare not approach God (at the ark) Heb. 9:8; but God approaches man as a sinner through Christ (brazen altar). There were blood prints all the way from the ark to the altar. Redeemed on that path, the sinner is safe in the courts of God. Key Word : Pattern, 25:9. Strong Verses: 20. Striking Facts: In Jesus, God comes down in grace to the sinner. In Jesus the sinner is brought up in righteousness to God. These are our only grounds of standing before God. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT Contents: Directions about the priesthood. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Eleazar, Ithmar. Conclusion: The believer need never fear God has forgotten him for the Great High Priest bears the names of His own on His breast before God, presenting them as "those accepted in the beloved." Key Word: Ministry, v. 1. Strong Verses: 29,41. Striking Facts: Every true believer, through identification with Christ, is an earthly priest of God's family (Rev. 1:8) properly clothed for the work, (Rev. 19:7, 8), and should be duly consecrated and sanctified for his work of testimony. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE Contents: Consecration of the priests and the offerings. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Aaron's sons. Conclusion: Those representing God should be set apart in solemn conse- cration. All their service must be based on the ground of the burnt offering. Key Word: Consecration, v. 26. Strong Verses: 18, 45, 46. Striking Facts: Consecration means "to fill the hand." It is not the believer filling God's hand. In the arms of Aaron's sons were put the parts of the sacrifice which speak of the inherent richness and power of Christ. This was their acknowledgment that the power for service was not in them- selves, but in another. This is consecration. CHAPTER THIRTY its: The altar of incense and the brazen laver. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Page Twenty-Two EXODUS Conclusion: (See Psa. 141:2). The prayer of a contrite believer ascends as a fragrant cloud to God. (Prov. 15:8). Key Word: Incense (worship), v. 7. Strong Verses: 30. Striking Facts: Fire under the incense altar brought out the fragrance (Rom. 8: 26, 27). The fire was from the blood-sprinkled altar (Heb. 10: 19, 20). Their prayers were based on the intercession of a priest (Rom. 8:34). CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE Contents: The tabernacle and its workmen. Sabbath made a sign between God and Israel. Characters: God, Moses, Bezaleel, Aholiab. Conclusion: When God gives a commission, He will, in some measure give the qualifications according as the service is. When God has work to be done, He will not be without instruments. Key Word: Workmanship, v. 3. Strong Verses: 3, 17. Striking Facts: When Christ sent His apostles to rear the Gospel tabernacle He poured out His Holy Spirit upon them to enable them to speak with power the wonderful works of God. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO Contents: The broken law; Israel worships a golden calf. Intercession of Moses. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Joshua. Conclusion: It is a great sin to make gold, or anything else, a god, as those do who let it become a supreme object of their affections, taking the place of God in any degree. Key Word: Great Sin, v. 30. Strong Verses: 26, 29, 32. Striking Facts: Moses typified Christ, who went above (Acts 1:9) telling the people to tarry. In His absence, some forget his promised return (John. 14:3; Acts 1:11) and make themselves gods (2 Tim. 3:1-4; 4:3-4; Matt. 24:12) denying His return (2 Pet. 3:3-4; Matt. 24:48, 49). Jesus will come unexpectedly (Matt. 25:13) punishing evil doers (2 Thess. 2:7, 8) who are naked (Rev. 6:16, 17) and gathering the true to Himself (1 Thess. 4:13-18). CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Contents: The journey to be resumed. God's presence assured. Characters: God, Moses, Joshua. Conclusion: God's special presence with us in the wilderness by His Spirit and grace to direct, defend and comfort, is the surest pledge of His acceptance of us. The bitter fruit of sin in the believer is the lost sense of His presence, which will cause any true believer to lament. Key Word: Presence, v. 14. Strong Verses: 11,14,20. Striking Facts: Moses, as a prince who had power with God, was a type of Christ the great Intercessor whom the Father heareth always. Through His intercession, we obtain constant assurance of the blessings of salva- tion. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR Contents: Second tables of the law. The new vision and commission. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: (12-17). We cannot expect the benefit of God's promises unless we make conscience of His precepts. God's name is "Jealous" and we cannot worship Him aright if we do not worship Him alone. Key Word: Tables of testimony, v. 29. Strong Verses: 6, 7, 14, 29. Striking Facts: The shining of Moses' face was a great honor to him but nothing compared to the glory which excelled. We read of Jesus, that not only His face shone, but His whole body and His raiment was glisten- ing rLuke 9:29). EXODUS Page Twenty-Three CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE Contents: People instructed as to the tabernacle. The gifts of the people for the work. Characters: God, Moses, Bezaleel, Aholiab. Conclusion: God loves a cheerful giver and is best pleased with a free-will offering. Our gifts are our acknowledgment that we receive all from Him and dedicate all to Him. Key Word: Gifts, v. 5. Strong Verses: 21, 29. Striking Facts: If we cannot do what others do for God, we are not to sit still and no nothing. Though our offering gains us no reputation with men, if given according to ability, it does not fail of acceptance with Him. (2 Cor. 8:12). CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX Contents: The tabernacle work begun. The curtains, coverings, sockets, bars, vail. Characters: God, Moses, Bezaleel, Aholiab. Conclusion: The talents with which God has entrusted the believer are not to be laid up but laid out. Have your tools ready and God will find you work. Key Word: Work, v. 1. Strong Verses: 1, 5, 6. Striking Facts: Precious souls redeemed by Christ are the material of the Gospel tabernacle. (1 Pet. 2:5). Those called to the building of this house are those whom God has in some measure made fit for the work. Ability and willingness are the two things to be regarded in the call of the Christian worker. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN Contents: Making of the ark, mercy seat, table, candlestick, altar. Characters: Bezaleel. Conclusion: As the workmen were to take great care to make all according to God's pattern, so the believer should have respect to all the light God gives, even to every iota and tittle of His commandments. God delights in sincere obedience and keeps exact account of it. KeyWord: Work, 36:1. Strong Verses: 6, 9. Striking Facts: Jesus Christ, the great propitiation, has made reconciliation for the believer, restoring communion with God. From the mercy seat, He accepts us and teaches us, and under the shadow of the Spirit we are safe. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT Contents: Altar of burnt offering, laver, court, gate. Characters: God, Moses, Bezaleel, Aholiab, Ithamar. Conclusion: Same as chap. 37. KeyWord: Work, v. 1. 36:1. Strong Verses: 21. Striking Facts: On the altar of burnt offering all the sacrifices were made. The altar is a type of Calvary's cross on which Christ, our whole burnt offering, offered Himself without spot to God (Heb. 9:14). CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE Contents: Garments for Aaron. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: All believers are spiritual priests and their service-clothes are provided (Rev. 19:8). All who converse with them should be able to see that they are properly clothed as God's representatives. Key Word: Garments, v. 1. Strong Verses: 42, 43. Striking Facts: Christ, our High Priest, in undertaking the work of man's restoration, wore the clothes of service the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, which He had without measure. Page Twenty-Four EXODUS CHAPTER FORTY Contents: Tabernacle set up. God's glory manifested. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: God will dwell with those who prepare Him a habitation. Where God has a throne and an altar in the heart, there is a living temple in which the Spirit will be manifested. Key Word: Finished, v. 33. Strong Verses: 17, 34, 38. Striking Facts: What the glory cloud was to the tabernacle, the Holy Spirit is to the Church and the temple, which is the believer's body. (1 Cor. 6:19). BOOK OF LEVITICUS Page Twenty-Five LEVITICUS Key Thought: Number of Chapters: Key Verse: Christ seen as: Atonement 27 16:34 High Priest Writer of the Book: Date: Conclusion of the Book: Access of the redeemed to God is only through Moses About 1500 B. C. the blood. Holiness of the redeemed is impera- tive. SUMMARY CHAPTER ONE Contents: The burnt offering laws. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron's sons. Conclusion: Utter dependence upon the sacrifices, typifying the great sac- rifice of Christ on which the iniquity of us all was laid is God's require- ment. (The laying on of the offerer's hands signified identification of the believer with his offering). Key Word: Burnt sacrifice, v. 3. Strong Verses: 4. Striking Facts: The burnt offering stands for Christ who offered Himself without spot to God in delight to do the Father's will even unto death. Fire, symbol of God's holiness, consumes the offering. CHAPTER TWO Contents: Meat offering and first-fruits laws. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron's sons. Conclusion: Leaven, typifying malice, wickedness and human pride is not accepted in spiritual sacrifices. Take heed of those sins which will cer- tainly spoil the acceptableness of worship. Key Word: Fine flour offering, v. 1. First-fruits, v. 12. Strong Verses: 11. Striking Facts: Fine flour speaks of the balance of the character of Christ; fire of His testing by suffering; frankincense of the fragrance of His life to God; absence of leaven, His character as "The Truth;" absence of honey His life was not mere natural sweetness which may exist apart from God; oil mingled, Christ as born of the Spirit; oil upon, Christ baptized with the Spirit. CHAPTER THREE Contents: Peace offering laws. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron's sons. Conclusion: In Christ, God and the sinner meet in peace. God is propitiated and the sinner reconciled; both alike satisfied with Christ's work. "He is our peace." Key Word: Peace offering, v. 1. Strong Verses: 2. Striking Facts: Details of the peace offering bring out the thought of fellow- ship, hence the peace offering is set forth as affording food for the priests, (7:31-34). CHAPTER FOUR mtents: Sin offering laws. Characters: God, Moses. mclusion: Even sins done in ignorance need to be atoned for by sacrifice. To plead ignorance when charged with sin will not deliver. Our only hope is in acceptance of Him who "became sin for us." Key Word: Sin offering, v. 3. Strong Verses: 3. Page Twenty-Six LEVITICUS Striking Facts: The sin offering is Christ seen laden with the believer's sins, absolutely in the sinner's place and stead, and not as in the sweet savor offerings, in His own perfections. Read Isa. 53. CHAPTER FIVE Contents: Trespass offering laws. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: Even when a man unwittingly breaks the laws of God, full resti- tution must be made, which is possible only through the presentation of the sacrifice. Key Word: Trespass offering, v. 6. Strong Verses: 17, 18. Striking Facts: The chapter teaches us that we all have need to pray with David, "Cleanse thou me from secret faults." Psa. 19:12. CHAPTER SIX Contents: Further directions about offerings. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron and sons. Conclusion: Since Christ has "made His soul an offering for sin" we should seek to make restitution to any person we have injured or defrauded, and until we do, we will not enjoy the comfort of His forgiveness of our sins. Key Word: Offerings. Strong Verses: 6, 7. Striking Facts: Trespass against our neighbor is trespass against God, be- cause it is an affront to our Saviour who has redeemed us and the injury reflects upon God who has commanded that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. CHAPTER SEVEN Contents: Further directions concerning offerings. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron and sons. Conclusion: We are not left to our liberty in the solemn acts of religious worship, but are under obligation to perform them in the manner God directs in His Word. Key Word: Offerings, v. 1. Strong Verses: 37,38. Striking Facts: Use of leaven, v. 13, is significant. In v. 12, as the believer thanks God for his peace, he first of all presents Christ, Eph. 2:13, so leaven is excluded. In v. 13, he gives thanks for his participation in the peace, and the leaven signifies, that although having peace through Christ, the believer in himself is not perfect. CHAPTER EIGHT Contents: Consecration of Aaron and sons for the priesthood. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron and sons. Conclusion: All who minister about holy things must have an eye to God's commands as their rule and warrant, for only in the observance of these may they expect to be owned of God in their service. Key Word: Sanctification, v. 12. Strong Verses: 13,36. Striking Facts: Priests did not consecrate themselves. Moses was the ap- pointed instrument of God to do this work. The sons of Aaron simply presented themselves for the work. See Rom. 12:1, where the believer presents himself unreservedly to Christ. CHAPTER NINE Contents: Priests begin their ministry before the Lord. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron and sons. Conclusion: God draws nigh to those who draw nigh to Him in the appointed way the offering of faith in His Son, the Great Sacrifice being accept- able to Him. Key Word: Offering presented, v. 12. Strong Verses: 6, 23, 24. Striking Facts: God does not ordain priests to be idle. Without a days LEVITICUS Page Twenty-Seven respite after their consecration, Aaron and his sons were immediately employed. God's spiritual priests have work laid out for them by Christ. CHAPTER TEN Contents: Strange fire of Nadab and Abihu. Characters: God, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazer, Moses, Aaron, Ithamar, Michael, Elzaphan. Conclusion: It is fatal to act in the things of God without seeking the mind of God (will worship, Col. 2:23.) Key Word: Strange fire, v. 1. Strong Verses: 9. Striking Facts: Strange fire typifies any use of carnal means to kindle the fires of devotion and praise, which, if true, come only from Christ and the Holy Spirit. CHAPTER ELEVEN Contents: The proper food for God's people defined. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: The body is the Lord's and it is sin against God to prejudice health for the pleasing of appetite. Key Word: Eating, v. 2. Strong Verses: 45. Striking Facts: God's covenant people, Israel, by having a diet peculiar to themselves would be kept from familiar conversation with idolatrous neighbors. The laws, however, were probably primarily sanitary and necessary to the good of the people. CHAPTER TWELVE Contents: The law of motherhood. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: All are conceived and born in sin (Psa. 51:5) for, if the root be impure, so is the branch. It is only by Christ, the great sin offering, that the corruption of the child nature is done away. Key Word: Conceiving, v. 2. Strong Verses : 8 . Striking Facts: Our Lord, though not conceived in sin his mother accom- plished the days of purification (Luke 2:22-24) and so poor were His parents that they could not bring a lamb. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Contents: Laws concerning those afflicted with leprosy. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: Man is beset with troops of diseases on every side and all entered by sin. If not afflicted with any of these terrible sores, we are bound to praise God and glorify Him the more with our bodies. Key Word: Leprosy, v. 2. Strong Verses: 45, 46. Striking Facts: Leprosy is a figure of the moral pollution of men's minds by sin, which is the leprosy of the soul, curable only through Christ's atoning work. CHAPTER FOURTEEN Contents: Laws concerning cleansing of lepers. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: As the leper was cleansed from his fearful malady through the water and the blood, so Christ comes into the soul for its cleansing "by water and blood" (1 John 5:6). See John 19:34. Key Word: Cleansing, v. 2. Strong Verses: 20. Striking Facts: The leper did nothing toward his own cleansing. He was sought out by the priest and cleansed by him. Our cleansing is by Christ alone. CHAPTER FIFTEEN tents: Imperative personal cleanliness. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Page Twenty-Eight LEVITICUS Conclusion: Unclean diseases of the flesh are a wound and dishonor, the con- sumption of the body, and a sin which is often its own punishment more than any other. Key Word: Unclean, v. 2. Strong Verses: 30, 31. Striking Facts: The chapter speaks to us of the contagion of sin and the danger of being polluted by conversing with those who are polluted. "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." CHAPTER SIXTEEN Contents: Day of atonement laws. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sin." Key Word: Atonement, v. 6. Strong Verses: 30, 34. Striking Facts: As the priest entered the holiest with the blood, so Christ entered heaven itself with His own blood for us (Heb. 9:11, 12). His blood makes the throne of God a mercy seat which otherwise must have been a throne of judgment. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Contents: The place of sacrifice and the sanctity of the blood. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: God's people all meet at one altar in His appointed way, there- by preserving unity and family love among themselves. Key Word: Blood, v. 11. Strong Verses: 11. Striking Facts: The worship of Christians is not now confined to one place (John 4:21; 1 Tim. 2:8) yet Christ is our altar and through Him, God dwells among us by His Spirit. It is in Him that our sacrifices are acceptable to God. 1 Pet. 2:5. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Contents: Relationship and walk of God's people. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: Fleshly lusts war against the soul and will certainly be the ruin of it, if God's mercy and grace prevent not. Key Word: Abominations, v. 26. Strong Verses: 3, 4, 5, 24, 26, 30. Striking Facts: There are many sins which level men with the beasts but these here mentioned sink men lower than beasts. CHAPTER NINETEEN Contents: Further laws concerning proper relationships. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: God's people being distinguished from all other people by a peculiar relationship with Him through Christ, should teach them real separation from the things of the world and flesh and entire devoted- ness to the will of God. Key Word: Holy, v. 2. Strong Verses: 2, 12, 18, 31. Striking Facts: Notice the caution against having anything to do with spirit- ism. Seek not to them for discovery or advice and regard not their offers. It is an abomination to God. CHAPTER TWENTY Contents: Further laws on relationship and walk of God's people. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: God has distinguished His people from all others by a holy covenant with them through Christ, therefore they should distinguish themselves by consistent and holy living. Key Word: Separated, v. 24. Strong Verses: 6, 8, 22, 23, 24. Striking Facts: Observe again the plain warning against spiritism. What greater madness than to go to an enemy for advice. Spiritualism is spiritual adultery, giving honor to the devil which is due to God. LEVITICUS Page Twenty-Nine CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Contents: Relationship and walk of the priests. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron and sons. Conclusion: Those whose office it is to instruct in God's truth must do it by example as well as precept. Key Word: Holy, v. 6. Strong Verses: 6, 8. Striking Facts: We must honor those whom God has called as His ministers and every Christian should consider himself as concerned to be the guard- ians of their honor. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Contents: Separation of the priests; perfection of the sacrifices. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron and sons. Conclusion: Those contract great guilt who profane sacred things, doing in their own uncleanness, service which pretends to be hallowed to Him. Key Word: Separate, v. 2. Strong Verses: 3, 31, 32. Striking Facts: v. 19 a law to make sacrifices fitter to be types of Christ, the great Sacrifice from which all these derive their virtue. He is called a "lamb without spot and without blemish" (1 Pet. 1:19). CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Contents: The feasts of Jehovah. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: The Sabbaths of the Lord in our dwellings will be their beauty, strength and safety (by rising on the first day of the week and meeting His disciples again and again on that day, Christ appointed that day a holy convocation). Key Word: Feasts, v. 2. Strong Verses: 3, 22. Striking Facts: As given to Israel, there were seven great religious festivals. Passover, feast of unleavened bread, feast of first-fruits, feast of Pente- cost, feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, feast of Tabernacles, all typical of Christ. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Contents: Penalty of blasphemy. Characters: God, Moses, son of Israelitish woman. Conclusion: If those who profane the name of God escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape His righteous judgments. Key Word: Blasphemy, v. 11. Strong Verses: 15. Striking Facts: v. 12. Those who sit in judgment should sincerely desire, and by prayer to Christ for wisdom, should endeavor to know, the mind of the Lord. v^iu . CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE Contents: Laws of the land. Sabbatic year and year of Jubilee. Characters: God. Moses. inclusion: The blessing of God upon our provision will make a little go a long way and satisfy even the poor with bread. We can lose nothing by faith in God's promises and self-denial in our obedience. Key Word: Sabbatic year, v. 4. Strong Verses: 18,19,35,36,37. Striking Facts: v. 25, the kinsman redeemer is an illustration of Christ who assumed our nature that He might be our kinsman, redeeming our inheritance which we by sin had forfeited. He made a settlement for all who become allied with Him by faith. i CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX mtents: Conditions of blessing and warnings of chastisement. Characters: God, Moses. Page Thirty LEVITICUS Conclusion: All adverse circumstances that come upon a people are God's servants, used often as a scourge wherewith He chastises a provoking people. If less judgments will not do their work, God will send greater, for when He judges a nation He will overcome. Key Word: Punishment, v. 24. Strong Verses: 8, 9, 40, 41, 42. Striking Facts: If God's people faithfully observe His statutes they are assured that His hand (vv. 7, 8) will so signally appear with them that no dis- proportion of numbers could make against them. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN Contents: Laws concerning dedicated persons and things. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: We should be cautious in making vows and constant in keeping those we have made. What is once devoted to the Lord should be His forever by a perpetual covenant. Key Word: Vows, v. 2. Strong Verses: 30. Striking Facts: Let us not think because we are not tied to ceremonial laws that we are free of religious obligations. "Having boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" saying "Blessed be God for the gift of His Son." >K OF NUMBERS age NUMBERS Key Thought: Discipline Number of Chapters: 36 Key Verse: 33:1 Christ seen as: Star of Jacob ^riter of the Book: Moses Date: About 1500 B. C. Conclusion of the Book: The redeemed are saved to serve and must be on their guard against un- belief. SUMMARY CHAPTER ONE Contents: Moses commanded to take census. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: The Lord knows all those that are His (2 Tim. 2:19) by name (Phil. 4:3) and even the hairs of their heads are numbered. To all others He will say "I never knew you." Key Word: Numbered, v. 2. Strong Verses : 54. Striking Facts: None under 20 years old were listed for military service. In compassion for their tender years God would not have them to bear arms. Nor were any to be numbered who were through any bodily infirm- ity, rendered unfit for war. CHAPTER TWO Contents: Order of the host and arrangement of the camp. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: God is a God of order and not confusion, thus the camp of the saints should be compact, everyone knowing and keeping his God ap- pointed place. Key Word: Camp, v. 3. Strong Verses: 34. Striking Facts: The chapter furnishes an illustration of the movable state of Christ's people in the world, "strangers and pilgrims." At the same time it is a military state our life is a warfare, as "good soldiers of Jesus Christ." CHAPTER THREE Contents: Order of the host; placing of the Levites. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: Having gifts differing according to the Grace given us if min- istry, let us wait on our ministering (Rom. 12:7). God has a place of definite service for each of His children. Key Word: Levites, v. 6. Strong Verses: 13. Striking Facts: The Church is called "the church of the firstborn" which is redeemed not as the firstborn of the Israelites, with silver and gold, but ransomed with the precious blood of Christ. CHAPTER FOUR Contents: The service of the Kohathrites, Gershonites and Merarites. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: There is a service appointed to each of God's people in connec- tion with His Church, and no matter how obscure the place it is important in God's program. Key Word: Service, v. 4. Strong Verses: 49. Striking Facts: v. 3. They were not employed until 30 years old. This is not obligatory on Gospel ministers, but gives us a suggestion that min- isters should not be novices but should be men of steadiness, and ripeness of judgment, knowing Christ well. Page Thirty-Two NUMBERS CHAPTER FIVE Contents: Defilement of the camp. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: The purity of the church must be as carefully guarded as the order of it and it is for the edification of it that those who are openly and incorrigibly vicious should be cut off from communion until they repent. Key Word: Defilement, v. 2. Strong Verses: 3. Striking Facts: All wives should learn from the "jealousy offering" to guard against giving any occasion for suspicions of their chastity to abstain from all appearance of evil. Husbands should learn not to entertain causeless or unjust suspicions of their wives. CHAPTER SIX Contents: The Nazarite laws. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: The Christian should be a true Nazarite, fully consecrated to God and separated from the things of this world, thus securing the special blessing of God. Key Word: Separation, v. 2. Strong Verses: 24,25,26. Striking Facts: The Nazarite type found a perfect fulfillment in Jesus who was "holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners" (Heb. 7:26) and allowed no mere natural claims to divert Him. CHAPTER SEVEN Contents: The gifts of the princes. Characters: God, Moses, princes. Conclusion: The great men should with their wealth and power uphold the work of God and should make conscience of being devout because of their great influence. Key Word: Offering, v. 3. Strong Verses: 89. Striking Facts: Observe that the offerings of the princes were identical yet each is separately recorded by the pen of inspiration, showing how God takes notice of every whole-hearted gift. Mark 12:41-44. CHAPTER EIGHT Contents: Cleansing of the Levites for the ministry of the tabernacle. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: All Christians, and especially ministers, should cleanse them- selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. Those who bear the vessels of the Lord must be clean. Key Word: Cleanse, v. 6. Strong Verses: 21, 22. Striking Facts: It is a great kindness to the Church that God has appointed overseers to go before the people in the things of God and religious wor- ship. When Christ ascended, He supplied the gifts for His work (Eph. 4:8-12). CHAPTER NINE Contents: Law of the Passover; the guiding cloud. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: Those who by circumstances are compelled to absent themselves from God's ordinances, may expect the favor of God's grace under their afflictions, and those who of choice absent themselves may justly expect the tokens of God's displeasure. Key Word: Passover, v. 2. Strong Verses: 8, 18. Striking Facts: As it was safe and pleasant going for Israel when led by the cloud, token of God's presence, so there is peace for the Christian who has set Christ, the Great Shepherd, before him. NUMBERS Page Thirty-Three CHAPTER TEN Contents: The first march of the camp. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron's sons. Conclusion: Those who have given themselves up to the leading of God's Word and Spirit, steer a safe course and so long as they walk in fellowship with their Guide, they need not fear losing the way. Key Word: Journeying, v. 13. Strong Verses: 33, 34. Striking Facts: Those who through Christ, are bound for the heavenly Canaan should invite and encourage their friends to go along with them. CHAPTER ELEVEN Contents: Complaints about the manna and the consequences. Characters: God, Moses, Eldad, Medad, Joshua. Conclusion: Though God graciously gives us leave to complain to Him when there is cause, yet He is justly provoked if we are fretful when there is no cause and especially when we have been surrounded with His special favors. Key Word: Complaining, v. 1. Striking Facts: Unconverted church members with no healthy appetite for the Bread of God, the things of Christ, will clamor for things pleasing to the flesh in the work and way of the church. CHAPTER TWELVE Contents: Murmuring of Miriam and Aaron and the consequences. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Miriam. Conclusion: We have reason to be exceedingly cautious of saying or doing any- thing against the servants of God, for God will plead their cause if they are true servants and will reckon with the critic. KeyWord: Criticism, (speaking against), v. 1. Strong Verses: 3, 8. Striking Facts: There are seasons when it is decidedly out of place to criti- cize the leaders of the people. This affront was ill-natured and ill-timed, when the people were disposed to mutiny and had given Moses much vex- ation with their murmurings. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Contents: Spies sent into Kadesh-barnea, and their report. Characters: God, Moses, Caleb, Joshua. Conclusion: Faith looks at difficulties through God but unbelief looks through difficulties at God. All things are possible, if but promised, to him who believes. Key Word: Searching, v. 25. Strong Verses: 27, 30. Striking Facts: Many Christians are forever getting frightened at these tre- mendous giants in the land who make them feel like grasshoppers. Giants cannot stand in the way of Christ's work if His people will be valiant in His strength. CHAPTER FOURTEEN Contents: Murmuring over the spies' reports and the consequences. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Caleb, Joshua. Conclusion. All the dangers that we are in are from our own distrust. We would succeed against all enemies if we did not make God our enemy. We are excluded from God's blessing only by excluding ourselves. Key Word: Murmured, v. 2. Strong Verses: 8, 9, 18. Striking Facts: vv. 13-19. The best pleas in prayer are those taken from Christ's honor. The more danger there is of others reproaching Christ's power, the more desirous we should be to see it glorified. CHAPTER FIFTEEN Contents: Burnt and free will offerings. Characters: God, Moses, man who broke Sabbath. Page Thirty-Four NUMBERS Conclusion: Sins committed ignorantly must have atonement made for them, for although God is very merciful with the ignorant, their ignorance can- not justify them. The presumptuous sinner invites severe judgments. Key Word: Offerings, v. 3. Strong Verses: 30. Striking Facts: v. 35. God is jealous for the honor of His Sabbaths and will not hold men guiltless who profane them. God gave this exemplary punishment as a standing warning against presumptuous disregard of His holy day. CHAPTER SIXTEEN Contents: The gainsaying of Korah. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Korah, Dathan, Abriam. Conclusion: Proud and ambitious men projecting their own advancement by thrusting themselves into a place to which God has not appointed them, hurry on to a shameful fall. Key Word: Murmur, v. 11. Strong Verses: 26, 48. Striking Facts: Men who have been true to Christ need not fear being slurred by others. Men who are most serviceable are often abused most shame- fully. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Contents: Aaron's rod that budded. Character: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: Fruitfulness is the best evidence of a divine call. The plants of God's setting will nourish. Key Word: Chosen, v. 5. Strong Verses: 8. Striking Facts: The budding rod is a type of Christ, who in His resurrection was owned of God as High Priest. All other authors of religion have died. Christ alone is exalted as High Priest. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Contents: Regulations concerning maintenance of the priests. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: We are to value as a great gift of divine bounty those called to be serviceable to us in the work of the church. Key Word: Given, v. 6. Strong Verses: 6, 12, 20. Striking Facts: God orders that Christ's ministers should be well recompensed that they might be the more entirely addicted to their ministry and not be disturbed in it by worldly care. CHAPTER NINETEEN Contents: The ordinance of the red heifer. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Eleazer. Conclusion: The believer needs constant cleansing from defilement contracted in his pilgrim walk through the world. Key Word: Unclean, v. 7. Strong Verses: 2. Striking Facts: Water typifies the Spirit and the Word. The Spirit uses the Word to convict the believer of some sin allowed. Thus convicted, he remembers that the guilt of his sin has been met by the sacrifice of Christ, therefore instead of dispairing, he judges and confesses the sin and is forgiven and cleansed. (1 John 1). CHAPTER TWENTY Contents: Water from the rock and Moses' sin. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Eleazar, King of Edom. Conclusion: God is able to supply His people with necessaries even in their greatest straits and in the utmost failure of second causes. Key Word: Complaint, v. 3. Strong Verses: 12. NUMBERS Page Thirty-Five Striking Facts: cf. vv. 8 and 10. Moses and Aaron varied from their com- mission and assumed too much glory themselves. The nearer one is to God, the more offensive are their sins. God judges not as man judges. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Contents: Victories of Israel; the serpent of brass. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Arad, Sihon, Og. Conclusion: Those who cry without cause will be given just cause to cry and they will be compelled to receive their course from God in God's way. Key Word: Sinned, v. 7. Strong Verses : 9, 34. Striking Facts: Serpent here, a symbol of sin judged; brass speaks of divine judgment. The brass serpent becomes a type of Christ "made sin for us" (2 Cor. 5:21; John 3:14-15) in bearing our judgment. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Contents: Balaam's visit to Balak and the strange warning on the way. Characters: God, Balak, Balaam, Angel of Jehovah. Conclusion: The enemies of God's people are restless and unwearied in their attempts, but He who sits in heaven laughs at them and often uses "foolish things to confound the wise." Key Word: Balaam, v. 5. Strong Verses: 12, 38. Striking Facts: When Satan tempted our first parents to sin he employed a subtle serpent, but when God would convince a hireling prophet, He employed a silly ass. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Contents: Balaam blesses instead of curses Israel. Characters: God, Balaam, Balak. Conclusion: Those who have the good will of heaven may expect the ill will of hell but God will not suffer real injury done to His people and what is done against them He takes as done against Himself and reckons ac- cordingly. Key Word: Blessed, v. 11. Strong Verses: 8, 12, 21. Striking Facts: He who made man's mouth knows how to manage it. God can extort a confession of his overruling power from wicked men to the confusion of many, if He chooses. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Contents: Balaam foretells prosperity for Israel. Characters: God, Balaam, Balak. Conclusion: Those who oppose God and His people will sooner or later be made to see themselves wretchedly deceived. Key Word: Latter days, v. 14. Strong Verses: 13, 17. Striking Facts: v. 17 is an illustrious prophecy of Christ who is coming to reign in great glory, not only over Israel but over all men. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE Contents: Sin of Israel with daughters of Moab. Characters: God, Moses, Zimri, Phinehas, Cozbi. Conclusion: God's people are more endangered by the charms of a smiling world than by the terrors of a frowning world. The daughters of Moab have conquered many strong men who could not be conquered by the sword. Key Word: Whoredom, v. 1. Strong Verses: 12, 13. Striking Facts: Phinehas, v. 11, is pronounced his country's patriot and best friend. To be zealous for Jesus Christ is the best service we can do for the people. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Contents: The new generation of Israel numbered. Characters: God, Moses, Eleazar, Caleb, Joshua. Page Thirty-Six NUMBERS Conclusion: God is faithful to His threatenings as well as to His promises. Millions may fall to the ground, but His Word cannot fall. Key Word: Numbered, v. 64. Strong Verses: 64, 65. Striking Facts: v. 65. (Save Caleb and Joshua). The arrows of death, though they fly in the dark, do not fly at random but are directed to the mark intended, and no other. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN Contents: The law of inheritance. Joshua appointed Moses' successor. Characters: God, Moses, Eleazar, daughters of Zehophehad, Joshua. Conclusion: The minister of Christ should concern himself in his prayers and endeavors for the rising generation, that work may flourish and the inter- est of the kingdom be maintained and advanced after he is gone. Key Word: Appointment (set over), v. 16. Strong Verses: 16, 17. Striking Facts: Moses' attitude to his successor confirms his character as the meekest man on earth. He thought not for the advancement of his own family but yielded gladly to God's will in the matter. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT Contents: The order of offerings. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: God asks of all His children continual offerings, v. 3, which intim- ates that we are to "pray without ceasing" on the ground of Christ's sacrifice, and at least, every morning and evening, v. 4, we are to offer solemn prayer and praise through Christ. Key Word: Offering, v. 2. Strong Verses: 2 CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE Contents: Commands concerning the feast of Trumpets, Feast of Tabernacles, and Day of Atonement. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: We must not seek occasion to abate our zeal in God's service nor be glad of excuses to omit religious duties, but rather rejoice in the many privileges of worship. (Not omitting private worship on days we go to church. Not omitting secret prayer because of family devotions, etc.). Key Word: Convocations, v. 1. Strong Verses: 39. CHAPTER THIRTY Contents: The laws of vows. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: Our promises before God are bonds upon the soul and by them we must conscientiously consider ourselves bound out from all sin and bound up to the whole will of God. Key Word: Vows, v. 2. Strong Verses : 2. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE Contents: The judgment of Midian. Characters: God, Moses, Balaam. Conclusion: Our worst enemies are those that draw us to sin. Over all such enemies there is absolute victory for those who take sides with God against them. Key Word: Avenge, v. 3. Strong Verses: 49. Striking Facts: v. 2. Useful men are often removed when we think they can ill be spared from Christ's service, but it is clear that no one is removed until they have had full opportunity to do that which was appointed them. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO Contents: The choice of the world-borderers. Characters: God, Moses, Caleb, Joshua. Nu* UMBERS Page Thirty-Seven Conclusion: Would we clioose our portion aright we must look above the things which are seen otherwise we will be guided by the lust of the eye and the pride of life. Key Word: Inheritance, v. 19. Strong Verses : 11,12,23. Striking Facts: v. 23. It concerns us to find our sins out that we may forsake them before they find us out to our confusion and ruin. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Contents: Summary of the journey from Egypt to Jordan. Character: God, Moses, Aaron. Conclusion: It is good for believers to preserve in writing an account of the providences of God concerning them, showing the series of mercies they have experienced, that deceitful memories might be helped and ground given for new faith. Key Word: Journeys, v. 1. Strong Verses: 53. Striking Facts: vv. 51, 56. If we do not drive out sin, sin will drive us out. That which we are willing should tempt us will eventually vex us. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR Contents: Preparations to enter the land. Characters: God, Moses, Eleazar, Joshua, prince of each tribe. Conclusion: God sets bounds to our lot; let us therefore set bounds to our desires and bring our minds to our condition. Key Word: Borders, v. 4. Strong Verses: 2. Striking Facts: God gives to Christ's people but a small share of this world. Those who have a portion in heaven have reason to be content with a small pittance of earth. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE Contents: The cities of refuge. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: God would teach us to conceive a dread and horror of the guilt of blood and to be very careful of life, lest even by negligence we occasion the death of any. (This is taught by confinement to the city of refuge, of those who killed even by accident.) Key Word: Refuge, v. 6. Strong Verses: 12, 30. Striking Facts: Christ is the believer's refuge. In Him we are protected from the wrath of God and the curse of the law. Heb. 6:18; Phil. 3:9. Wilful murder is to be punished with death and no commutation of the punishment was to be accepted. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX Contents: Regulations concerning inheritance. Characters: God, Moses, heads of families, Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, Noah. Conclusion: It is the wisdom of those who have estates in this world to settle them and dispose of them so that strife and contention shall not arise about them among their posterity. Key Word: Inheritances, v. 2. Strong Verses: 7. Striking Facts: Daughters can but marry well and to their satisfaction when they have looked to Christ to direct their choice of a husband. Page Thirty-Eight BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY DEUTERONOMY Key Thought: Obedience Number of Chapters : 34 Key Verse: Christ seen as: 10:12, 13 Prophet like Moses Writer of the Book: Moses Date: About 1500 B. C. Conclusion of the Book: Obedience to God is Im- perative. SUMMARY CHAPTER ONE Contents: Review of the failure at Kadesh-barnea. Characters: God, Moses, Caleb, Joshua. Conclusion: A sad pass it has come to with us when the God of eternal truth cannot be believed. All disobedience to His laws and forgetfulness of His power and goodness flow from disbelief in His Word. Key Word: Unbelief, v. 32. Strong Verses: 17, 21, 30. Striking Facts: Deuteronomy signifies "second law" or second edition, not with amendments, for there need be none, but with additions for further directions in divers cases not mentioned before. CHAPTER TWO Contents: The wanderings and conflicts in the wilderness. Characters: God, Moses, Sihon. Conclusion: It is a work of time to make souls meet for the heavenly Canaan and it must be done by many a long train of experiences. Key Word: Journeys, v. 1. Strong Verses: 7. Striking Facts: vv. 25, 36. Those who meddle with the people of Christ do it to their own hurt for God often ruins the enemies of His people by their own resolves. CHAPTER THREE Contents: Further review of journeyings. Characters: God, Moses, Og, Joshua. Conclusion: That cause cannot but be victorious for which the Lord of Hosts fights. "If God be for us who can be against us?" Key Word: Conquest, v. 22. Strong Verses: 22,24. Striking Facts: vv. 25, 27. If God does not by His providence give us what we desire, He can, by His grace in Jesus Christ, make us content with it. Be satisfied with this Christ is all-sufficient. CHAPTER FOUR Contents: The new generations taught the lessons of Sinai. Cities of refuge designated. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: The review of God's providences concerning us should quicken us and engage us to duty and obedience. KeyWord: Keep (Obedience), v. 2. Strong Verses: 2, 6, 9, 23, 24, 39. Striking Facts: vv. 25, 31. Moses forsees the Jewish apostasy and consequent scattering. Those nations that cast off the duties of religion in their prosperity cannot expect the comforts of it when they come to be in distress. CHAPTER FIVE Contents: New generations taught the Mosaic covenant. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: Many have their consciences startled by the Law, who are not DEUTERONOMY Page Thirty-Nine purified (v. 29). Promises are made but the good principles are not rooted in them. Oh, to be sincere in our covenant with God. Key Word: Covenant, v. 2. Strong Verses: 6, 29, 33. Striking Facts: v. 5. Moses stood between. Herein he is a type of Christ who stands between God and man, as the true mediator, so that we both hear from God and speak to Him without trembling. CHAPTER SIX Contents: Israel exhorted to observe all God's commandments. Characters: God, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Pharoah. Conclusion: The fear of God in the heart is the most powerful principle of obedience (v. 2, 5, etc.). Key Word: Observe, v. 3. Strong Verses: 3, 5, 7. Striking Facts: Those who love the Lord Jesus Christ themselves should do all they can to engage the affections of their children to Him, to prevent the religion of the family from being cut off. CHAPTER SEVEN Contents: Command to be separate people and to destroy opposing nations. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: Those who are taken into communion with God must have no communication with the unfruitful works of darkness. Key Word: Chosen, v. 6. Strong Verses: 6, 9. Striking Facts: The destruction of enemies furnishes an illustration of the Christian conflict. We are commanded not to let sin reign, nor to ctmnten- ance it, but to hate it and strive against it. God has promised it shall not have dominion over us. Rom. 6:12, 14. CHAPTER EIGHT Contents: Israel reminded of God's gracious past dealings and warned to walk in His Way. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: It is good for us to remember all the ways both of God's pro- vidences and grace by which He has led us hitherto through this wilder- ness, that we may be prevailed with cheerfully to serve Him and trust Him. Key Word: Remember, v. 2. Strong Verses: 2, 5, 11. Striking Facts: v. 4. Those who follow the Lord Jesus have the promise of not only being safe, but easy (Matt. 11:30). If we walk "in his steps," our feet will not swell. It is the "way of the transgressor" that is "hard" (Prov. 13:15). CHAPTER NINE Contents: Israel reminded of their unworthiness to possess the land in them- selves. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. Conclusion: Our gaining of the heavenly Canaan must be attributed to God's power, not our might, and ascribed to His grace, not our merit. In Christ we have both righteousness and strength in Him therefore we must glory, and not in ourselves. Gal. 6:14. Key Word: Remember, v. 7 (stubbornness, v. 27). Strong Verses: 4. Striking Facts: It is good often to review the records conscience keeps of our past life of sin that we may see how much we are endebted to God's marvelous grace in Jesus Christ, and may humbly own that we never merited anything at God's hand but wrath and the curse. CHAPTER TEN Contents: Further warnings and exhortation and reminders of God's dealings. Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Eleazar. Conclusion: Since we have received so many mercies from God, it becomes us to enquire what returns we shall make to Him. It should certainly Page Forty DEUTERONOMY cause us to devote our lives to His honor and to lay ourselves out to advance the interest of His kingdom. Key Word: Commandments, v. 13. Strong Verses: 12,17,21. Striking Facts: vv. 10, 11. Moses, Israel's intercessor, had the conduct and command of Israel. Herein he was a type of Christ, who ever lives to make intercession and who has all power in heaven and earth. CHAPTER ELEVEN Contents: Warnings and exhortations to obedience. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: The closer dependence we have had on God, the more cheerful should be our obedience to Him. In absolute obedience to Him is strength and true success. Key Word: Obey, v. 27. Strong Verses: 8, 16, 26 Striking Facts: v. 12. The Bible magnifies the land of Canaan above all others. God's eyes are. still upon it for it is the center of much unfulfilled prophecy. CHAPTER TWELVE Contents: Statements of conditions of blessing in the land. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: We must not think that our religion is only for our years of servitude or our entertainment in the place of solitude, or our consola- tion in affliction. We must keep up devout worship in our Canaan experi- ences as well as our wilderness experiences. Key Word: Observe, vv. 1, 28, 32. Strong Verses: 32. Striking Facts: The one precept pressed harder than any other by Moses is in regard to the necessity of bringing the sacrifice to one altar at the court of the tabernacle and there to perform all rituals. We are to offer up all spiritual sacrifices to God in the name of Jesus Christ, hoping for acceptance only on the ground of His mediation. 1 Pet. 2:5. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Contents: The test of false prophets. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: "Though we or an angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed," Gal. 1:8. We are to be on our guard against imposition and lying wonders. Key Word: Dreamers, v. 5. Strong Verses: 4. Striking Facts: Observe in v. 3 etc., that they were warned not even to patiently listen to false teachers and dreamers, but to instantly reject it with disdain as unscriptural. See Rom. 16:17, 18; 2 Tim. 3:5; 2 John 10. CHAPTER FOURTEEN Contents: Dietary laws. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: 1 Tim. 4:3-5. Key Word: Eating, v. 3. Strong Verses: 2. Striking Facts: It is plain that the precepts concerning food belonged only to the Jews and were not moral or of perpetual use because of not uni- versal obligation. What they might not eat themselves they might give to a stranger or a proselyte who had renounced idolatry or they might sell to an alien. It was evidently intended to keep them from mingling with and conforming themselves to idolatrous neighbors. CHAPTER FIFTEEN Contents: Laws concerning Sabbatic year and bondservants. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: That we who have received in abundance from God should be rig- orous and severe in our demands from poor brethren, is displeasing to DEUTERONOMY Page Forty-One God. His tender care of us obliges us to be kind to those who have a dependence upon us. Key Word: Release, v. 1. Strong Verses: 6, 7, 8, 10. Striking Facts: The year of release typifies the grace of the Gospel in which is proclaimed the acceptable year of the Lord, by which we obtain the release of our debts, the pardon of our sins, teaching us to forgive others as we have been forgiven. CHAPTER SIXTEEN Contents: Laws concerning annual feasts. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: By frequent and regular meeting to worship God at appointed places and by recognized rules, we are kept faithful and constant in that holy religion which Christ has established among us. Key Word: Feasts, v. 10. Strong Verses: 17. Striking Facts: See 1 Cor. 5:7. We are to keep this feast in holy conversa- tion, free from the leaven of malice and hyprocisy and with the unleavened bread of sincerity and love. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Contents: Laws concerning idolaters and obedience to authority and kings. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: God would possess men with a dread of that sin worshipping false gods which is a sin in itself exceedingly heinous and the highest affront that can be offered to Almighty God. Key Word: Transgressing, v. 2. Strong Verses: 18, 19, 20. Striking Facts: v. 1. Old testaments sacrifices were required to be perfect because types of Christ, 1 Pet. 1:19, who was perfectly pure from all sin and ail appearances of it. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Contents: Laws concerning Levites, idolatrous practices and prophets. Characters: God, Moses, Christ. Conclusion: God has made Himself known to men through One above all prophets (Acts 3:22, 7:37; John 6:14). Hear ye Him. Key Word: Prophet, v. 15. Strong Verses: 15, 18. Striking Facts: vv. 9-14. Let those who give heed to fortune tellers or run to wizards for the discovery of things secret, that use spells for cures, are in league with familiar spirits or fellowship with those who are know that they have no fellowship with God, but with demons. CHAPTER NINETEEN Contents: Cities of refuge; landmarks, witnesses. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: God would possess men with a great horror and dread of the sin of killing another, even by chance. If by willful violence, see 1 John. 3:15. KeyWord: Refuge (cities), v. 2. Strong Verses: 9, 10. Striking Facts: Cities of refuge were located in the center of districts so every corner of the land might have one in reach. Thus Christ is not a refuge at a distance (Rom. 10:8) but brings salvation through the Gospel, to our door. CHAPTER TWENTY Contents: Laws of warfare. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: Those enterprises which we undertake by a divine warrant and prosecute by divine direction, we may expect to succeed in. Those have no reason to fear in the battles of life who have God with them. Key Word: Battle, v. 1. Strong Verses: 1, 4. Page Forty-Two DEUTERONOMY Striking Facts: v. 14. A justifiable property is acquired in that which is won in lawful war. "The Lord thy God gives it thee." Therefore He must be owned in it. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Contents: Inquest for the slain. Domestic regulations. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: We are to have a dread of the guilt of blood, which denies not only the conscience of the murderer but the land in which it is shed. When we hear of the wickedness of the wicked, we have need to cry earn- estly for mercy for our land which groans and trembles under it. Key Word: Guilt, v. 9 (wife, 10-17), rebellious son, (18-23). Strong Verses: 8. Striking Facts: vv. 18-23. Those who are bad members of families never make good members of the commonwealth. v. 23. Cf. Gal. 3:13; John 19:31. Christ underwent the curse of the law for us and was exposed to shame for us. In the evening, He was taken down, in token that now the law was satisfied. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Contents: Law of brotherhood, separation, unchaste wives and husbands. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: Christianity teaches us to be neighborly and to be ready to do all good offices as we have opportunity, to all men. Chastity should be as dear to us as our lives. Key Word: Brotherly, v. 1, (whoredom, v. 21). Strong Verses: 4. Striking Facts: v. 25. We shall suffer for the wickedness we do, not for that which is done to us. That is not sin which has not more or less of the will in it. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Contents: Divers regulations. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: We must take care to keep the camp of the saints pure from moral, ceremonial and natural pollution. Key Word: Holy, v. 14. Strong Verses: 9, 14. Striking Facts: Outward cleanliness is a reverence of the divine Majesty. Filthiness is offensive to the senses God has endued us with, is a wrong to human life and an evidence of slothful temper of mind. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Contents: Law concerning divorce; miscellaneous regulations. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: It is of great consequence that love be kept up between husband and wife and that everything be carefully avoided which would estrange them. The changes made by discontent often prove for the worst. Key Word: Divorce, v. 1. Strong Verses: 22. Striking Facts: The creditor who cares not though his debtor and his family starve, nor is at all concerned what becomes of them so he gets his money, goes contrary to both the law of Moses and of Christ. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE Contents: Divers regulations. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: Justice and equity will bring down upon us the blessing of God. Those who do unrighteously are an abomination to the Liord and miser- able is the man who is distasteful to his God. KeyWord: Abominations, v. 16. Strong Verses: 16. Striking Facts: v. 3. See 2 Cor. 11:24. They always gave Paul as many stripes as ever they gave to any malefactor whatsoever. DEUTERONOMY Page Forty-Three CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Contents: Law of the offering of the firstfruits. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: We are to acknowledge God as giver of all good things which are the support and comfort of our natural lives and are therefore to give to God the first and best as those who believe Him to be the firs! and best. Key Word: Firstfruits, v. 10. Strong Verses: 10, 18. Striking Facts: It is fitting that God who gives us all we have should by His Word direct the using of it and though we are not now bound by the tithing laws, we are commanded to give of such things as we have and to lay by in store as we are prospered, for the furtherance of Christ's work. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN Contents: The blessing and cursing from Mt. Ebal and Gerizim. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: We are all compelled to say Amen to the law of God, owning our- selves justly under its curse and that we must certainly have perished had not Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. Key Word: Law, v. 8. Strong Verses: 9, 10. Striking Facts: v. 5. Christ, our altar, is a stone cut out without hands (Dan. 2:34, 35) refused by the builders but accepted of God and made the head- stone of the corner. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT Contents: Conditions of blessing in the land and causes of chastisement. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: If we do not delight in God's will, we not only come short of the blessing promised but lay ourselves under chastisement, which is as com- prehensive of all misery as His blessings are of all happiness. Key Word: Obedience (keep commandments), v. 1. Strong Verses: 2, 58. Striking Facts: vv. 64, 65. Remarkably fulfilled in the present dispersion of the Jews. They have, through the centuries been continually on the move, either in hope of gain or in fear of persecution and so will continue until the King comes and they are restored by Him to the promised land. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE Contents: Introductory words to the Palestinian covenant. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: We are bound in gratitude as well as duty and faithfulness to keep the words of the solemn covenant of God, through Christ. Key Word: Covenant, v. 1. Strong Verses : 9,29. Striking Facts: Moses concludes the prophecy of the Jews rejection, v. 29, as Paul concludes his discourse on the same subject. Rom. 11:33. God has kept back no truth that it is profitable for us to know about His counsels, but only that which it is good for us to be ignorant of. Content CHAPTER THIRTY its: The Palestinian covenant declared. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: Those shall have life who choose it. Those who come short of life and happiness must thank themselves. They would have had it, had they chosen communion with God. Key Word: Choice, v. 19. Strong Verses: 15, 19. Striking Facts: Israel has never yet taken the land under the unconditional Abrahamic covenant, nor ever possessed the whole land promised. Gen. 15:18; Num. 34:1-12. The covenant awaits the coming of the King for its fulfillment. Page Forty-Four DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE Contents: Moses' last counsel to the priests and instruction to the Levites. Warning of Israelitish apostasy. Characters: God, Moses, Joshua. Conclusion: It is a great encouragement to God's people that in the place of some useful instrument of His whom He removes, He raises up others to carry on His work. Key Word: Counsel, (spake these words) v. 1. Strong Verses: 6, 8. Striking Facts: v. 16. God has infallible foresight of all the wickedness of the wicked. How often He has conferred His favors upon those whom He knew would deal treacherously and ungratefully. "How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out." CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO Contents: The song and exhortation of Moses. Characters: God, Moses, Joshua. Conclusion: The warning and consoling words of God sent down from heaven should sink into our hearts and soften them as the rain softens the earth, so make us fruitful in obedience. Key Word: Doctrine, v. 2. (He gave a song of praise, Ex. 15, but this is one of instruction) . Strong Verses: 4, 29, 43. Striking Facts: vv. 49, 52. Those may die happily whenever God calls them, who have had a believing prospect through Christ and a foregleam of the heavenly Canaan as a well grounded hope of life beyond death. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Contents: Moses' blessing upon the tribes. Characters: God, Moses. Conclusion: It is a very desirable thing to have an interest in the prayers of those who are about to depart for heaven. Key Word: Blessing, v. 1. Strong Verses: 25, 27. Striking Facts: Thrice happy is the people whose God is the Lord. They are in His hand, v. 3; at His feet, v. 3; at His side, v. 12; between His shoulders, v. 12; in His arms, v. 27; behind His shield, v. 29, and fitted with His sword, v. 29. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR Contents: Vision and death of Moses. Characters: God, Moses, Joshua. Conclusion: Those may leave this world with cheerfulness who have known God face to face through His Son, and who have had the vision of the heavenly Canaan in their eye. Key Word: Death, v. 5. Strong Verses: 10. Striking Facts: It was reserved for Joshua (the Lord Jesus of whom Joshua was a striking type) to do for us that which the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh. Through Him we are led into the land of rest the rest of conscience and the rest of heaven. We leave Moses, the great law giver, buried in the plains of Moab. We leave our Saviour, who came to fulfill the law, and bear for us its curse, seated at the right hand of God on high, awaiting the hour of His return, when of the increase and peace of His government, there shall be no end. JOOK OF JOSHUA Page Forty-Five Key Thought: Possessions JOSHUA Number of Chapters: 24 Key Verse: Christ seen as: 1 : 3 Capt. of Lord's Hosts Writer of the Book: Joshua Date: About 1425 B. C. Conclusion of the Book: The faithfulness of Je- hovah to His own has been fully demonstrated. SUMMARY CHAPTER ONE Contents: Joshua's commission and command. Characters: God, Moses, Joshua. Conclusion: Those who make the Word of God their rule and conscientiously walk by that rule will both do well and make great progress. We will be animated and emboldened for God's work as we keep our eyes upon the divine warrant. Key Word: Strong, vv. 6, 7, 9, 18. Strong Verses: 8, 9. Striking Facts: Joshua, type of Christ as Captain of our Salvation. 2:10, 11. He comes after Moses, John 1:17. 8:37. Our Advocate when we have met defeat, portions, Eph. 1:11, 14. Heb. Leads to victory, Rom. 1 John 2:1. Allots our CHAPTER TWO Contents: Rahab and the Jericho spies. Characters: Joshua, two spies, Rahab, king of Jericho. Conclusion: Let not God's people be afraid of their most powerful enemies, for their God can, when He pleases make their worst enemies afraid of them. ey Word: Spies, v. 1. Strong Verses: 18, 24. Striking Facts: v. 21. Rahab's scarlet line speaks, by its color, of the safety that comes to our households through the sacrifice of Christ if it be exhibited by faith in the believer. Heb. 9:19, 22. CHAPTER THREE Contents: The passing of Jordan. Characters: God, Joshua, priests. Conclusion: The believer is to go on in the way of duty, though foreseeing great difficulties, depending on the divine sufficiency for that which he finds himself not sufficient for. "Is anything too hard for Jehovah?" Key Word: Pass-over, v. 6. Strong Verses: 5, 17. Striking Facts: The passing of the Jordan is a type of the believer's death with Christ (Rom. 6:6-11; Eph. 2:5, 6; Col. 3:1-3) in which we pass from an old world into a newness of life. Conte CHAPTER FOUR ntents: The memorial stone. Characters: God, Joshua, priests, 12 men. Conclusion: God's works of wonder on our behalf ought to be kept in ever- lasting memory and means devised for preserving our memory of them. Key Word: Memorial, v. 7. Itrong Verses: 22, 24. triking Facts: The Lord Jesus, our Joshua, passed through the Jordan of death, opening the Kingdom to all believers. He appointed his twelve apostles according to the tribes of Israel by the memorial of the Gospel to transmit the knowledge of this to the remote places and to the future Page Forty-Six JOSHUA CHAPTER FIVE Contents: Reproach of Egypt rolled away. New food for the new place. The unseen captain. Characters: God, Joshua, Christ. Conclusion: (Circumcision, the seal of the covenant in their flesh, was neglected in the wilderness wanderings. They were hereby owned as freeborn children of God, the reproach of the bondage in Egypt being removed.) God is jealous for the honor of His people and is ready to roll away whatever reproach they may for a time lie under, if they become "circum- cised in heart." Key Word: Reproach (rolled away), 9. Strong Verses: 14, 15. Striking Facts: The N. T. uncircumcision is world conformity, the failure openly to take a believer's place with Christ in death and resurrection. Gal. 6:14-16; Rom. 6:2-11. CHAPTER SIX Contents: Conquest of Jericho. Characters: God, Joshua, priests, Rahab, 2 spies. Conclusion: The victories of faith are often to be won by means, and upon principles utterly foolish and inadequate in the view of human wisdom. If faith is obedient to God's precepts, He will certainly confound the mighty with the weak things. Key Word: Pall (of Jericho), v. 5. Strong Verses: 16, 27. Striking Facts: By the foolishness of preaching, fitly compared to the sound- ing of the ram's horns, the devil's kingdom is thrown down and the weapons of our warfare, though not carnal, nor seeming to a carnal eye able to accomplish anything, are yet mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strongholds. 2 Cor. 10:4, 5. CHAPTER SEVEN Contents: Sin of Achan and the defeat at Ai. Characters: God, Joshua, Achan. Conclusion: Let all men know that it is nothing but sin that separates them from God and if it be not sincerely repented of and put away, will bring disaster, not only upon themselves, but those associated with them. Key Word: Accursed, v. 13. Strong Verses: 12, 13, 19. Striking Facts: The story illustrates the truth of the oneness of the church in Christ. 1 Cor. 5:1-7; 12:12, 14, 26. The whole cause of Christ is injured by the unspirituality of one believer. CHAPTER EIGHT Contents: Conquest of Ai. The blessings and cursing of Ebal. Characters: God, Joshua, king of Ai. Conclusion: The believer, clad in the whole armor of God, meeting the enemy of God as God directs, will see the scale easily and quickly turned against those who have not God on their side. Key Word: Victory (took the city), v. 19. Strong Verses: 26, 35. Striking Facts: Achan, caught with forbidden spoil, lost it, his life and all. The people who had conscientiously refrained from the accursed Thing were given the spoil of Ai. The way to have the comfort of what God allows us through Christ is to forbear what He forbids us. CHAPTER NINE Contents: The league with the Gibeonites. Characters: God, Joshua, ambassadors of the Gibeonites. Conclusion: We make more haste than good progress in any business when we do not stop to take God along with us and by the Word and prayer to ascertain His will. Key Word: League, v. 15. Strong Verses: 14, 25. JOSHUA Page Forty-Seven Striking Facts: vv. 4, 5, 12, 13. God's people have often been deceived and imposed upon with a show of antiquity. Those who will be caught with the Gibeonitish strategem prove that they have not consulted God. CHAPTER TEN Contents: Victory at Gibeon, Makkedah, etc. Sun's action halted. Characters: God, Joshua, Adonizedek, king of Makkedah. Conclusion: When enemies set themselves in array against us and threaten to swallow us up, we may by faith and prayer, apply to Christ, our Joshua, for strength and succor and will assuredly receive the answer of victory and faith. Key Word: Delivered, vv. 8, 30, 32. Strong Verses: 8, 14, 25. Striking Facts: v. 25. A figure of Christ's victories over the powers of dark- ness and the believer's victories through Him. All enemies shall be made His footstool. Psa. 110:1. All things will be put under Him, Heb. 2:8, and principalities and powers made a show of. Col. 2:15. v. 12. Astronomy demands this day and histories of several countries declare it took place. Astronomical calculations have shown a period of 23 1/3 hours to be accounted for somewhere in this period of time, v. 13. (About a whole day). See 2 Kings 20:11 ten degrees, 40 min- utes, the exact balance wanted to make up another 24 hours. CHAPTER ELEVEN Contents: Final conquest of Canaan. Characters: God, Joshua, Jabin, Jobab. Conclusion: Those who, through obedience to His precepts, have God on their side, need not be disturbed as to the number and power of their enemies. "More are those that are with us than those that are against us." Key Word: Delivered, vv. 6, 8. Strong Verses: 6, 23. Striking Facts: As Israel, at first forwarded by miracles, and now left to make their own way, so the war carried on against Satan's kingdom was at first advanced by special miracles, but being sufficiently proved by them to be of God, we are now left to the ordinary assistance of divine Grace in Christ in the use of the Sword of the Spirit and need not look for hail- stones nor the standing still of the sun. CHAPTER TWELVE Contents: The roster of the kings of Canaan. Characters: God, Moses, Joshua. Conclusion: Fresh mercies must not drown the remembrance of former mer- cies, nor must the glory of present servants of God be allowed to diminish the honor due those who have gone before them, paving the way for later victories, (v. 6). Key Word: Kings, v. 1. Strong Verses: 6. Striking Facts: vv. 6, 7. The triumphs and grants of the law were glorious but those of the Gospel far exceed in glory. Jesus, the true Joshua, has provided for all the children of promise, spiritual blessings the privilege of His presence and heaven hereafter. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Contents: Joshua instructed concerning the division of the land. Characters: God, Moses, Joshua. Conclusion: All people, and especially old people, should set themselves to do that quickly which must be done before they die, lest death prevent them, vv. 1, 7. Key Word: Divide (the land), v. 7. Strong Verses: 1. Striking Facts: Joshua had the honor of dividing the land as Christ, the true Joshua, who has conquered for us the gates of hell and opened to us the gates of heaven, purchasing an eternal inheritance for all believers, will in due time, have the honor of putting them in possession. Page Forty-Eight . JOSHUA CHAPTER FOURTEEN Contents: Land divided, the portion of Caleb. Characters: God, Joshua, Caleb, Eleazar. Conclusion: Whatever we undertake, God's favorable presence with us is all in all to our success, therefore we should make sure of it by conformity to His will and an eye to His favor, vv. 8, 9. Key Word: Divided (land), v. 5. Strong Verses: 10, 11, 12. Striking Facts: v. 12. Because it was formerly in God's promise, Caleb shows how he values the promise and insists on the mountain the Lord had spoken of. The man of faith values that which is given by promise far above that given by providence only. CHAPTER FIFTEEN Contents: Land divisions; the portion of Judah. Characters: God, Joshua, Caleb, Othniel, Achsah. Conclusion: It is no breach of God's law moderately to desire those comforts and conveniences of life which are attainable in a fair and regular way and will make us more efficient workmen for God. Key Word: Borders. Strong Verses: 19. Striking Facts: v. 10. The blessings of the upper springs illustrate those which relate to our souls, and those of the nether springs speaks of those which relate to the body and the life that now is. CHAPTER SIXTEEN Contents: Land divisions; portions of Manasseh and Ephriam. Characters: None mentioned. Conclusion: It is a brand of failure upon the Christian, when through care- lessness, cowardice or want of faith in God, he fails to drive out the Canaanite (world) as commanded. Coveteousness often brings us into compromise and leads eventually to being infected with the world's idolatry. Key Word: Borders, v. 5. Strong Verses: 10. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Contents: Land divisions; portion for Manasseh. Characters: God, Joshua, Eleazar, Moses, Zoplehad's daughter. Conclusion: (v. 14). Many covet larger possessions who do not cultivate and make the best of what they have. If we would have more talents bestowed upon us, we should trade with those with which we are entrusted. Key Word: Portions, v. 5. Strong Verses: 13, 15, 18. Striking Facts: v. 13. Many Christians try to serve their own ends by conniving with the Canaanites, whom Christ has distinctly commanded must be driven out. To thus court compromise with the world is to court failure. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Contents: Tabernacle set up; apportionment of land to seven tribes. Characters: God, Joshua, three surveyors. Conclusion: Many Christians stand in their own light and forsake their own mercies for the sake of lying vanities. With the title to a good land, given us by the sacrifice of Christ, we must not allow ourselves to be slack in possessing it all, because of seeming difficulties that are in the way. Key Word: Borders, v. 12. Strong Verses: 1, 3. Striking Fact: The setting up of the tabernacle (v. 1) in Shiloh, gives a hint that in the coming Shiloh (Christ) of whom Jacob had spoken, all the ordinances of the worldly sanctuary would have their accomplishment in a greater and more perfect tabernacle. Heb. 9:1, 11. JOSHUA Page Forty-Nine CHAPTER NINETEEN Contents: Land divisions for six more tribes. Characters: God, Joshua, Eleazar. Conclusion: (v. 49. The last served was the eldest and greatest man of Israel). Men in great public places should learn to prefer the common welfare before their own private satisfaction. Key Word: Inheritance, v. 11. Strong Verses: 47, 49. Striking Facts: v. 10. Within the lot of Zebulun were places made illustrious in the N. T. Within it was Nazareth where the Saviour spent so much of His time and mount Tabor on which He was transfigured and the coast of the Sea of Galilee on which He preached so many sermons and wrought so many miracles. CHAPTER TWENTY Contents: Cities of refuge. Characters: God, Joshua. Conclusion: Other refuge have we none, in any 'trouble, save Him in whom our trust is stayed. Key Word: Refuge, v. 2. Strong Verses: 9. Striking Facts: Cities of refuge typify the relief which the Gospel provides for poor, penitent sinners and their protection from the curse of the law and the wrath of God, in our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom believers flee for refuge. Heb. 6:18. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Contents: Land divisions; portions for Levites. Characters: God, Joshua. Conclusion: God performs His promises to the utmost (v. 45) and if in any- thing the promise seems to come short, the saint must confess that upon himself rests all the blame. Key Word: Inheritance, v. 3. Strong Verses: 44, 45. Striking Facts: There is an inheritance provided for all the saints, God's royal, priesthood (Levites) for which they must petition through the true Joshua, Christ who has said, "Ask, and it shall be given you." CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Contents: Two and a half tribes dismissed to their homes. Altar of Reuben and Gad. Characters: God, Joshua, Phinehas. Conclusion: Unhappy strifes will be prevented or soon healed by an impartial and favorable inquiry into that which is the matter of the offense. God, does, and men MUST often overlook the weakness of an honest zeal. Key Word: Witness, v. 27. Strong Verses: 5, 18, 29. Striking Facts: v. 28. Those who have found the benefits of God's ordinances cannot but desire to perpetuate them upon their children and use all precaution lest their children cease from following the Lord Jesus. To this end the believer should set up a constant witness of Christ in the home. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Contents: Last counsels of Joshua. Characters: Gpd, Joshua. Conclusion: As all good things come upon the believer according to the promise, so long as we have kept close to God, so all evil things will befall, according to His threatenings, if we forsake Him. Key Word: Counsel (said unto them), v. 2. Strong Verses: 3, 6, 8, 10, 14. Striking Facts: v. 16. The goodness of the heavenly Canaan and the thought Page Fifty JOSHUA of the possession they might have had, will aggravate the misery of those who shall be shut out from that which they might have enjoyed through God's free grace in Christ. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Contents: Last charge of Joshua and his death. Eleazar's death. Characters: God, Joshua, Eleazar. Conclusion: v. 15. It is the will of God that all should make religion their serious and deliberate choice and to resolve upon a life of godliness because upon honest investigation, it is found to be the best way. Key Word: Counsel, v. 2. Strong Verses: 15, 16, 20, 24. Striking Facts: The book which began with triumphs here ends with funerals by which all the glory of man is stained. BOOK OF JUDGES P^gc Fifty-One JUDGES Key Thought: Number of Chapters: Key Verse: Christ seen as: Failure 21 21:25 Messenger of Jehovah Writer of the Book: Date: Conclusion of the Book: Man is prone to wander from God. God's grace Samuel About 1410 B. C. ever pursues and seeks to restore the backslid- er. SUMMARY CHAPTER ONE Contents: The incomplete victories of Judah, Benjamin and Manasseh. Characters: God, Judah, Simeon, Adoni-bezek, Caleb, Achsah, Othniel. Conclusion: God appoints service according to the strength He has given (v. 2) but distrust of His power and promise, lose for us our advantages and run us into a thousand troubles. KeyWord: Partial victory, (vv. 19, 21, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33). Strong Verses: 2, 7. Striking Facts: v. 2. Judah was the tribe out of which the Saviour sprang. Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, engaged the powers of darkness and in Him we are more than conquerors. CHAPTER TWO Contents: Review of Israelitish invasion of Canaan up to Joshua's death. Results of incomplete obedience. Judges instituted. Characters: God, angel of Jehovah (Jesus) Joshua. Conclusion: God never designed defeat for His own; let them be faithful to Him and they will find Him unchangeably constant to them. His coven- ants never break except on our side. Key Word: Sold, v. 14. Strong Verses: 18, 20, 21. Striking Facts: The Angel of Jehovah, v. 1, was none other than Christ Him- self. He seemed to come up from Gilgal, the place where their covenant had been renewed, of which they would be reminded. The remembrance of what we have received and heard from God, prepares us for special mes- sages from Christ to hold fast. (Rev. 3:2, 3). CHAPTER THREE Contents: Apostasies of Israel. Deliverances through Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar. Characters: God, Othniel, Chushan-rishathian, Eglou, Ehud, Shamgar. Conclusion: Man's memory is treacherous in that it easily forgets God and he must be repeatedly tested that God might be kept in sight. It often takes affliction to make him cry to God with importunity, when before he would scarcely think of Jehovah. A deliverer is always ready to answer the prayer of a contrite heart. Key Word: Proved (tested), vv. 1, 4. Strong Verses : 9,15. Striking Facts: vv. 1, 2. War is sometimes God's will. When a country is exceedingly rich and fruitful, abounding with dainties of all sorts, if the people are not sometimes brought to know hardship, they are in danger of sinking into the utmost degree of luxury and effeminacy. CHAPTER FOUR Contents: Victories of Deborah and Barak. Characters: God, Jabin, Deborah, Barak, Sisera, Jael. Conclusion: Those who slight God in their prosperity, will find themselves under a necessity of crying mightily to Him when they are in trouble. He Page Fifty-Two JUDGES is faithful in spite of our unfaithfulness, and when we sincerely turn to Him, He will give the victory. Key Word: Prevailed, v. 24. Strong Verses: 14. Striking Facts: It is a sure mark of apostasy in a nation when a woman is found in the place of leadership. CHAPTER FIVE Contents: Song of Deborah and Barak. Characters: God, Deborah, Barak, Jael, Sisera, Shamgar. Conclusion: When we have received mercy from God, we should be speedy in our returns of praise while the impressions of the mercy are fresh. Song is a good expedient for perpetuating the memory of God's special favors. Key Word: Song of praise, vv. 2, 12. Strong Verses: 31. Striking Facts: v. 20. "Stars fought" the elements were against Sisera. Those to whom God is an enemy because of rejection of His Son and His Gospel are at war with the whole creation. CHAPTER SIX Contents: More apostasy in Israel. Call of Gideon. Characters: God, Angel of Jehovah (Jesus), Holy Spirit, Gideon, prophet, Joash. Conclusion: In times of apostasy, God often calls His mightiest servants from places of obscurity, and inspiring them with the assurance of the divine presence, He works through them great deliverances for His people. Key Word: Valour, v. 12, (in God's hands). Strong Verses: 34. Striking Facts: v. 24. Jehovah-shalom (God our peace). See Eph. 6:15. The peace of God, found alone in Christ who "is our peace," is the only preparation for intense conflict. In the midst of strife, one who has Christ for his peace, may be possessed of perfect tranquility within. If the Christian is called to battle, let him set up the altar of Jehovah-Shalom. CHAPTER SEVEN Contents: Gideon's three hundred and the victory over Midian and Amalek. Characters: God, Gideon, Phurah, Oreb, Zeeb. Conclusion: God wants prepared men to fight God's battles with God's wea- pons in God's way. A Christian's unfitness for the battle is often seen in the unconscious and trifling acts of his life, which betray his utter lack of faith, (v. 5). Key Word: Victory, v. 15. Strong Verses: 2, 7. Striking Facts: Empty pitchers (v. 16) type of earthly body, emptied of self (2 Cor. 4:7) but filled with God's Word, the lamp (Psa. 119:105). The pitcher was not to be spared in the advance, and the lamp was to be held forth (v. 20 Phil. 2:16). With the trumpet, the tidings of victory were sounded (Mark 16:15). CHAPTER EIGHT Contents: Jealousy of Ephriam. Events to the death of Gideon. Apostasy. Characters: God, Gideon, Zebah, Zalmunna, Abimelech, Jerubbaal, Jether. Conclusion: Many are led into false ways by one false step of a good man (v. 27). False worship soon makes way for false deities. KeyWord: Snare, v. 27 (whoring, 27,33). Strong Verses: 23, 34. Striking Facts: v. 22. The Lord Jesus has delivered us out of the hands of our dangerous spiritual enemies, and it is fitting that He should rule over us. See Luke 1:24, 25. CHAPTER NINE Contents: Conspiracy of Abimelech. Characters: God, Abimelech, Jerubbaal, Jocham, Gaal, Zebul. Conclusion: Evil pursues sinners and sometimes overtakes them when they JUDGES Page Fifty-Three are apparently triumphant. The mighty things of the world may be con- founded by the weakest, if God so wills. Key Word: Vengeance, vv. 24, 56. Strong Verses: 56. CHAPTER TEN Contents: Further apostasy; servitude to Philistines and Amorites. Characters: God, Tola, Jair. Conclusion: The pleasures of sense, the gods of this world, cannot be our satisfaction (v. 14). True happiness and safety are only in God, to whom a true penitent will refer himself for correction as God may see fit, owning that his sin is highly malignant in its deserts (v. 10). Key Word: Vexed, oppressed, v. 8. Strong Verses: 10, 14, 16. CHAPTER ELEVEN Contents: Jeptha's awful vow and the victory over the Ammorites. Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Jeptha, his daughter. Conclusion: A Christian in the hands of the Spirit is assured of success in the undertaking to which God has called him. v. 29. KeyWord: Subdued (enemy), v. 33. Strong Verses: 35, 36. Striking Facts: v. 30. One should be cautious and well advised in the making of vows, lest by indulging a present emotion even of pious zeal, they involve themselves in a great mistake. Jeptha's sacrifice is a figure of the great sacrifice of Christ. The daugh- ter was a chaste sacrifice, devoted to death by the father and so made a curse. She submitted after a period of agony, to her father's will. CHAPTER TWELVE Contents: Second jealousy of Ephriam. Characters: God, Jeptha, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon. Conclusion: Proud men think all the honors wasted that they themselves did not win. Envy brings serious contentions in the ranks of those who should be as one to fight God's battles. He who rolls the stone of reproach unjustly upon another, let him expect that it will justly return upon himself. Key Word: Envy, v. 1. Strong Verses: 3. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Contents: Parents of Samson and Samson's birth. Characters: God, Angel (Jesus), Holy Spirit, Manoah. Conclusion: A promise is given to try our faith and a precept to try our obedience for God requires both faith and obedience from those on whom He would bestow special favors. (It is desirable that our children be devoted to God even before their birth.) Key Word: Conceive, 3, 24. Strong Verses: 18, 23. Striking Facts: v. 18. "Secret" is lit. "Wonderful," the name applied to Christ in Isa. 9:6. v. 22 declares they were face to face with God who is I manifested only in His Son. As the flame ascended from the altar He ascended. We owe the acceptance of all our praises and prayers to His mediation. It is Christ in our hearts by faith that makes our offering a sweet smelling savour. CHAPTER FOURTEEN Page Fifty-Four JUDGES (God often overrules our mistakes to take occasion against the enemies of His Truth). Key Word: Wife, v. 2. Strong Verses : 6,19. Striking Facts: When God, by His providences, brings good out of evil to the followers of Christ when that which has threatened their ruin turns to their advantage and the wrath of men turns to His praise then comes meat out of the eater and sweetness out of the strong. CHAPTER FIFTEEN Contents: Samson takes vengeance on the Philistines. Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Samson, his family and friends. Conclusion: There is nothing too hard or too much for him to do on whom the Holy Spirit comes in power, even though there are only the most contemptible instruments at hand with which to work (foxes, jawbone). Key Word: Avenged, v. 7. Strong Verses: 16, 18. Striking Facts: In the bursting of Samson's bands, we find an illustration of the way the Lord Jesus was loosed from the cords of death and came forth from the tomb and graveclothes. Thus, He triumphed over the powers of darkness that shouted against Him. CHAPTER SIXTEEN Contents: Samson and Delilah; his fatal error and his death. Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Samson, Delilah. Conclusion: Beware of Satan who ruins men by rocking them to sleep, nat- tering them into a good opinion of their own safety, then robbing them of their strength and honor, leading them captive at his will. (God often leaves men to do foolish things to punish them for indulging in the lusts of uncleanness.) Key Word: Strength, v. 6, (departed, v. 20). Strong Verses: 20, 28. Striking Facts: Samson's strength was not in his hair but in his Nazarite consecration, of which his long hair was but a badge. By losing the badge, he forfeited the strength. What was real in Samson was his great faith in times of awful apostasy and God honored this faith. Heb. 11:32. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Contents: Micah's worship in self will. Characters: Micah, his mother, a Levite. Conclusion: The love of money makes much mischief; destroys the duty and comfort of every relation and frequently leads to the setting up of a false worship. Key Word: Graven image, v. 3. Strong Verses: 6. Striking Facts: v. 13. Apostates who please themselves with their own delusions infer, if providence brings anything to their hands that helps them in their way, that God is pleased with them. With all false worship there is usually an exaltation of false priesthood, usurping the place of Christ. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Contents: The Danite invasion. Civil and religious confusion. Characters: Micah, Jonathan, priests. Conclusion: Many seek to justify themselves in their idolatrous impiety by the prosperity that seemingly attends them, not knowing that many are brought to destruction by their false security and that departing from the revealed will of God concerning worship is a dangerous move for a people to make. Key Word: Seeking inheritance, v. 1. Strong Verses: 9, 10. Striking Facts: v. 24. An excellent definition of idolatry. Anything put in place of God, which man is concerned about as if life and comfort, hope and happiness were bound up in it, is an idol. JUDGES Page Fifty-Five CHAPTER NINETEEN Contents: The Levite and his concubine. Wickedness of Gibeonites. Characters: Levite, concubine, her father. Conclusion: Because men like not to retain God in their knowledge, God gives them up to vile affection through which they dishonor themselves and turn His glory into shame. Rom. 1:24, 28. Key Word: Abused, 25. Strong Verses: 30. Striking Facts: In the miserable end of this woman, we see the hand of God punishing her for her uncleanness. v. 2. CHAPTER TWENTY Contents: Civil war in which the Benjamites are punished. Characters: God, a Levite, Phinehas. Conclusion: We cannot expect the presence of God with us in our enterprises unless we seek it by humbling ourselves before Him. (v. 26). He is not under obligation to prosper us. Men are often so confident that God owes them His favor because they think their cause a good one, that they think it needless to humble themselves before God in penitence. KeyWord: Vengeance, vv. 9, 28. Strong Verses: 11, 18, 26. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Contents: Mourning for the lost tribe of Benjamin. Characters : God . Conclusion: There may be overdoing in well doing. Great care must be taken in the government of our zeal, for even necessary justice must be ren- dered with compassion. Many a war is ill-ended which was well begun. (2, 6, 13). Key Word: Depleted tribe, vv. 3, 6. Strong Verses: 2, 13. Striking Facts: v. 25. Men should learn to be thankful for magistrates, both supreme and subordinate for they are ministers for God unto us for good. Any government is better than no government or anarchy. Page Fifty-Six BOOK OF RUTH RUTH Key Thought: Number of Chapters: Key Verse: Christ seen as: Kinsman 4 4:14 Kinsman Redeemer Writer of the Book: Date: Conclusion of the Book: True rest comes only Unknown About 1300 B. C. through redemption and union. SUMMARY CHAPTER ONE Contents: Naomi departs from Moab and returns with Ruth to Bethlehem. Characters: God, Naomi, Ruth, Orpah, Elimelech, Mahlon, Chilion. Conclusion: When we take God for our Father we must take His people for our people though they be poor and despised. Those who forsake the com- munion of saints and return to the people of Moab will sooner or later break all communion with God and embrace the idols of Moab. Key Word: Fidelity, v. 17. Strong Verses: 16, 17. Striking Facts: Many have a value and affection for Christ yet come short of salvation by Him because they cannot find it in their hearts to forsake other things and attach themselves to Him. If we resolve that nothing shall separate us from our duty to Christ, we may be sure that nothing can ever separate us from happiness in Him. CHAPTER TWO Contents: Ruth serves Boaz who exercises a great kindness toward her. Characters: God, Ruth, Naomi, Boaz. Conclusion: God wisely orders small events and those that seem altogether contingent serve His own glory and supply the needs of His trusting people. Key Word: Favour, v. 13. Strong Verses: 12,20. Striking Facts: vv. 22, 23. If we would benefit through Christ, we must adhere closely to Him, His fields and His servants. Has the Lord dealt bountifully with us? Let us not be found in any other field seeking happiness and satisfaction in the world. CHAPTER THREE Contents: Ruth rests at the feet of Boaz. Characters: God, Ruth, Boaz, Naomi. Conclusion: The married state should be a state of rest, when wandering affections are fixed in one who is fit, both temporally and spiritually to be a good husband. Key Word: Rest, v. 1. Strong Verses: 10, 11. Striking Facts: The Lord Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer. Through His incarnation He became kin to us as human beings that we, through the Spirit, might become betrothed to Him. CHAPTER FOUR Contents: Ruth finds reward in her marriage to Boaz. Characters: God, Boaz, Ruth, Naomi, kinsman, Obed. Conclusion: Fair and square dealings in all matters of contract and business is what all those must make conscience of who would approve themselves as "Israelites indeed without guile." Key Word: Kinsman redeemer, v. 1. Strong Verses: 14. Striking Facts: At vast expense, our Lord Jesus, the Bethlehemite Redeemer purchased the heavenly inheritance for us which by our sin was mort- gaged and forfeited, and which of ourselves we could never have redeemed. BOOK OF FIRST SAMUEL Page Fifty-Seven I. SAMUEL Key Thought: Number of Chapters: Key Verse: Christ seen as: Kingdom 31 10:25 Seed of David Writer of the Book: Date: Conclusion of the Book: Prayer should have a Uncertain, Samuel, About 1155 B. C. great place in our lives Nathan or Gad that the power of God may work for and through us. SUMMARY CHAPTER ONE Contents: The vow of Hannah and the birth of Samuel. Characters: God, Eli, Elkhanah, Hannah, Samuel, Peninnah. Conclusion: Prayer is heart's ease to a gracious soul. If we seek on the basis of God's glory (v. 11) we shall be confident that we do not seek in vain. Prayer smoothes the countenance (v. 18). Key Word: Bitterness, v. 10. Strong Verses: 17, 27, 28. Striking Facts: True prayer may only be offered on the grounds of the sacri- fice (v. 3). By Christ's offering, not only is atonement made for sin, but the audience and acceptance of our prayers is obtained for us. In all our supplications, we must have an eye to the Great Sacrifice. CHAPTER TWO Contents: Hannah's prophetic prayer. Evil sons of Eli. Samuel in the taber- nacle. The warning to Eli. Characters: God, Hannah, Eli, Samuel, Hophni, Phinehas, Elkanah, a prophet. Conclusion: Nothing is more provoking to God than the profanation of sacred things and men serving their lusts with the offerings of the Lord. Those who allow and countenance their children in an evil way by not using their authority to restrain and punish them, involve themselves in their guilt and may be expected to be cast off from God's service. Key Word: Evil sons, v. 23. Strong Verses: 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 30. Striking Facts: v. 35. This had its full accomplishment in the priesthood of Christ, that faithful High Priest raised up of God when the Levitical priesthood was cast aside, who in all things did His Father's mind, and for whom God builds a sure house, built on a rock so that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. CHAPTER THREE Contents: Samuel becomes Jehovah's prophet-priest. Characters: God, Samuel, Eli. Conclusion: A child may have an ear for God's call; a mind for God's service and a message for God's bidding, for God will not be without a mouthpiece even though the ordained priesthood be deaf to His voice. Key W T ord: Called, v. 4. Strong Verses: 10, 18, 19. Striking Facts: God's ministers must nourish a holy sensitiveness to sacred things, or callousness will lead them to some sin for which God will be compelled to lay them aside, (v. 13). CHAPTER FOUR Contents: Ark taken by Philistines. Characters: God, Eli, Hophni, Phinehas, his wife, Ichabod. Conclusion: One may go forth with a Bible under the arm and a shout upon the lips and yet not have God Himself. Many who have estranged them- selves from the vitals of religion putting their confidence in the rituals of Page Fifty-Eight FIRST SAMUEL religion, find themselves with only a form of godliness without the power thereof. Key Word: Ark taken, vv. 11, 17. Strong Verses: 22. Striking Facts: Farewell, all in this world, if the ark, the token of Christ's presence with us, be lost. CHAPTER FIVE Contents: Ark of God a curse to Philistines. Characters: God. Conclusion: Sacred signs are not things that God is tied to or that man can trust to for blessing. His presence may be a savour of life unto life or of death unto death. Key Word: Hand of the Lord, vv. 6, 9, 11. Strong Verses: 6. Striking Facts: Those who contend with God, His ark and the followers of His Beloved Son will invariably be ruined at last. CHAPTER SIX Contents: Ark brought to Joshua. Characters : God . Conclusion: The Word of God in the hands of the world brings them con- demnation (v. 2) causing them to seek to get rid of it. By refusing to part with their sins, sinners but lengthen out their own miseries (v. 4). Key Word: Ark, v. 1. Strong Verses: 13,20. Striking Facts: v. 13. The return of the ark (token of God's presence) and the revival of holy ordinances after days of restraint and trouble must be a matter of great joy to Christians. We must reverently use the tokens of God's grace through Christ or we will be made to sink under the tokens of His displeasure (v. 19). CHAPTER SEVEN Contents: Ark brought to house of Abinadab. Revival of Mizpah. Victory at Eben-ezer. Characters: God, Samuel, Eleazar, Abinadab. Conclusion: When we are truly sensible that by sin we have provoked God to withdraw from us and that we are undone if we continue in that state, if we make a solemn business of returning to God we may be assured we are on the way to a renewed prosperity and deliverance. Key Word: Return, v. 3. Strong Verses: 3, 8, 12. Striking Facts: v. 12. The Christian should, as he passes along, set up his Ebenezers by which he will be reminded that "hitherto the Lord hath helped him" and by which he will give all the glory of his victories to God and His Son Jesus Christ. CHAPTER EIGHT Contents: Israel demands a king; theocracy rejected. Characters: God, Samuel, his sons, Joel, Abiajah. Conclusion: When God's people will not accept His best for them, they will get the best they can be persuaded to take and, with the answer to their selfish prayers, will receive also an added judgment. Key Word: King, vv. 5, 19. Strong Verses: 7, 9, 18. Striking Facts: v. 20. For a professed Christian to want to live like the world means not only that he is displeasing Christ, but will at last find himself a dupe. It was God's will that Israel should have a king but in His own time. He must come of the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10). Because of Judah's sin (Gen. 38, Deut. 23:2) his line was prohibited from office for ten generations. David is found to be the first one to satisfy these conditions. (Matt. 1). FIRST SAMUEL Page Fifty-Nine CHAPTER NINE Contents: Saul chosen king. Characters: God, Samuel, Saul, his servant, Kish. Conclusion: The wise God serves very great and certain purposes by seem- ingly small and casual affairs. Let us therefore remember that promo- tions come not by chance and that faithfulness and humility on the path of present duty are the key to exaltation at the hands of God. Key Word: Saul, v. 2. Strong Verses: 21,25,27. Striking Facts: v. 24. Note the suggestiveness of the dish set before Saul. The shoulder denotes strength; the breast which went with it denotes affection. Let all who are called to minister to Christ's people be reminded that a great responsibility is upon their shoulders and that the people should be dear to their bosom. CHAPTER TEN Contents: Saul annointed king. Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Samuel, Saul, his uncle. Conclusion: Whom God calls He qualifies. When God works in us by His Spirit, it serves to confirm faith and furnish proof of a divine commission, v. 9. Key Word: Annointed, v. 1. Strong Verses: 6, 7, 24. Striking Facts: The sacred unctions point to the Great Messiah, the annointed One who was annointed with the oil of the Spirit without measure, above all priests or princes of earth. v. 19. Their obstinacy was a pressage of their rejecting Christ, in the rejecting of whom they cast off God that He should not reign over them. CHAPTER ELEVEN Contents: Saul's victories at Jabesh-gilead. Kingdom renewed at Gilgal. Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Saul, Samuel, Nahash. Conclusion: Unless the Christian has forsaken his covenant with God, there is no occasion for his courting a covenant with the world by compromise. Through our King, we may have the victory. Key Word: Compromise (covenant) rejected, vv. 1, 13. Strong Verses: 6, 13. Striking Facts: The right eye is the eye of faith. The left eye was covered with the shield. By the compromise they would be unfitted to fight. Thus Satan seeks to cripple the follower of Christ in service. A compromising saint is always blind in one eye. CHAPTER TWELVE Contents: Samuel's proclamation of the kingdom. Deliverances of God re- hearsed. The sign of thunder and rain. Characters: God, Samuel. Conclusion: Religion has reason on its side (v. 7) which demonstrates that obedience to God is the happiness of men and disobedience to God is the ruin of men. [ey Word: Reason (counsel), v. 7. Strong Verses: 14, 15, 22-25. (riking Facts: v. 22. Had God chosen us on our good merits, we might fear He would cast us off for our bad merits, but choosing us in Christ before the foundation of the world, for His name's sake, He cannot lose us. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Contents: The self-will of Saul. He intrudes into the priests office. His divine rejection announced. Characters: God, Samuel, Saul, Jonathan. Conclusion: Some lay great stress upon the external performances of religion, thinking thereby to excuse their ignorance of God Himself. Though ene- mies press, we are powerless to engage them without God Himself. We will make progress if we wait upon Him and become assured of divine power. Key Word: Disobedience, v. 13. ^u Page Sixty FIRST SAMUEL Strong Verses: 14. Striking Facts: v. 11. Scoffers of the latter days think the promise of Christ's return is broken because He does not come in their time, though it is certain that He will come "in such an hour as we think not." CHAPTER FOURTEEN Contents: Jonathan's great victory over the Philistines. Characters: God, Jonathan, armor-bearer, Saul, Ahiah, Abner. Conclusion: Let this strengthen the weak and encourage the timid, that no matter how few and feeble those are who seek to Him for direction and acknowledge Him in all their ways, God will give the victory. God can not only save us, but save by us, therefore let faith venture. Key Word: Delivered, v. 12. Strong Verses : 6,45. Striking Facts: To fail to feed upon the honey (Christ in the Word) vv. 25-30, is not time gained but strength lost, unfitting one for the conflicts. CHAPTER FIFTEEN Contents: Saul's incomplete obedience and his rejection as king. Characters: God, Samuel, Saul, Agag. Conclusion: Some judge many things in their lives, but spare one Agag which the Lord has condemned. Partial obedience spells disobedience and in the absence of perfect obedience, our sacrifices are worthless, v. 22. KeyWord: Disobedience, vv. 11, 19, (rejected, v. 23). Strong Verses: 22, 24, 25. Striking Facts: v. 20. We see how hard it is to convict the children of dis- obedience of their sin and strip them of their fig leaves, for they ever seek to justify themselves on the ground of their good intentions. Cere- monial observances cannot take the place of humble, sincere obedience to the will of God which requires full yieldedness to Jesus Christ. CHAPTER SIXTEEN Contents: Choice of David as king. His annointing and visit to Saul. Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Samuel, David, Jesse, Saul, Bliab, Abinadab, Shammah. Conclusion: Whom God appoints, He annoints, and whom He annoints is truly qualified for service. Key Word: Chosen, v. 1, (annointed, v. 17). Striking Facts: David means "beloved" for he was a type of the Beloved Son. As David was called from the place of obscurity and contempt, so Christ came from a humble walk of life. David was first annointed by God ancj later by the people. (2 Sam. 2:4, 5:3). Christ was annointed at His bap- tism, and at His coming again, it will be ratified by His brethren, the Jews and all nations. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Contents: Defiance of Israel by Goliath and David's victory over him. Characters: God, David, Saul, Goliath, Eliab, Abinadab, Shammah. Conclusion: The battle is God's battle. If our confidence is purely in the power of God, rather than in any armor or sufficiency of our own, we may be certain the world's utmost might cannot withstand. God resists the proud and pours contempt upon those who bid defiance to His people, humiliating them by a defeat with the meanest of instruments. Key Word: Prevailed, v. 50. Strong Verses: 37, 47. Striking Facts: David's victory over Goliath is a type of the triumph of the Son of God over Satan. Goliath is also a remarkable type of the anti- Christ (note 6 pieces of armor, vv. 5-7). David annointed for the king- ship but not yet in power is defied by the boastful champion whom he overcomes in the name of the Lord of Hosts. When Jesus comes as Lord of Hosts, anti-Christ will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Contents: Love covenant of Jonathan and David. Saul's jealousy and attempts on David's life. Saul's daughter given to David. i IST SAMUEL Page Sixty-One Characters: God, David, Saul, Jonathan, Merab, Michal, Adriel. Conclusion: The weeds of envy will grow if one thinks more of reputation than of duty. (vv. 7, 8). It is is a sign that the Spirit of God has departed from men, if they be continually envious and suspicious of those about them and cannot endure to hear anyone praised but themselves, v. 12. Key Word: Envy (displeased), vv. 8, 29. Strong Verses: 14. Striking Facts: vv. 3, 4. Jonathan's love is an illustration of the love the Lord Jesus has shown to us. He stripped Himself to clothe us; He even clothed Himself with our rags that we might be clothed upon with His glory. Phil. 2:5-7. v. 23. We should magnify the honor of being sons to the King of Kings. "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us." CHAPTER NINETEEN Contents: Saul's murderous hate pursues David. Characters: God, Holy Spirit, David, Saul, Jonathan, Michal, Samuel. Conclusion: God always raises up a friend for us in time of need. Envy allowed its way becomes murderous. Cut the claws of the tiger pup, lest it become a full grown tiger, when it is too late. Key Word: Murderous envy, vv. 1, 10, 15. Strong Verses: 12. Striking Facts: The murderous attempts on the life of the annointed king by the usurping king, remind us of the repeated attempts of the usurper, Satan, against the life of God's Anointed One, Christ, when He was upon Dearth. CHAPTER TWENTY Contents: Jonathan protects David. Their parting. Characters: God, David, Jonathan, Saul. Conclusion: Though the believer be despised of many, compelled to leave all comforts and part with best friends for Christ's sake, be this our comfort, that we have made an everlasting covenant with Jehovah who will exalt us in due time. ey Word: True friend, v. 17, (loved as his own soul). Strong Verses : 17,42. Striking Facts: v. 15. The covenant of Jonathan and David is an illustration of that between God and the Son on behalf of believers. John 10:28; Rom. 8:32-39. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Contents: David flees to Ahimelech and Achish. Characters: David, Ahimelech, Doeg, Achish. Conclusion: If we would but trust God aright, we would not have to resort to miserable and dishonoring devices for our preservation in times of testing. Key Word: Afraid, v. 12. Strong Verses: 9. Striking Facts: v. 6. Jesus showed from this in Matt. 12:3 that ritual observances must at times give way to moral duties in case of urgent neces- sity, thus He justified His disciples in plucking corn on the Sabbath day. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO in rejection gathers mighty men. His wanderings and K Page Sixty-Two FIRST SAMUEL CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Contents: Wanderings and adventures of David. Characters: God, David, Saul, Jonathan, Abiathar. Conclusion: Whatever befalls us, if we acknowledge God in all our ways and seek direction from Him, God will baffle the designs of the enemy and turn their counsels in our favor. Key Word: Hunted (search him out), vv. 14, 23. Strong Verses: 14, 16. Striking Facts: As David might justly claim that his enemies rewarded him evil for good and that for his love they were his adversaries, so Christ was basely used. John 10:32. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Contents: David's mercy to Saul in En-gedi. Characters: God, David, Saul. Conclusion: Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good. Key Word: Mercy (dealt well), v. 18. Strong Verses: 12, 17. Striking Facts: As David rendered good for evil to him from whom he had received evil for good, he was a type of Christ who saved His persecutors. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE Contents: Samuel's death; David and Nabal. Abigail becomes David's wife, and also Ahinoam. Characters: God, David, Samuel, Nabal, Abigail. Conclusion: Let the believer be encouraged to commit his cause to God when in any way injured, being assured that in His own good time God will redress the wrongs in His own way if we but sit still and leave the matter to Him. Key Word: God avenges (returned the wickedness), v. 39. Strong Verses: 28, 29. Striking Facts: v. 44. Saul's defrauding David of his only rightful wife led him into the irregularity of having several wives. When the marriage knot is once loosed, it is seldom ever tied fast again. See Matt. 19:4, 5. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Contents: Saul spared by David a second time. Characters: God, David, Saul, Abishai, Abner, Ahimelech. Conclusion: No questionable means need be employed to help out God's plans for our advancement (v. 10) God can weaken the strongest and befool the wisest on our behalf. Wait His time. Key Word: Spared, v. 11. Strong Verses: 9, 10, 24. Striking Facts: v. 24. As David's way to the throne lay through multiplied sorrows and difficulties, so does Christ's, who, though the anointed King with undisputed title, yet remains "meek and lowly" awaiting the set time. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN Contents: David down in the dumps. Characters: David, Schish, Ahmoan, Abigail. Conclusion: Unbelief is a sin that besets those who have been undergoing long trials. It is no advantage to us when we are in the dumps, to cross over the borders into the world for comfort, for we cannot expect God's protection when we are out of His will. Key Word: Discouragement (I shall perish), v. 1. Strong Verses: 1. Striking Facts: CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT Contents: David among Israel's enemies. Saul consults the witch. Characters: God, David, Saul, Samuel, Achish, witch. Conclusion: Seek the Lord while He may be found for there is a time when He will not be found (v. 6). To think that any spiritualistic medium can FIRST SAMUEL Page Sixty-Three be of help when God has frowned upon us, is to heap contempt upon God, who has expressly forbidden all such recourse. Key Word: Spiritism, v. 7. Strong Verses: 15, 16. Striking Facts: v. 8. Never did Saul look so mean as when he went sneaking to a spiritist at night. Such works are of the darkness and cannot bear the light. Either Satan had Samuel impersonated, or else God on this occasion, actually sent back the spirit of Samuel, that Saul might get an answer to his design and should be given up to strong delusions. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE Contents: David saved from fighting against Israel. Characters: David, Achish. Conclusion: God's providence orders wisely and graciously for His children even when they have sadly erred. Even the ill favor of men may turn out to be for our good that a door might be opened for deliverance out of straits our own folly have brought us into. Key Word: 111 favor, v. 6. Strong Verses: 6. CHAPTER THIRTY Contents: David avenges the destruction of Ziglag. Characters: God, David, Abiathar, an Egyptian. Conclusion: When we go abroad to tarry for a while with the enemies of God's people, we may expect to be met with evil tidings when we return home again. In the mercy of God, we can even then, if called according to His purpose, encourage ourselves in God and be assured that He will overrule and bring light out of darkness and peace out of trouble. Key Word: Recovered, vv. 8, 18. Strong Verses: 6. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE Contents: Death of Saul and Jonathan. Characters: Saul, Jonathan, Abinadab, Melchi-shua. Conclusion: As men live, so will they die. Those are indeed in a deplorable condition, who, despairing of the mercy of God, would leap into a hell before them thinking to escape the hell within them. We all need to pray, "lead us not into temptation." Key Word: Defeat, v. 8. Strong Verses: 11, 12. Striking Facts: The book which began with the birth of a godly man ends with the burial of a wicked man. Let the two lives teach us to prefer the honor that comes from God rather than that which Satan pretends to bestow. Page Sixty-Four BOOK OF SECOND SAMUEL II. SAMUEL Key Thought: Number of Chapters: Key Verse: Christ seen as: Kingdom 24 1 Sam. 10:25 Seed of David Writer of the Book: Date: Conclusion of the Book: Uncertain About 1155 B. C. Be sure your sin will find you out. SUMMARY CHAPTER ONE Contents: David mourns the death of Saul and Jonathan. Characters: God, David, Saul, Jonathan, an Amalekite. Conclusion: He that is deeply concerned for the honor of God cannot rejoice in the afflictions that come upon his enemies. In the disgrace that comes upon them, let us not forget their former successes and real service. Key Word: Mourned, vv. 12, 17. Strong Verses: 26, 27. Striking Facts: v. 13. The killing of the Amalekite who brought the message was just. David made him own a second time that he was an Amalekite and in slaying him, David did what his predecessor should have done and was rejected for not doing. CHAPTER TWO Contents: David received as King of Judah. Abner makes Ish-bosheth king over eleven tribes. Civil war. Characters: God, David, Abner, Ish-bosheth, Joab, Abishai, Asahel. Conclusion: We may expect, one upon another, trials of our faith in the promises of God and of our patience, whether we can wait God's time for the performances of the promises. Key Word: Annointed, v. 4. Strong Verses: 1. Striking Facts: v. 4. Jesus first presented Himself to Judah. Thus, like David, His kingdom is set up by degrees. He is Lord of all by divine designation but we see not yet all things put under His feet. CHAPTER THREE Contents: Abner deserts to David. Joab's murder of Abner. Characters: God, David, Joab, Abner, Ish-bosheth, Michal, Phaltiel, Rizpeh, Abishai, Asahel. Conclusion: Evil pursues sinners and will overtake them at the last in one way or another. (Illustrated both in the case of Abner and that of Joab, v. 29). Key Word: Great man fallen, v. 38. Strong Verses: 39. Striking Facts: v. 37. The servants of the King of Kings do many things thinking to further His Kingdom, that have not His sanction and will bring trouble upon the heads of those who do them in His name without His leading. CHAPTER FOUR Contents: Murder of Ish-bosheth. Characters: David, Ish-bosheth, Mephibosheth, Baanahm, Rechab. Conclusion: The guilt of blood brings a curse, and if men do not avenge it, God will. Key Word: Murder, v. 11. Strong Verses: 11. Striking Facts: v. 9. God had hitherto helped him in his difficulties and in coming to the throne, David would therefore depend upon Him and not the devices of men to complete His purpose. Let this teach us that Jesus Christ is coming to the throne, not by man dragging in the millenium but by the hand of God Himself. SECOND SAMUEL Page Sixty-1'ivc CHAPTER FIVE Contents: David becomes king over Israel. War with Philistines. Characters: God, David, Hiram. Conclusion: Those who have the Lord of Hosts for them need have no fear what hosts of men or demons can do against them. If we grow great and win many victories, we can only ascribe our advancement to -God's favor with us. Key Word: Annointed, v. 3, (victory, v. 25). Strong Verses: 10, 19. Striking Facts: David was recognized as king on three counts. (1) Of their flesh, v. 1. Christ, Matt. 25:40. (2) Their leader in battle, v. 2. Christ, Josh. 5:13-15. (3) Designated by God, v. 2. So also Christ, Rom. 3:25. As David had three annointings; one by God, one by Judah and one by all tribes, so Christ was annointed at His baptism, will be received of the Jews and later of all nations. CHAPTER SIX Contents: David seeks to bring the ark to Jerusalem. Characters: God, David, Michal, Uzzah, Obed-edom, Abinadab. Conclusion: God will have His work done in His own way and cannot bless us if we carry it on under wrong principles. We need to seek His direc- tions continually lest we do good things in a wrong way. Key Word: Ark, v. 2. Strong Verses: 11. Striking Facts: Careful directions had been given how the ark must be borne. Num. 4:1-15. David adopted a Philistine method. 1 Sam. 6:7, 8. We cannot expect God's blessing if we employ heathen methods in doing the work of Christ's church. CHAPTER SEVEN Contents: David's desire to build the Lord's house. The Davidic covenant. Characters: God, David, Nathan. Conclusion: We need no more to make us happy than to have God for a Father to us. If He is our Father, we must be dutiful children, or expect His chastisements, which are an article of the covenant and which flow from His father-love. Key Word: Established (kingdom), v. 16, (confirmed, v. 24). Strong Verses : 14,22,25. Striking Facts: The covenant confirmed to David by the oath of Jehovah and renewed to Mary by the angel Gabriel, is immutable, and God will yet give to the thorn-crowned King the throne of His Father David forever. Luke 1:31-33; Acts 2:29-33, 15:1-17. CHAPTER EIGHT Contents: Full establishment of David's kingdom. Characters: God, David, Hadadezer, Joram, Toi. Conclusion: After the long and frequent struggles which the Christian has with the powers of darkness, he shall at last be made more than conqueror and shall reign with Christ. Key Word: Reigning, v. 15. Strong Verses: 14. Striking Facts: The Son of David shall at length put down all principality and power and take the throne. He has, as David had, a line to kill and a line to save. The Gospel is to some a savor of life unto life and to others a savor of death unto death. CHAPTER NINE Contents: David's kindness to Mephibosheth. Characters: God, David, Mephibosheth, Ziba, Machir, Micha. Conclusion: Kindness is one of the laws of Christianity and the Christian should seek opportunity of doing good. The most necessitous are gener- ally the least clamorous and the best objects of our kindness and charity are such as will be discovered only through our inquiry. Key Word: Kindness, v. 7. Strong Verses: 7. Page Sixty-Six SECOND SAMUEL Striking Facts: The story gives us a picture of salvation by God's grace in Christ. Grace comes to the helpless, those "sold under sin;" invites us to the place of peace and satisfaction; feasts us at God's table; keeps our lame feet out of sight. CHAPTER TEN Contents: The Ammonite-Syrian war. Characters: David, Joab, Abishai, Hanun, Hadarezer, Shobach. Conclusion: False men are ready to think all others as false as themselves. There is nothing so well meant but that it may be misinterpreted, and is likely to be so by men who love nobody but themselves. ''Love thinketh no evil." Key Word: Kindness misinterpreted, vv. 2, 3. Strong Verses: 12. Striking Facts: v. 5. The Christian may learn not to lay too much to heart the reproaches he receives for Christ's sake, for they will soon wear off and turn eventually to the shame of their authors. "God will bring forth thy righteousness as the light wait patiently for Him." CHAPTER ELEVEN Contents: David's great sin. Characters: David, Uriah, Bathsheba, Joab. Conclusion: A Christian with natural tendencies to sensuality may have cravings even when the general bent of his mind is to live in God's will. The devil finds work for idle hands to do (v. 1) and we should therefore be warned of the danger of having nothing in particular to do. Sin started leads to more sin to hide it. After all, the atmosphere of trial and diffi- culty is the occasion of highest strength. Key Word: Adultery, v. 4, (murder, v. 15). Strong Verses: 11, 27. Striking Facts: We need to bear in mind that as the chosen seed through which Messiah was to come, David and others of the direct line had the combined forces of evil against them to accomplish, if possible their down- fall. Of all men, they should have walked in hourly dependence on God. CHAPTER TWELVE Contents: David's rebuke and repentance. Birth of Solomon. Ammonite victory. Characters: God, David, Nathan, Bathsheba, Joab. Conclusion: If the believer, brought face to face with his sins sincerely con- fesses and repents of them, he may be restored to fellowship, although God will not interfere with the consequences in this life, v. 1. Key Word: Confession and restoration, v. 13. Strong Verses: 13, 22, 23. Striking Facts: God always has His man for His work and while it may cost the man nights of pain and prayer to deliver the message of Christ he may be sure that if God sent him, his message will accomplish its purpose. A dogmatic message is truer and more tender than soft speeches that do not arouse conscience. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Contents: Ammon's crime. Absalom's vengeance for Tamar's wrong. Characters: David, Absalom, Ammon, Tamar, Jonadab. Conclusion: Fleshly lusts are their own punishment and not only war against the soul but against the body also, and are the rottenness of the bones. The sin of adultery makes awful mischief in families and the sinner serves a hard master. Key Word: Shame, v. 13, (avenged, v. 32). Strong Verses: 39. Striking Facts: v. 1. Those who are peculiarly beautiful have no reason, on that account to be proud, but great reason to stand upon their guard. CHAPTER FOURTEEN Contents: The recall of Absalom and David's forgiveness. Characters: God, David, Joab, Absalom, woman of Tekoah, Tamar. SECOND SAMUEL Page Sixty-Seven Conclusion: If we let private affections stand in the way of public duty (See Gen. 9:6) we may justly expect that God will make the one whom our foolish pity spares, a scourge upon us. Key Word: Forgiven, v. 33. Strong Verses: 14. Striking Facts: v. 33. If the compassion of a father prevails to reconcile him to an impenitent son, shall penitent sinners doubt the compassion of God, in His Son, when they truly come to Him? CHAPTER FIFTEEN Contents: Absalom steals the love of ten tribes. David's flight. Characters: God, David, Absalom, Ittai, Zadok, Abiathar, Hushai, Ahimaaz, Jonathan, Ahitophel. Conclusion: He who steals one heart away from another by means of innuen- dos is the vilest of robbers, and especially when professed devotion to God is used as a pretext to carry out the design, (v. 7). Key Word: Conspiracy, v. 12. Strong Verses: 25, 26. Striking Facts: The mother of this rebellious son was the daughter of a heathen king. David, in this unhappy issue of the marriage, has to smart for being unequally yoked with an unbeliever. CHAPTER SIXTEEN Contents: False servant of Mephibosheth. Shimea curses David. Absalom takes Jerusalem. Characters: God, David, Abishai, Ziba, Shimei, Absalom, Hushai, Ahitophel. Conclusion: A humble and tender spirit will turn reproaches into reproofs and so get good by them instead of being provoked at them. The world's smiles are more dangerous than its frowns. Key Word: Cursed, v. 5. Strong Verses: 11, 12. Striking Facts: v. 9. David is herein a type of Christ who rebuked his disciples, who in zeal for His honor, would have used their miraculous powers on the heads of those who affronted Him. (Luke 9:55). CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Contents: Conflicting counsel of Ahitophel and Hushai. Characters: God, David, Absalom, Ahitophel, Hushai, Shobi, Machir, Bar- zillai, Ahimaaz, Jonathan, Amasa, Joab. Conclusion: It is to the comfort of all who fear God that He has an overruling hand in all counsels and a negative voice in all resolves, and laughs at men's projects against His annointed ones. Key Word: Counsel, v. 15. Strong Verses: 27, 28, 29. Striking Facts: Absalom is a type of the false Messiah, who will gather an army against Christ the Greater David (Rev. 19:19), meeting his defeat in the brightness of Christ's coming. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Contents: Battle of Mount Ephriam. Slaying of Absalom. Characters: God, David, Absalom, Joab, Abishai, Ittai, Ahimaaz, a Cushite. Conclusion: Those who exalt themselves shall be abased. It never pays to take counsel against the Lord and His annointed. Key Word: Avenged, v. 31. Strong Verses: 31, 33. Striking Facts: As the false king was cast into a pit, so anti-Christ will be thrown into the bottomless pit at the coming of Christ, and then every tongue shall confess that Christ is King of Kings. CHAPTER NINETEEN Contents: Joab reproaches David's return to the throne. Characters: David, Joab, Zadok, Abiathar, Shimei, Ziba, Abishai, Mephib- osheth, Barzillai, Chimham, Amasa. Conclusion: A good man and a good cause will again recover their credit Page Sixty-Eight SECOND SAMUEL and interest, though, for a time, they may seem to have lost them. The good services done will still be remembered when men come to their right minds. Key Word: Return, v. 14. Strong Verses: 22, 23. Striking Facts: vv. 14, 15. Our Lord Jesus will rule in those who invite Him to the throne of their hearts, and not until He is invited. CHAPTER TWENTY Contents: Joab murders Amasa. Suppression of Sheba's revolt. Characters: David, Joab, Amasa, Sheba, Abishai. Conclusion: We must not think it strange while in this world if the end of one trouble be the beginning of another, but God will bring us victoriously through them all, if we but trust in His wisdom. KeyWord: Traitor, v. 1. Strong Verses: 20. Striking Facts: vv. 12, 13. Wicked men think themselves safe if they can just conceal it from the eye of the world. The covering of blood with a cloth cannot stop its cry for vengeance in God's ears. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Contents: Three years famine. Saul's sons slain. War with Philistines. Characters: God, David, Rizpah, Ishbi-benab, Abishai, Sebechai, Saph, Elhanan, Jonathan. Conclusion: When we are under God's judgments, we should enquire the grounds of the controversy, and when the cause is revealed, should go to all lengths to make right the wrongs of the past, that God's full blessing may be renewed upon us. Key Word: Recompense (atonement) v. 3. Strong Verses: 3, 7. Striking Facts: vv. 9, 13, 14. Through Christ who was hanged and made a curse for us to expiate our guilt, though He was Himself guiltless, God is entreated for us. In token of the completeness of the sacrifice they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in the sepulchre. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Contents: David's song of deliverance. Characters: God, David. Conclusion: No believer has so little from God but there is ground for praise, nor so much but that he has need to call upon God. Praise is the blossom of prayer. Key Word: Praise, vv. 4, 50. Strong Verses: 2, 3, 4, 31, 33, 48. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Contents: Last words of David. Deeds of his mighty men. Characters: God, Holy Spirit, David, Joshebbasheth, Adino, Bleazar, Shammah, Abishai, Benaiah, other great men. Conclusion: Those who have ventured themselves for the good of the public are worthy of double honor, both to be respected by their fellow citizens and to be remembered by their posterity. Though our deeds be not recorded by men, they are recorded in heaven. Key Word: Mighty men, v. 8. Strong Verses: 2. Striking Facts: vv. 3, 5. The verses have a prophetic application to Christ who is to be the just ruler, ordering all things according to His Father's will, and who will be as the light of the morning. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Contents: David's sin in numbering the people. His choice of punishment. Characters: God, angel (Jesus), Joab, David, Gad, Araunah. SECOND SAMUEL Page Sixty-Nine Conclusion: God does not judge of sin as we do. What appears to us to be but a small offense, may be a great sin in the eyes of God who knows men's principles, being a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. His judgments are according to the truth. Key Word: Sinned, v. 10. Strong Verses: 10, 24. Striking Facts: v. 25. Christ is our altar and sacrifice. Through Him alone may we expect to get favor with God and to escape His wrath for our sins. Page Seventy BOOK OF FIRST KINGS I. KINGS Key Thought: Number of Chapters: Key Verse: Christ seen as: Royalty 22 2:12 King of Kings Writer of the Book: Date: Conclusion of the Book: Jehovah is the sover- eign ruler of Israel Uncertain About 560 B. C. blessing the obedient, punishing the disobed- ient, and forgiving the penitent. SUMMARY CHAPTER ONE Contents: David's declining strength. Adonijah plots to seize kingdon. Counter plot of Nathan and Bath-sheba. Solomon annointed. Characters: God, David, Solomon, (Adonijah), Joab, Nathan, Bath-sheba, Zadok, Benaiah, Abiathar, Jonathan, Abishag, Shimei, Rei. Conclusion: When men exalt themselves, God very often leaves them to themselves until they are corrected with a scourge of their own making. He that in the morning grasps at a crown, may before night be forced to hold to the horns of the altar and beg for life. God will be consulted. Key Word: Self-exalted, v. 5 (humbled, v. 50). Strong Verses: 29, 30. Striking Facts: v. 39. Solomon is a type of Christ as Prince of Peace, (Isa. 9: 6; 1 Chron, 22:9) Jesus will not fulfill the Solomon type until He has fulfilled the David type. Chosen before born (Isa. 42:1) Rode into Jeru- salem on a mule (Jn. 12:14-16) Annointed (Acts 10:38) Peace filled the earth when His reign was finally set up (Zech. 14:9). CHAPTER TWO Contents: David's charge to Solomon, David's death. Execution of Adonijah. Abiathar removed. Execution of Shimei. Characters: God, David, Solomon, Bath-sheba, Adonijah, Abishag, Joab, Abiatha, Benaiah, Shimei. Conclusion: The punishment of sin may be slow of foot but it is sure of nose and will at length find the offender. Even a hoary head, ought not to be any man's protection from justice. Key Word: Punishment, vv. 5, 8. Strong Verses: 2, 3. CHAPTER THREE Contents: Alliance of Solomon and Pharoah. Marriage with Pharoah's daughter. Loses at Gibeon. Solomon's prayer. His wisdom. Characters: God, Solomon, two women. Conclusion: The wisdom of God is laid up for those who have the spirit of a child (Lk. 10:21) vv. 8, 9. A knowledge of our own limitations is very essential to true success, if we have learned that the power of the omnip- otent God is at our disposal. Key Word: Wisdom, vv. 9, 28. Strong Verses: 7. Striking Facts: Wisdom: Its beginning, Psa. 111:10. Its source, Dan. 2:20- 22. Its quality, Jas. 3:17. Way to it, 1 Cor. 3:18. Personification of it, 1 Cor. 1:30. How to obtain it, Jas. 1:5. Who is it for, Mt. 7:24-25. CHAPTER FOUR Contents: Princes and commissaries of Israel. Solomon's reign and wisdom. Characters: God, Solomon. Conclusion: There is spiritual peace and joy and a holy security for all faith- ful subjects of God's Annointed One. Key Word: Safety, v. 25. FIRST KINGS Page Seventy-One Strong Verses : 25. Striking Facts: Solomon was a type of Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden for a use for "He is made unto us wisdom." CHAPTER FIVE Contents: Preparation for building the temple. Characters: God, Solomon, Hiram. Conclusion: Satan does all he can to hinder the work of God's temple, but when he is withheld for a time, we should be extra zealous in that which is good that we might carry it forward to completion. (Acts 9:31). Key Word: Temple, v. 5. Strong Verses: 5, 17. Striking Facts: v. 17. The costly stones speak of Christ who was laid for the foundation of the spiritual temple, an elect and precious stone. CHAPTER SIX Contents: Work on the temple begun. Dimensions and materials. Characters: God, Solomon. Conclusion: We should not mistake noise and notoriety for spiritual progress (v. 7). Quietness and order both become and befriend the carrying on of spiritual work. Key Word: Finished, v. 14. Strong Verses: 12. Striking Facts: Christ is the true Temple (Jn. 2:21). God Himself prepared Him (Eph. 1:4; Heb. 10:5). In Him all God's spiritual children meet and through Him have access to God. CHAPTER SEVEN Contents: Work on the temple and Solomon's house. Characters: God, Solomon, Hiram. Conclusion: God who is best should be served and honored with our best. Key Word: Work ended, v. 51. Strong Verses: 51. Striking Facts: The temple is not only a type of Christ but of the believer who is also spoken of as a temple, or habitation of God. (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19). It should be as beautiful as the Holy Spirit can make it, therefore we should be yielded to His master strokes. CHAPTER EIGHT Contents: Ark brought in; Skekinah glory fills the temple. Solomon's sermon. Characters: God, Solomon. Conclusion: All cost and pains are lost on stately structures unless God has been in .the work, and if He fails to manifest His glory in them, they are after all but a ruinous heap. A temple without the ark and the glory are like a candlestick without a candle. Key Word: Dedicated (filled with glory) v. 11. Strong Verses: 10, 27, 57, 58, 61. Striking Facts: It is a great thing when a nation's ruler can be led of the Spirit in prayer and when he realizes that all answer to prayer is only on the ground of the shed blood of Christ, vv. 22, 62. (Heb. 9:22; 10:19-20). CHAPTER NINE Contents: Jehovah appears to Solomon. Covenant made. Solomon's fame. Characters: God, Solomon, Hiram. Conclusion: God deals plainly with men and sets before them blessing or cursing. God never fails to perform His part of a covenant and if we improve the grace He is willing to give, He will confirm us to the end. Key Word: Covenant, v. 4. Strong Verses: 9, 25. Striking Facts: v. 7. (Israel shall be a byword) lit. a "sheninah." Some have thought that the epithet "sheeney" used in speaking disgustingly of Jews throughout the centuries, came from this prophecy. Page Seventy-Two FIRST KINGS CHAPTER TEN Contents: Solomon and the queen of Sheba. His revenue and splendor. Characters: God, Solomon, queen of Sheba. Conclusion: That fame is true fame which has associated with it the name of the Lord and which challenges inquiry into the means of God's grace. Key Word: Fame, vv. 7, 23. Strong Verses: 8, 24. Striking Facts: Mt. 12:42. Christ mentions this queen's inquiry after God through Solomon as showing the stupidity of those who would not enquire after God through Jesus Christ who was God manifest in the flesh and therefore better able to instruct them than anyone else. CHAPTER ELEVEN Contents: Solomon's heart turned. Chastened of God. Rise of Jeroboam. Death of Solomon. Characters: God, Solomon, Hadad, Pharaoh, Rezon, Jeroboam, Adoram, Ahijah. Conclusion: The way of sin is down hill and those who get into it cannot easily get untangled. God at first appointed one woman for one man, and he who thinks one not enough, will not be satisfied with two. When our love is set on the things of the flesh, we may be sure we have lost our love for God and are on the way to trouble. Key Word: Backslidden, v. 9 (heart turned). Strong Verses: 9. Striking Facts: v. 32. The house of David must, in spite of everything be kept intact, because out of it was to come the Messiah. As it was spared on account of the promise to David, so all God's favors shown to us are for Christ's sake and the covenant made with Him. CHAPTER TWELVE Contents: Accession and folly of Rehoboam. Kingdom divided. Characters: God, Rehoboam, Jeroboam, Adoram, Shemiah. Conclusion: Taking the counsel of unspiritual men always spells blunder and a rough answer never fails to bring division. If we make God the source of our counsel (Jas. 3:15) we will avoid all folly. Key Word: Counsel forsaken, vv. 8, 13. Strong Verses: 7. Striking Facts: The golden calf was set up where the first altar to God had been placed (v. 29 Gen. 12:8). All isms originate in man's heart (v. 26), have a selfish purpose back of them (v. 27-29) and are launched on a pre- tense that it is for the people's good; yet always tend to sin and idol- atry. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Contents: Warning of punishment for idolatry. Disobedience and death of the prophet. Characters: God, Jeroboam, disobedient prophet, lying prophet. Conclusion: If we offer to God that which is an abomination to Him (the wor- ship of the flesh) the offerer will certainly fall under the wrath of God. Key Word: Warning, v. 2. Strong Verses : 4, 8. Striking Facts: v. 9. God would teach His servants not to have fellowship with the works of darkness, lest they fall under their contagion and give them encouragement. The devil always has his snares ready to entrap one who bears Christ's message. CHAPTER FOURTEEN Contents: Prophecy against Jeroboam and partial fulfillment. Judah's apos- tacy under Rehoboam and his death. Characters: God, Ahijah, Jeroboam, Rehoboam, Shishak, wife and son of Jeroboam. Conclusion: Be not deceived; God is not mocked and often He makes quick work of sinners. If men of prominence do wickedly they involve many FIRST KINGS Page Seventy-Three others who follow their pernicious ways (v. 16) and he who leads many others to hell must answer eternally for it. Key Word: Cut off, v. 10. Strong Verses: 9, 16. CHAPTER FIFTEEN Contents: Accession of Abijam and Asa over Judah. War with" Baasha. League with Syria. Accession of Nadab over Israel and Baasha over Israel. Characters: God, Abijam, Asa, Nadab, Baasha, Ben-hadad. Conclusion: Divine threatenings are not bugbears, for no word of God shall fall to the ground. The harboring of evil MUST eventuate in open defeat and ruin. Key Word: Wars, vv. 6, 16, 20, 29, 32. Strong Verses: 4, 11. Striking Facts: v. 14 (Cp. v. 18) A heart perfect with the Lord is not sinless perfection, nor flawless obedience, but sincerity of intent and desire to do Christ's will. CHAPTER SIXTEEN tents: Evil reigns of Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, Ahab kings of Israel. Characters: God, Baasha, Jehu, Elah, Zimri, Omri, Ahab, Jezebel, Tibni, Hiel, Segub. Conclusion: Destruction, when it comes, whoever is the instrument of it, is the act of God's justice and the result of sin. Those who resemble others in their sins may expect to get similar plagues. Key Word: God provoked, v. 2. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Contents: Elijah's ministry and prediction of drought. Elijah fed. Raising of the widow's son. Characters: God, Elijah, Ahab, Sarephath woman, her son. Conclusion: God can wonderfully raise up servants and suit them to the work He designs them for. He can, if He chooses, use one man to arrest the downward movement of a nation, and with no weapon but the Word of God and prayer. Key Word: Man of God, v. 24. Strong Verses: 1,24. Striking Facts: God marvelously provides for His true servants in times of sore testing. He may be called upon at times to live from hand to mouth, but if it be from God's hand, each day's need will be supplied. v. 13. "Bring it to me." Cp. Mt. 14:18. Herein Elijah is a type of Christ as our provider. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Contents: Elijah goes to meet Ahab and gives challenge. Contests with the priests of Baal. Characters: God, Elijah, Jezebel, Obadiah, Baal, priests. Conclusion: The man of faith need not be afraid to risk his all on the honor of God (v. 23). Let opposers who talk of the failure of Christianity, do what it does bring down the consuming, cleansing, illuminating power of God into the lives of men. Key Word: Challenge, v. 24. Strong Verses: 21, 37, 39. Striking Facts: Those who are given great power for public service for God, need to constantly humble themselves before God and give Him all thi glory. He who bows lowest in the presence of God will be able to stand straightest in the presence of sin. CHAPTER NINETEEN Contents: God's care of His overwrought prophet. Call of Elisha. Characters: God, Elijah, Jezebel, Elisha. Conclusion: Even though we faint in our faith, God abideth faithful. The best thing for a discouraged man is to get where he can see from God's Page Seventy-Four FIRST KINGS viewpoint (v. 11) which he can do only by coming before God in prayer. Key Word: Discouragement, v. 4. Strong Verses : 7,18. Striking Facts: v. 12. Under law God spoke to His people with terror, but in the Gospel of Christ, which was introduced in the spirit and power of Elias, He speaks by a still small voice which makes none afraid. Heb. 12:18. CHAPTER TWENTY Contents: Ahab's Syrian campaigns and victories. His sin in sparing Ben- hadad. Characters: God, Ahab, Ben-hadad, two prophets. Conclusion: Enemies are more than a match for us, but no match for Jehovah. God often uses one wicked man to scourge another. KeyWord: Victory, (vv. 13, 28); Disobedience, (v. 42). Strong Verses: 13. Striking Facts: v. 42. There are times when keeping back the sword from blood is doing the work of God deceitfully. Foolish pity spoils many a victory. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Contents: Ahab covets Naboth's vineyard. Elijah announces Ahab's doom. Characters: God, Elijah, Ahab, Naboth, Jezebel. Conclusions: One may covet and get what it is not God's will for them to have, but he may be sure that with it, he will get a curse. Coveteousness opens the door for all sin. Key Words: Coveting, v. 4. Strong Verses: 3, 29. Striking Facts: Coveteousness was the first sin in Eden (Gen. 3:6) first on entering the promised land (Josh. 7:21) first in the early church (Acts 5:1-3). CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Contents: Alliance of Ahab and Jehosophat. Ahab's ultimate defeat. Characters: God, Jehoshaphat, Ahab, Micaiah, Zedekiah, Syrian king, false prophets, Ahaziah. Conclusion: He who joins himself in affinity with vicious men, rejects the counsels of God and hates the preachers of God's Word, will find that no masquerade will hide him from God's judgment and that no armor is proof against His vengeance. Key Word: Alliance, v. 4. (Defeat, v. 37). Strong Verses: 14. Striking Facts: v. 14. The greatest kindness possible to a person going on a dangerous path is to tell them God's truth, as it is in Christ. Through self-styled prophets multitudes are led on their way to destruction. BOOK OF SECOND KINGS Page Seventy-Five II. KINGS Key Thought: Rolalty Number of Chapters: 25 Key Verse: Christ seen as: 10:10 Kings of Kings Writer of the Book: Uncertain (Ezra) Date: About 560 B. Conclusion of the Book: God's Word is certain C. of fulfillment to saint and sinner. SUMMARY CHAPTER ONE Contents: Elijah's message to Ahaziah. Elijah's deliverance. Characters: God, angel (Jesus), Elijah, Ahaziah. Conclusion: Those who will not inquire of the Word of God for their comfort will be made to listen to it, whether they wish it or not. To consult with the devil's agents as to fortune means departure from God. Key Word: Prediction, v. 4. Strong Verses: 15. Striking Facts: v. 15. All heaven is interested in Christ's true servants. Who can harm those whom God will shelter? CHAPTER TWO Contents: Translation of Elijah. Faith of Elisha. Theological students and their unbelief. Elisha's miracle. Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Elisha, Elijah. Conclusion: Those who know they are soon going to heaven should be con- cerned for those they are leaving behind to carry on God's service and to leave with them their experiences, testimonies, counsels and prayers. Key Word: Translated, v. 11. Strong Verses: 9. Striking Facts: Those who ask for the mantle of and walk in the steps of their godly and faithful predecessors will certainly experience the same grace. Jordan means "judgment" Christ and the believer go together (v. 8) through the judgment of the cross. Gal. 2:20; Rom. 6:3. i CHAPTER THREE tents: Accession of Jehoram over Israel. Moab rebels against Israel. Elisha's reproof of alliance between Jehoshaphat and Jehoram. Defeat of Moabites. Characters: God, Jehoram, Jehoshaphat, Mesha, king of Moab, king of Edom, Elisha. Conclusion: It would often go hard with us if God did not take more care of us, both for body and soul, than we take for ourselves. For reasons which He alone knows, God sometimes puts victories in the hands of those who are not faithful to Him. Key Word: Victory, v. 18. Strong Verses: 18. CHAPTER FOUR Contents: Increase of the widow's oil. Woman of Shunom and her son restored to life. Noxious pottage healed. A hundred men fed. Characters: God, Elisha, widow, Shunanmite woman, Gehazi, sons of proph- ets, man of Baalshalishah. Conclusion: Be a man of God and God will give you His work to do. He who has power from God to satisfy the deepest needs of man will never want for applicants. Key Word: Man of God, vv. 7, 9, 16, 21, 22, 40, 42. Strong Verses: 6, 7, 40, 41. Striking Facts: v. 41. When the theological student feeds on the wild Page Scvcnty-Si.v SECOND KINGS gourds of the world, he will find himself in the grip of spiritual death. The meal, made of bruised corn, speaks of Christ in the Gospel. If the results of the cross are put in the pot, it will take away its poison. CHAPTER FIVE Contents: Naaman the Syrian healed by obeying Elisha's word. Characters: God, Elisha, Naaman, maid, Syrian king, king of Israel, Gehazi. Conclusion: There is little hope for one who is more concerned about his dignity than his disease, but full blessing is assured to one who will hum- ble himself as a little child and walk in the light of God's commands. Key Word: Leper cleansed, vv. 1, 14. Strong Verses: 13, 15. Striking Facts: Leprosy is an intense symbol of sin. 1. Circulates in the blood, hereditary. 2. Contagious. 3. Subtle, at first concealing its presence. 4. Unclean, a state of living death. 1 Tim. 5:6. 5. Banish- ing, Rev. 21:27. 6. Incurable by human power, Jer. 13:23. 7. Its only cure, the power of Christ. CHAPTER SIX Contents: Elisha recovers the lost axe. Seige of Samaria by Syrians. Characters: God, Elisha, Ben-hadad, Jehoram, nameless woman. Conclusion: The Christian on his knees can see more than the philosopher on his tiptoes. They who fight against God are given up to delusions, not knowing that the believer has God, (Rom. 8:13) Christ, (Mt. 28:20) the Holy Spirit, (Jn. 16:16-17) and angels (Heb. 1:14) on his side. Key Word: Man of God, v. 9 (Prayer, v. 17). Strong Verses: 16. Striking Facts: v. 6. The God of nature is not tied up to its laws. As He raised the iron against the natural laws, so His grace can raise the iron heart which has sunk into the mud of this world and raise up affections naturally earthly to things above. CHAPTER SEVEN Contents: Jehovah's terror upon the Syrians. Characters: God, Elisha, Jehoram, captain of Israel, four lepers. Conclusion: Faith expects from God what is beyond all human expectation. They who cannot find it in their hearts to take God at His Word, forfeit all benefits of His promises. Key Word: Promise fulfilled, vv. 1, 16. Strong Verses: 6, 7. Striking Facts: vv. 6, 7. The wicked flee when no man pursues. God can, if He wills, dispirit the boldest and most brave enemy of Christ's cause, and make the stoutest heart to tremble at the shaking of a leaf. CHAPTER EIGHT Contents: Famine predicted. Jehoram restores the Shunanmite land. Reigns of Jehoram and Ahaziah of Judah and Joram of Israel. Characters: God, Elisha, Gehazi, Jehoram, Ben-hadad, Hazael, Ahaziah, Shun- anmite woman. Conclusion: God through His ministers, calls for reformation and obedience, and if the calls be not regarded, men may expect plagues and evil days to come, for He WILL be heard, (vv. 1, 12). Key Word: Prediction, vv. 1, 10. Strong Verses: 19. Striking Facts: v. 13. Men often think themselves sufficiently armed against those sins by which they are afterward entirely overcome. CHAPTER NINE Contents: Jehu annointed king of Israel. Slays Jehoram, Ahaziah and Jez- ebel. Characters: God, Elisha, a prophet, Jehu, Jezebel, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Ahab. Conclusion: God doesn't always pay up for sin every week, but in the end, He pays. He is known by His judgments. Key Word: Sin requitted, vv. 26, 36. Strong Verses: 26. SECOND KINGS Page Seventy-Seven Striking Facts, v. 11. Men who have no religion commonly look upon follow- ers of Christ as mad. Of the Savior they said, "He is beside himself." Of John, "He has a devil." Of Paul, "Much learning hath made thee mad." CHAPTER TEN Contents: Judgment on house of Ahab. Princes of Judah slain. Baal wor- ship put out. Jehu's reign and death. Characters: God, Jehu, Jehonadab, Hazael. Conclusion: God is not the author of any man's sin, but even by that which men do from bad principles, He serves His own purposes and takes ven- geance on those who have defied Him. Key Word: Judgment, vv. 10, 17. Strong Verses: 10. Striking Facts: v. 16. If we aim at the applause of men and make their praise our highest aim, instead of the honor of Christ, we are upon a false bottom. An upright heart approves itself to God and covets no more than His acceptance. CHAPTER ELEVEN Contents: Royal seed of Judah destroyed. Joash becomes king. Execution of. Athaliah. Revival through Jehoida. Characters: God, Joash, Jehoida, Athaliah, Jehoshaba. Conclusion: All attempts to frustrate God's revealed purpose are foolish and bound to be fruitless. Who can disannul what God has purposed? Though the promise be bound up in one life, yet will it not fail. Key Word: Preserved, v. 3. Strong Verses: 17. Striking Facts: Three times the royal line was all extinct except for one babe. Moses, Heb. 11:23; Joash, v. 3. Christ, Mt. 2:12-16. CHAPTER TWELVE Contents: Reign of Joash over Judah and his death. Repair of the templp. Characters: God, Joash, Jehoida, Hazael. Conclusion: Those who are entrusted with public money for the carrying on of God's- work should learn to deal faithfully, as those who know God will reckon with them, if men do not. Loose financial methods in the church dishonor God. Key Word: Repairing temple, v. 5. Strong Verses: 2, 15. Striking Facts: v. 9. This is the first mite box mentioned in the Bible. The last one is in Mk. 12:4. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Contents: Reign of Jehoahaz over Israel and his death. Accession of Jehoash and his death. Elisha's death and the miracle at his tomb. Characters: God, Elisha, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Hazael. Conclusion: The slowness of God's processes against sinners must be con- strued to the honor of His mercy, not to the impeachment of His justice (v. 23). It is of the Lord's mercies, that they are not consumed. Key Word: Gracious, v. 23. Strong Verses: 4, 23. Striking Facts: v. 14. It is much to our spiritual advantage to attend the death beds of Christlike men that we might hear their last counsels. CHAPTER FOURTEEN ntents: Reign of Amaziah over Judah. War between Israel and Judah. Reign of Jeroboam in Jerusalem. aracters: God, Amaziah, Jehoash, Jeroboam, Jonah, Azariah. lusion: Those who are too eager, through pride, to fight, may get enough of it in quick order. Many would have honor and wealth enough, if they but knew when they had enough. Key Word: Defeat, v. 12. Strong Verses: 26, 27. Page Seventy-Eight SECOND KINGS CHAPTER FIFTEEN Contents: Reign of Azariah and Jotham over Judah and Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah over Israel. Characters: God, Azariah, Jotham, Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pul, Peka- hiah, Pekah, Rezin, Ahaz. Conclusion: God may for a time suffer wickedness to prosper that it may of itself carry away the wealth and honors that might have been kept if God had been recognized. One wicked man is made the scourge of another and every wicked man sooner or later ruins himself. Key Word: Reigns. Strong Verses: 12. CHAPTER SIXTEEN Contents: Reign of Ahaz over Judah. Assyrians take Damascus. Characters: God, Ahaz, Tiglath-pileser, Urijah, Rezin, Pekah. Conclusion: That religion is of no worth which is guided by fancy instead of faith (v. 10). The hearts of idolaters walk after their eyes. Key Word: Abominations, v. 3. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Contents: Reign of Hoshea in Israel. Israel becomes tributary to Assyrians. The sins of Israel. Characters: God, Hoshea, Shalmaneser, So. Conclusion: Those who forget God may themselves expect to b* forgotten. Those who try to be like the world may expect to be swallovtfd up by the world. Those who will not serve God in their own land j*t6d not be surprised if they are forced to serve enemies in a strange lane. Key Word: Carried away, vv. 6, 18. Strong Verses: 13, 14, 37, 39. Striking Facts, v. 7. From this captivity, Israel has never been restored to Palestine. See Deut. 28:15-68. A remnant of Judah returned but the national restoration is yet to be fulfilled. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Contents: Reign and revival of Hezekiah over Judah. Victory over Phillis- tines. Invasion of Sennacherib. Insolence of Rab-shekeh. Characters: God, Hezekiah, Hoshea, Shalmaneser, Sennacherib, Eliakim, Sheb- nah, Tartan, Rabsaris, Rab-shakeh, Joah. Conclusion: Santanic suggestions are always artful and cleverly managed and well sprinkled with pride, malice, falsehood and blasphemy. Thus Satan steals a man's watch and explains it so well, the victim gives him his coat and vest. Key Word: Seducers, v. 30. Strong Verses: 6, 7. CHAPTER NINETEEN Contents: Hezekiah's message to Isaiah and the answer. Sennacherib defies God. Hezekiah's prayer and the answer through Isaiah. Characters: God, angel (Jesus), Hezekiah, Isaiah, Sennacherib, Eliakim, Shebna, Rab-shakeh. Conclusion: Prayer changes things. If the motive of our prayer is the honor of God, we may be sure He will graciously and copiously answer, being able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. Key Word: Prayer answered, vv. 19, 34. Strong Verses: 15, 34. Striking Facts: v. 30. The remnant shall yet again be planted in their own habitations and shall take root there and grow rich. That soul is indeed prosperous who takes root downward by faith in Christ, and then becomes fruitful upward in righteousness. CHAPTER TWENTY Contents: Hezekiah's illness and recovery. Characters: God, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Berodach-baladan. Conclusion: Neither greatness nor goodness can exempt us from sickness, yet SECOND KINGS Page Seventy-Nine often when the death sentence has apparently been received within the body, it is reversible through Spirit-born, faith-filled prayer. Key Word: Healed, v. 5. Strong Verses: 5. Striking Facts: v. 7. It is duty to make use of legitimate means to assist nature when we are sick, unless God has by a special revelation made it clear that He intends to heal entirely by miraculous power. Medicines are God-given and He has graciously made them serviceable to man in con- sideration of the poor. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Contents: Evil reigns of Manasseh and Amon in Judah. Characters: God, Manasseh, Amon. Conclusion: Those have much to answer for who not only are wicked them- selves but help to make others so. v. 16. Key Word: Evil reigns, vv. 2, 20. Strong Verses: 11,12. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Contents: Reign of Josiah. Repairing temple and finding of the book of the law. Characters: God, Josiah, Hilkiah, Shaphan, Huldah, Ahikam, Achbor, Asahiah. Conclusion: An unread Bible is a lost Biole and a lost Bible always means spiritual degeneracy and its accompanying curses. When man finds the Word, the Word is quick to find him and convict him of sin. Either sin keeps one from the Book or the Book keeps one from sin. Key Word: Bible found, v. 13. Strong Verses: 13, 19. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Contents: Law read to the people. The king's covenant and reformations. Characters: God, Josiah, Hilkiah, Pharaoh-neche, Jehoahaz, Jehoikim, Eliakim. Conclusion: We should put ourselves heartily into God's hands for service and as far as our influence goes, our endeavors should go to do good and bring the wickedness of the wicked to an end. Key Word: Covenant, v. 3. Strong Verses: 3, 25. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Contents: Jehoikim tributary to Nebuchadnezzar. Reigns of Jehoikim, Jehoichin and Zedekiah. Deportation to Babylon. Characters: God, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah. Conclusion: Time will not wear out the guilt of sin. Threatenings will be fulfilled as certainly as promises if the sinner's repentance prevent not. Key Word: Judgment, vv. 3, 14. Strong Verses: 3. CHAPTER TW T ENTY-FIVE Contents: Seige of Jerusalem and final deportation. Characters: God, Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Gedaliah, Ishmael, Evil-mero- dach, Jehoiachin. Conclusion: Those who have by sin provoked God to leave them may expect ultimately to be encompassed about with innumerable evils. Key Word: Broken up, v. 4. Striking Facts: v. 30. Let none say they shall never see good again because they have so long seen nothing but evil, for we know not what good turn providence may yet give to our affairs according to the days wherein we have been afflicted. Psa. 90:15. Page Eighty BOOK OF FIRST CHRONICLES I. CHRONICLES Key Thought : Number of Chapters : Key Verse : Christ seen as : Temple 29 2 Chron. 15:2 God's true King Writer of the Book: Date: Conclusion of the Book: Jehovah is the sov- Uncertain (Ezra) About 1000 B. C. ereign Lord blessing the obedient and pun- ishing the disobedient. SUMMARY CHAPTER ONE Contents: Genealogy: Adam to dukes of Edom. The patriarchal line. Characters: Adam, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Esau, Israel. Conclusion: We are all by nature the seed of Adam. Let us see to it that by faith we become the spiritual children of Abraham. Rom. 4:11-12. Key Word: Genealogy. CHAPTER TWO Contents: Genealogy, sons of Judah. Characters: Jacob, Judah, Boaz, Jesse, David. Conclusion: The best and most honorable families may have those belong- ing to them who are black sheep. Key Word: Genealogy. CHAPTER THREE Contents: Genealogy of David's line. Characters: David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Josiah, Zerrubabbel. Conclusion: Since piety and devotion are not hereditary, it behooves all par- ents to consecrate their children to God long before they are born and to do their best to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, praying for the coming generations. Key Word: Genealogy. Striking Facts: From David's line our Lord came, as regards the flesh, as appears from Lk. 3:31. CHAPTER FOUR Contents: Posterity of Judah and Simeon. Characters: God, Jabez, Caleb. Conclusion: If we set ourselves to acknowledge God in all our ways we put ourselves under the divine blessing and protection and will be prospered accordingly, (v. 10). Key Word: Genealogy. Strong Verse: 10. CHAPTER FIVE Contents: Line of Reuben, Gad, half of Manasseh. Captivity for their sins. Characters: Reuben, Judah. Conclusion: In all conflicts we must look up to heaven for strength and it is believing prayer that will be prevailing prayer. Key Word: Genealogy. Strong Verses: 20, 22. Striking Facts: v. 22. If we depend upon a commission from God to wage war upon another country we may depend upon His providence to give success. CHAPTER SIX Contents: Sons of Leyi. Cities of the priests and Levites. Characters: Gershom, Kohath, Merari, Aaron, Moses and Miriam. Conclusion: There is always abundance of service to be done by God's children FIRST CHRONICLES Page Eighty-One in His house. As everyone has received the gift, therefore let him minis- ter according to all that God has commanded. Key Word: Genealogy. Strong Verses: 49. CHAPTER SEVEN Contents: Sons of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephriamy Asher. Characters: As above, Joshua. Conclusion: (v. 22). It is often the burden of those who live to be old that they see their children go before them. It is a brotherly and friendly office on the part of the Christian, to comfort such in their afflictions with the Word of God. Key Word : Genealogy. Striking Facts: v. 21. Ephriam had been promised a seed that should become a multitude (Gen. 48:19) and here the promise seems defeated. God's providences many times seem to contradict His promises, but eventually God makes the promise more illustrious by wonderfully fulfilling it. CHAPTER EIGHT Contents: Sons of Benjamin. The stock of Saul and Jonathan. Characters: Ehud, Saul, Jonathan. Conclusion: (v. 40). It is much to a man's praise that he is qualified to serve his country being mighty in valor, even though not a child of God. ey Word: Genealogy. CHAPTER NINE Contents: Record of the Israelites. The charge of certain Levites. Characters: God, Eleazar, Saul, Jonathan. Conclusion: God's work is likely to be done well when each knows the duty of his place and makes a business of it. That which is everybody's work in the church will generally be nobody's work. Key Word: Inhabitants. CHAPTER TEN Contents: Saul's overthrow and death. Triumph of the Philistines. Saul's sin. Characters: God, Saul, Jonathan, David. Conclusion: Those who abandon themselves to the devil's leading will be abandoned by God and their doom will be according to their transgress- ions. Key Word: Retribution, v. 13. Strong Verse: 13. Striking Facts: v. 6. Those who love their children will avoid sin lest they bring ruin on their children with themselves or entail a curse upon them in later years. CHAPTER ELEVEN Contents: David becomes King of Israel. Catalog of his mighty men. Characters: God, David, Joab, Jashobeam, Eleazar, Abishai, Benaiah. Conclusion: God's counsels will be fulfilled at last, whatever seeming difficul- ties lie in the way. Key Word: Annointed (king), v. 3. Strong Verse: 9. Striking Facts: v. 10. The honors of Christ's kingdom are prepared for those who fight the good fight of faith and are willing to venture even life itself for Christ's sake. CHAPTER TWELVE Contents: David's army at Ziglag. The leaders who made David king. Characters: Holy Spirit, David, Amasai, Jehoiada. Conclusion: It is good to take sides with those who take sides with God and have God with them. Let us therefore testify our allegiance to the Lord Jesus and make ourselves His helpers without reservation. Key Word: Helpers, vv. 1, 21, Strong Verses: 22, 38. Page Eighty-Two FIRST CHRONICLES Striking Facts: vv. 38-39. When Christ is enthroned in a soul, there is bound to be great joy, and a great feast begins, to last not merely for a few days but throughout eternity. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Contents: David's attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem. The ark left at the house of Obed-edom. Characters: God, David, Uzzah, Obed-edom, Abinadab, Ahio. Conclusion: Beware of presumption, rashness and irreverence in dealing with holy things and think not that a good intention will always justify a rash action. We must not trifle in our approaches to God. Key Word: Ark. v. 3. Strong Verses: 14. Striking Facts: There are preachers who lay hands on the doctrines of God's Word, thinking to save Christianity from overthrow. It is dangerous to put unsanctified hands on the person of Christ, His virgin birth, atone- ment, resurrection, etc. CHAPTER FOURTEEN Contents: The prosperity of King David. Double defeat of the Philistines. Characters: God, David, Hiram. Conclusion: David's frequent inquiry of God should direct us in all our ways to acknowledge Him and in all our perplexities to fly to Him that we might perceive God to go before us. Key Word: Kingdom exalted, v. 2. Strong Verse: 16. Striking Facts: v. 17. God has highly exalted our Redeemer, David's greater Son and given Him a name above every name. CHAPTER FIFTEEN Contents: Ark brought to Jerusalem in the appointed way: Characters: God, David, Zadok, Abiathar, Michael, Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, She- maiah, Eliel. Conclusion: It is not enough that we seek God in a due ordinance, but we must seek Him in due order. When those who have suffered for their irregularity learn from God's Word to be obedient in all details, the cor- rection is well bestowed. Key AVord: Ark brought, vv. 15, 25. Strong Verses: 13, 28. Striking Facts: v. 26. Those who bear the vessels of the Lord have great need of divine help in their ministrations, that Christ may be glorified in them and the churches edified through them. CHAPTER SIXTEEN Contents: David's festival and psalm of thanksgiving. The ark established in Jerusalem. Characters: God, David, Zadok, Asaph, Obed-edom, Heman, Jeduthun. Conclusion: Though God's Word may be clouded and eclipsed for a time, it will at length shine out of obscurity, wherefore let us encourage ourselves to triumph and trust in God and glorify Him continually by our praises. Key Word: Praise, v. 4. Strong Verses: 8, 15, 31, 34. Striking Facts: v. 10. Ceremonial worship was a divine institution contain- ing the types of the mediation of Christ and could not therefore be omit- ted. So the church should keep up the appointed ordinances in which Christ is remembered, until He comes. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Contents: David's desire to build the temple. The Davidic covenant and David's prayer. Characters: God, David, Nathan. Conclusion: Thrice happy is that people whose God is Jehovah, for He will be to them a God all-sufficient (v. 27). Whom He blesses are truly and eter- nally blessed, therefore let our desires and hopes be for things eternal. FIRST CHRONICLES Page Eighty-Three Key Word: Covenant, v. 23. Strong Verses: 20, 27. Striking Facts: v. 7. David is here a type of Christ in the flesh, the Shepherd King. At His first coming He took the Shepherd's place. At His return He will take the place of ruler over Israel. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Contents: David's kingdom fully established. Characters: God, David, Hadarezer, Tou, Hadoram, Abishai, Joab, Jehosha- phat, Benaiah. Conclusion: Those who take God along with them whithersoever they go may expect to prosper and be preserved whithersoever they go. Key Word: Judgment and justice, v. 14. Strong Verses : 6,13. Striking Facts: All opposing rule will eventually be put down by the Son of David and the most inveterate enemies shall fall before Him, acknowledg- ing that He is Lord to the glory of the Father. CHAPTER NINETEEN Contents: Ammonite-Syrian war. Characters: God, David, Joab, Abishai, Hanun, Shophach, Hadarezer. Conclusion: Those who design ill themselves are apt to be jealous and to sus- pect ill of others without cause, but the hearts of such are marked for ruin. Right will prevail at last. Key Word: Misjudged, v. 3. Strong Verses: 13. Striking Facts: v. 19. Let those who in vain have stood out against Christ be wise for themselves and agree with Him quickly while they are in the way. CHAPTER TWENTY Contents: Joab and David take Rabbah. War with Philistines. Characters: David, Joab, Sibbechai, Sippai, Jonathan, Elhanan. Conclusion: The power and pride of great men against us need not terrify us if we have the power and peace of God with us. God takes pleasure in abasing lofty looks and mortifying the giants who array themselves against Christianity. Key Word: War, v. 4. : CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE ntents: David's sin in numbering the people. Joab's faithful protest. David's choice of punishment. Characters: God, Satan, David, Joab, Gad, Oman, angel (Jesus). Conclusion: God does not judge of sin as we do. What appears to man to be but a small offense may be a great sin in the eyes of God who knows men's principles, being a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. His judgments are according to the truth. Key Word: Sin, v. 8. Strong Verses: 8, 13. Striking Facts: v. 18. If we have sinned, the safest thing to do is to flee to Christ, who is an altar and sacrifice, for through Him alone there is hope of winning back the joy of salvation and getting favor with God. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Contents: Material prepared for the temple. David instructs Solomon in God's promises. Princes charged to assist Solomon. Characters: God, David, Solomon. Conclusion: Nothing is more powerful to engage us in any service for God than to know that hereunto we were appointed by God. Where God gives rest He expects work (v. 9-10) let us therefore be invigorated for Christian service. Key Word: Temple, v. 10. Strong Verses: 13, 19. Page Eighty-Four FIRST CHRONICLES Striking Facts: Everything about the temple was to be stately and magnifi- cent, being a type of Christ in whom all fullness dwells and in whom are hid all treasures. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Contents: Number and distribution of the Levites. Characters: God, David. Conclusion: There is a place in the service of God for every Christian and God would have each at his own post, for of all men an idle Christian makes the worst figure. No place in God's service is commonplace unless it be made so by an unworthy spirit. Key Word: Service, v. 4. Strong Verse: 25. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Contents: The divisions of the priests and Levites for the temple service. Characters: God, David, Zadok, Ahimelech, Eleazer, Ithamar. Conclusion: God was, and is still, the God of order, particularly in the things of His worship. Every Christian should therefore pray to know his place in the work of God and should keep to it. Key Word: Service, vv. 3, 19. Striking Facts: In the mystical body of Christ every member has its use for the good of the whole. Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:12. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE Contents: The offices of the temple singers. Characters: God, David, Asaph, Jeduthun, Heman. Conclusion: The glory and honor of God should be extolled in the music of the church whether vocal or instrumental, making melody from the heart as to the Lord. (Eph. 5:19.) Key Word: Sacred song, v. 6. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Contents: The division of the temple porters. Levites as treasurers. Of- ficers and judges Characters: God, Shelemiah, Zechariah, Shuppin, Hozah, Obed-edom. Conclusion: Whatever service God wishes men for, He either finds them fit or makes them so. All service for God is honorable, and happy will be that man who is faithful to his appointed part. Key Word: Ministry, v. 12. Striking Facts: The temple treasuries illustrate the plenty there is in our Father's house, enough and to spare. In Christ, the true Temple, are hid all treasures of wisdom and knowledge and riches to supply all the believer's needs. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN Contents: The captains for each month. Princes of the twelve tribes. David's several officers. Characters: God, David, Joab, Jonathan, Jeluel, Ahitophel, Hushai, Jehoiada, Abiathar. Conclusion: It is the wisdom of rulers in providing for public safety to seek to make it effectual and yet easy and as little as possible burdensome to the people. Key Word: Officers, v. 1. Striking Facts: v. 24. A good man cannot, if he stops to reflect, be pleased with that which he knows displeases Christ nor take comfort in that which is obtained through unbelief in God's promises. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT Contents: David counsels Israel and Solomon concerning the temple. Characters: God, David, Holy Spirit (v. 12), Solomon. Conclusion: As the time apparently draws nigh for God's servants to die, FIRST CHRONICLES Page Eighty-Five they should put forth every effort to counsel and encourage their succes- sors, calling attention to the patterns God has given in His Word. Key Word: Counsel, v. 2. Strong Verses: 8, 9, 20. Striking Facts: The Gospel temple of Christ, being builded of living stones, is all being framed according to the divine counsels, ordained before the foundation of the world for God's glory. In bringing it to completion we should cling to the plans given in the New Testament. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE Contents: David exhorts the people. The princes and people willingly offer, David's thanksgiving and prayer. Solomon made king. David's death. Characters: God, David, Solomon, Zadok. Conclusion: Those whose affections are set upon the service of God will think no pains nor cost too much to bestow upon it and God loveth a cheerful giver. Key Word: Willing offerings, v. 6. Strong Verses: 9, 11, 12. Striking Facts: v. 25. Solomon's glorious and peaceful kingdom is a type of the coming kingdom of the Messiah on earth. His will be indeed "the throne of the Lord" (v. 23) for the Father will commit all judgment to Him. Page Eighty-Six BOOK OF SECOND CHRONICLES II. CHRONICLES Key Thought: Number Temple of Chapters: 36 Key Verse: Christ seen as: 15:2 God's true King. Writer of the Book: Uncertain (Ezra) Date: About 530 B. C. Conclusion of the Book: Seeking and serving the Lord is the secret of a vital religion and a life of victory. SUMMARY CHAPTER ONE Contents: Solomon's sacrifices at Gibeon. His vision and prayer and God's answer. Characters: God, Solomon. Conclusion: Those who make this world their end come short of the other and are never satisfied with this. Those who make the other world their end and seek spiritual gifts, not only obtain these with full satisfaction, but enjoy much of this world on their way there. Key Word: Prayer, v. 7. Strong Verses: 11, 12. Striking Facts: The Christian's real character appears in his choices and desires. "What wouldst thou have?" tries a man as much as "What wouldst thou DO?" v. 7. CHAPTER TWO Contents: Preparation to build the temple. Characters: God, Solomon, Hiram, King of Tyre. Conclusion: (vv. 4-6) It becomes us to go about every work for God with a due sense of our utter insufficiency for it and our incapacity in ourselves to do anything adequate to the divine perfections. Key Word: Temple, v. 4. Strong Verses: 6. Striking Facts: The artificer was a Gentile, a good omen of uniting Jew and Gentile in the Gospel temple, which is Christ, v. 14. CHAPTER THREE Contents: Temple begun. The materials and dimensions. Characters: God, Solomon. Conclusion: God's Word prescribes all the details of how His work is to be carried on. Nothing can be added to or subtracted from God's per- fect plans. Key Word: Temple, v. 1. Striking Facts: The temple was built at Jerusalem (v. 1). As it typified Christ it was fitly built there; since it was there He raised up the temple of His body. CHAPTER FOUR Contents: Further details about the temple. Characters: God, Hiram the artificer. Conclusion: Everything in the temple directed the worshipper to the great propitiation. So should we in all our devotions keep the eye of faith upon Jesus Christ who was the fulfillment of all. Key Word: Temple. CHAPTER FIVE Contents: The ark brought in. The glory fills the house. Characters: God, Solomon. Conclusion: When God's work is carried out according to His revealed will and done in the spirit of unity with praise, He is certain to own it and to give a special manifestation of His presence. ECOND CHRONICLES Page Eighty-Seven Key Word: Glory, v. 14. Strong Verses: 14. Striking Facts: The ark was a type of Christ, and as such a token of the presence of God. The temple would be a desolate place indeed if Christ was not in it to glorify it. CHAPTER SIX Contents: Solomon's sermon and prayer. Characters: God, Solomon. Conclusion: Those who set God before them and walk before Him with all their hearts, will find Him as good as His word and better. He will both keep covenant with them and show mercy to them. (v. 14.) Key Word: Dedication, v. 12. Strong Verses: 14, 41. Striking Facts: v. 20. We may with confidence pray to God to be well pleased with us because we are in Jesus Christ in whom God is well pleased. He says not now of any house "this is my beloved place," so there is but one safe shelter Christ. CHAPTER SEVEN Contents: Divine acceptance. Sacrifice and rejoicing. God appears to Solo- mon. Characters: God, Solomon. Conclusion: The surest evidence 'of God's acceptance of our prayers is the descent of His holy fire upon us. The heart to which God manifests Him- self is thereby owned as a living temple. Key Word: Accepted, vv. 1, 12. Strong Verses: 1, 14. Striking Facts: v. 1. Christ, our sacrifice, was made sin and a curse for us and the sacrifice was consumed by the fire of God's wrath against sin that we might escape, and inherit His perfect righteousness. CHAPTER EIGHT Contents: The energy and fame of Solomon. Characters: God, Pharaoh's daughter, Solomon, King of Tyre. Conclusion: When our hearts are truly set on God's work, we find our Father in heaven ready to indulge us in many innocent desires and to give us success in our undertakings. Key Word: Solomon's work, v. 16. CHAPTER NINE Contents: Solomon and the queen of Sheba. His revenue and splendor. Characters: God, Solomon, queen of Sheba. Conclusion: Those who honor God, He will honor. The best way to get the credit of our endowments as well as the full enjoyment of them is to con- secrate them to God and use them for Him. Key Word: Fame, v. 1. Strong Verses: 8. Striking Facts: The lustre of Solomon's kingdom was typical of the glory of the coming kingdom of Christ and a faint representation of His throne to be set up when He returns. CHAPTER TEN Contents: Accession and folly of Rehoboam. Division of the kingdom. Ac- cession of Jeroboam over Israel. Characters: God, Rehoboam, Jeroboam, Ahijah, Hadoram. Conclusion: Taking counsel of men who know not God is sure to mean serious blunders, and a rough answer never fails to bring division. Good words cost nothing and purchase great things. Key Word: Foolish counsel, v. 8. CHAPTER ELEVEN Contents: Rehoboam returns to Jerusalem. Jeroboam rejects the worship of God. Characters: God, Rehoboam, Jeroboam, Ahijah, Shamaiah. Page Eighty-Eight SECOND CHRONICLES Conclusion: It is dangerous to undertake anything contrary to the will of God, and he is wise who, when he finds himself going contrary to God's plans, lets his own plans drop. Key Word: Deterred, v 4. Striking Facts: v. 14. Christ's representatives should never allow a secu- lar advantage to keep them among worshippers of the devil or in any place where they are in danger of making shipwreck of faith and conscience. CHAPTER TWELVE Contents: Rehoboam defeated by Shishak. Death of Rehoboam. Characters: God, Rehoboam, Shishak, Shemaiah. Conclusion: It becomes us, when we are under the rebukes of providence, to justify God (v. 6) and humble ourselves (v. 12), thereby we may be saved from total ruin, though we have to bear a part of God's judgment. Key Word: Humbled, v. 7. Strong Verses: 12. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Contents: War between Abijah and Jeroboam. Death of Jeroboam. Characters: God, Abijah, Jeroboam. Conclusion: Right may indeed go by the worst for a time, but it will pre- vail at last. The battle is ours, if God be for us. KeyWord: Reliance (on God), v. 18. Strong Verses: 10, 12. Striking Facts: v. 18. The prayer of faith is the prevailing prayer and it is by faith in Christ's mediation that we overcome the world. 1 John 5:4. CHAPTER FOURTEEN Contents: Death of Abijah. Accession of Asa. Asa's ' victory over Zerah. Characters: God, Asa, Zerah. Conclusion: He who has sought God in the day of peace and prosperity can with holy boldness cry to Him in the day of testing and God will have delight in giving him a great victory. Key Word: Rest (on God) v. 11. Strong Verses: 11. Striking Facts: v. 7. Those have rest indeed who have the peace of Christ, for He gives not as the world gives. John 14:27. CHAPTER FIFTEEN Contents: Warnings of Azariah. Reform under Asa. Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Azariah, Asa, Oded, Maachah. Conclusion: If we turn aside from God and His ordinances, He is not tied to us, but will certainly cease to act for us, when we will discover that present triumphs are no security to us. If we keep praying we will keep pre- vailing. Key Word: Reform v. 8. Strong Verses: 2, 7, 15. Striking Facts: v. 8. Attachment to Christ means detachment from idols. 1 Thes. 1:9. CHAPTER SIXTEEN Contents: War between Asa and Baasha. Asa's rebuke and death. Characters: God, Asa, Hanani, Baasha, Ben-hadad. Conclusion: God is much displeased when He is distrusted and when the arm of flesh is relied on more than His power and goodness. Since we have the Rock of Ages to rely upon, let us not lean upon broken reeds. Key Word: Unbelief, vv. 7, 12. Strong Verses: 9. Striking Facts: v. 12. (Physicians) Egyptian healers whose methods were demonical, answering to spiritualism, Christian Science, New Thought, clairvoyancy, etc., of our own time. The help of physicians is good if we trust not to the physician but to Christ the Great Physician. i SECOND CHRONTCLES Page Eighty-Nine CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Contents: Accession of Jelioshaphat and his growing power. Characters: God, Jehoshaphat. Conclusion: True religion and obedience to God are the best friends to out- ward prosperity. Key Word: Obedience, v. 4. Strong Verses: 3, 4. Striking Facts: v. 3 (ways of David) Note that Jehoshaphat followed David as far as David followed God. Paul exhorts us to be followers of him, but only as far as he followed Christ. 1 Cor. 11:1. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Contents: Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahab. Ahab's lying prophets. Mi- caiah's true prophecy. Defeat and death of Ahab. Characters: God, Jehoshaphat, Ahab, Micaiah, Zedekiah, king of Syria, lying spirits. Conclusion: Some men's kindnesses are dangerous and their society infec- tious. There can be no surety of being in familiar converse with wicked people and yet getting no hurt by them. Key Word: Ungodly alliance, v 1. Strong Verses: 13. Striking Facts: v. 21. One evil spirit can make use of 400 prophets to deceive those who will not receive the love of the truth. Beware of the (false prophets who speak in Satanic energy. CHAPTER NINETEEN Contents: Jehu rebukes Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahab. Characters: God, Jehoshaphat, Jehu, Amariah, Zebadiah. Conclusion: Rebuke a wise man and he will take warning (Prov. 9:8-9) and if he truly repents, he will be particularly concerned to recover those who have fallen into sin or been hardened in it by his example. Key Word: Returned, v. 4. Strong Verses: 7. CHAPTER TWENTY Contents: Jehoshaphat's prayer for deliverance and its answer. Invading armies stricken. Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Jehoshaphat, Jahaziel, Ahaziah. Conclusion: Faith takes God's bonds, knowing they are as good as ready money (v. 19). If the battle is God's and we are on God's side, we may be certain of shortly being made more than conquerors through Him that loved us. This is the victory, even our faith. Key \Vord: Believing, v. 20. Strong Verses: 9, 17 Striking Facts: v. 26 The valley of Berachah, lit. "blessing" (modern Bible class name Baraca) was perpetuated for the encouragement of suc- ceeding generations to trust in God and to remind us that our praises should be as oft repeated as our prayers. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Contents: Jehoram's wicked reign over Judah .and its accompanying disasters. Characters: God, Jehoram, Elijah, Libnah. Conclusion: Bad men bring judgment upon themselves and all about them. Wickedness makes men despicable even in the eyes of those who have little religion, and the name of the wicked shall rot. (v. 19.) Key Word: Evil, v. 6. Strong Verses: 7. Page Ninety SECOND CHRONICLES Key Word: Evil, v. 4. Striking Facts: Three times the royal seed was extinct except for a single babe whom God preserved. 1. Moses, Heb. 11:23. 2. Joash. 3. Jesus, Matt. 2:12, 16. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Contents: Joash becomes king of Judah. Execution of Athaliah. Revival through Jehoiada. Characters: God, Jehoiada, Athaliah, Joash. Conclusion: Some who are themselves most guilty are commonly most for- ward to cry "treason" at others. Evil doers will surely be cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb, then shall the righteous shine forth as the noonday. Key Word: Execution, v. 15. Strong Verses: 16. Striking Facts: v. 21. When the Lord Jesus is enthroned upon the heart and the usurper of the life put down, all is quiet and springs of joy are opened. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Contents: Reign of Joash. Temple repaired. Zechariah stoned. Judah de- feated by Syrians. Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Joash, Jehoiada, Zechariah, Zabad, Jehozabad, Amaziah. Conclusion: It is easier to build temples than to be a temple of the Holy Spirit. Outward religious zeal is no substitute for inward spiritual vision, (vv. 4, 24.) Key Word: Repaired (temple), v. 6; judgment, v. 24. Strong Verses: 10, 20. Striking Facts: vv. 24-26. If vengeance pursues men, the end of one trouble will be but the beginning of another. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE Contents: Reign of Amaziah over Judah. War between Judah and Israel. Characters: God, Amaziah, Joash, man of God, Obed-edom. Conclusion: Trust in God means to be willing to venture the loss of anything for Him, knowing that He can more than make up any damage we sustain in obeying His commands. A firm belief in God's all-sufficiency to bear us out in our duty, will make His yoke easy and His burden light. Key Word: Counsel despised, v. 16. Strong Verses: 8. Striking Facts: v. 2. Amaziah is an illustration of many today, who live moral lives, yet not enemies to Christ. He that is not with Christ is counted against Him. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Contents: Accession of Uzziah. His successes and fame. Characters: God, Uzziah, Zechariah, Jotham, Isaiah. Conclusion: The world's smiles are the devil's darts and prosperity ruin as many as adversity. It is dangerous to be strong except in the Lord and the power of His might. Key Word: Pride, v. 16. Strong Verses: 5. Striking Facts: Humility is always the safest plan for it brings Christ's suc- cesses into our lives. Psa. 105:4. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN Contents: Reign of Jotham in Judah and his death. Characters : God, Jotham. Conclusion: The more steadfast we are in religion, the mightier we shall be for the resistance of evil and the performance of good. Key Word: Mighty, v. 6. Strong Verses: 6. SECOND CHRONICLES Page Ninety-One CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT Contents: Reign of Ahaz. War with Rekah. Intercession of Oded. Edo- mite and Philistine invasion. Characters: God, Ahaz, Syrian king, Tiglath-pileser, Zechri, Pekah, Oded. Conclusion: If men will not be humbled by God's judgments, God will find means to bring them low and will make them as despicable as they have been formidable. Key Word: Brought low, v. 19. Strong Verses: '". 8. Striking Facts: v. 16. Estrangement from Christ is generally followed by seeking protection from the enemies of Christ, v. 20, but no enemy of Christ can strengthen the people of God. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE Contents: Hezekiah's reign in Judah and the revival. Temple restored. Characters: God, Hezekiah. Conclusion: Those who begin with God begin at the right end of their work and will prosper accordingly. Let us do our part to revive the work of God and ascribe to Him all the glory of what is done. Key Word: Cleansed, v. 15. Strong Verses: 11, 27. Striking Facts: v. 22. Even repentance and reformation will not obtain pardon but through Christ who was made our sin offering we may find peace. With our offering, our praises should ascend, because Christ has been made unto us righteousness. CHAPTER THIRTY Contents: Preparations for the passover and its observance. Characters: God, Hezekiah. Conclusion: In every true reformation, the doctrine of the atonement must be emphasized. God's grace will meet us in our deepest difficulties if they are felt and confessed and if we approach Him by the blood-sprin- kled way. Key Word: Passover, v. 1. Strong Verses: 8, 9. Striking Facts: v. 15. Christ our passover was sacrificed for us. 1 Cor. 5:1. When He is trusted as the Lamb of God who beareth away sin, God is in a position to heal us and to give us the joy of salvation. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE Contents: Idols destroyed and other reforms of Hezekiah. Characters: God, Hezekiah, Azariah, Cononiah, Kore.