A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

THE CONFESSION OF FAITH ARTICLE IV - (continued)

Continuing with the Canonical Books of the Holy Scriptures, we come to the Prophetical Books, of which there are sixteen. But first some explanations as to who these prophets were. In the narrow sense of the word, they were servants of God. They have also been called seers and holy men of God, and were the teachers in religion to the children of Israel.

Israel had many more prophets than those who wrote these books of the Bible or whose names are given in the Bible. We know of Elijah and Elisha, who had such an important place among the people, but there are no known writings of them. That there were others whose names we do not know can be seen in Jeremiah 29:1, where we read, “Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, etc.” We only know of Ezekiel and Daniel, but there must have been more also in Babylon.

The prophets were not from a single tribe, and were of various occupations or professions. Among them we find high priests, priests, Levites, princes, and simple shepherds. As prophets they did not receive wages as, for example, the priests and Levites did. Their service did not carry on from father to son, as did the service of the priests, but a special calling of the Lord was necessary. The word which they brought was not their own, but was the Word of God. False prophets brought their own message and their own words, but the true servants of God must bring His Word, even when the message was contrary to their desires. We read that Ezekiel had to eat a roll of a book filled with the judgments of the Lord against Israel. How dreadful this was for him, but he was not allowed to bring this message with aversion; it must be sweet in his mouth, even though it was bitter in his belly. Think also of the prophet Jonah who was sent to Nineveh.

Not only men were called to this office, but also women, among whom were Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, and Noahdiah. The message brought by the prophets and prophetesses was given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and was therefore infallible.

Placing the prophetical books in chronological order, they would probably be as follows: Obadiah, Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Because of the extent of some of these books, we speak of the great, or major, and the minor prophets. The four great prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel precede the others.

ISAIAH, whose name means “the Lord is the salvation”, was the son of Amoz. According to the Jewish tradition, Amoz was a brother of King Amaziah. Isaiah spoke to the people for almost sixty years (from 760 to 700 B.C.). He lived in Jerusalem and died as a martyr in the days of Manasseh. It is said that when he was fleeing from this wicked king, he hid himself in the trunk of a hollow tree, but was found by the soldiers. At the king’s command he was sawn in pieces while in the trunk of the tree. (Hebrews 11:37 could refer to this fact).

His whole life stood in the constellation of the honor of the living God. To the wicked he preached the coming judgments of the Lord, but the faithful are encouraged that the theocracy is coming. There is no one prophet who spoke so clearly about the coming Messiah as Isaiah did, and therefore he is called the evangelist of the Old Testament.

His book can be divided into three parts:chapters 1 through 5 are more or less an introduction; chapters 6 through 39 are an announcement of the judgments over Israel, but that a remnant will be saved; and chapters 40 through 66 speak of the deliverance of God’s people and the exaltation of the theocracy to the glory of that Kingdom wherein God will be all and in all. The deliverance of the Jew out of Babylon is a type of the spiritual deliverance by Jesus Christ.

JEREMIAH was a son of Hilkiah, a priest who lived in Anathoth in the tribe of Benjamin. This city was about an hour’s distance from Jerusalem. Jeremiah brought God’s Word to the people for about 41 years (from 629 to 588 B.C.). After Jerusalem had been destroyed and Gedaliah had been murdered, the Jews fled to Tahpanhes, a city in Egypt, and took Jeremiah the prophet with them. Here, again according to tradition, he was stoned to death by his own people. However, others say that Nebuchadnezzar brought him from Egypt to Babylon; but we do not know this to be a fact. There is a great difference between Jeremiah and his predecessor. Isaiah had the courage of a young lion, but Jeremiah was melancholy and very downcast because of the judgments of the Lord. He was a man who saw much misery.

His book can be divided into two parts: chapters 1 through 45 are prophecies against the domestic enemies, and chapters 46 through 51 are against foreign nations.

The third great prophet, EZEKIEL, was the son of Buzi and was also of the family of priests. In the year 599 B.C. he was led into captivity, which was about eleven years before the destruction of Jerusalem. Other captives carried into captivity with him were King Jehoiachin, many of the princes, and nobles and priests. Although younger than Jeremiah, Ezekiel was his contemporary. The one was called in Jerusalem, the other in Babylon to speak in the Name of the Lord. Ezekiel had been in Babylon about five years when the Lord called him to the office of prophet, and he was active in this work for about twenty-two years. For Ezekiel, as it also was for Jeremiah, the main subject of his prophetic book was the destruction of Jerusalem and its consequences. In chapter 3, verse 21, he tells of his calling to the office of prophet.

In the first part of his book, Ezekiel announces God’s punishments upon the Jews because of their idolatry; in chapters 25 through 32 he speaks of the punishments of the oppressors of his people; then in chapters 33 through 48 he describes the restoration of the Jews under the government of Prince Messiah. Because of the many allegoric presentations and symbolic acts which there are in parts of this book, they are quite difficult to understand. We always are in need of the light from on high to understand God’s Word, but it is especially needed for Ezekiel’s book.

The Lord willing, we hope to discuss the book of the fourth great prophet in our next article.

Rev. A. Den Boer

Norwich

BIBLE QUIZ

Dear Boys and Girls,

All of you know how important water is to us, especially during the hot, summer months. Then we sometimes hear of water shortages even in our country. Also for the Israelites when they travelled in the wilderness, water became a problem, but the Lord did wonders for them in providing them with water. Sometimes as we travel we may see water, but with a sign nearby: “Not for drinking”. The water is not clean and pure and fresh. What would you think of people who would push the sign aside and drink anyway?

God’s Word is also a sign placed alongside many evils of today. It tells us of many books -”Not suitable or fit for reading”; of many things to be seen - “Not suitable for seeing”; or of things to do - “Not to be done”. And what must we say of those who read the sign, but push it aside and pay no attention to the warning? What a privilege it is that we have God’s Word to warn us, but how hard are our hearts, how inclined we are to all evil. May the Lord teach us to see what we are doing.

But the Lord Jesus spoke about water which He alone could give. What do you think this water would be? It would be all the blessings for salvation, which are so necessary to live and die happily. May we seek this of Him while we are yet young, for that is the best time to do so. Our quiz tells us more about water as mentioned in the Bible. The first letters will spell out five words found in the Song of Solomon 4:15. Here are the questions -

In Revelations 22 we read, “And let him that is_________________ come, and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.”

At Rephidim the Lord told Moses, “Thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come__________ out of it.”

To whom did the Lord say, “Go, show thyself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth?”

To the woman at the well the Lord Jesus said, “The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting___________.

In Jeremiah 2 the Lord said of His people, “They have forsaken Me the fountain of________ waters.”

In Zechariah 13 we read, “In that day there shall be a fountain ______________to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleaness.”

When Jacob blessed his children, he said, “Joseph is a__________ bough, even a______________ bough by a well.”

In Psalm 42 David said, “My soul thirsteth for God, for the ___________God.”

When God opened her eyes, Hagar saw a well of water, and she filled a bottle and gave her son_______________drink.

Elijah said to the widow woman, “Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a___________, that I may drink.”

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the______________”

In Isaiah 41 the Lord said, “When the poor and_____________seek water and there is none,..I the Lord will hear them.”

The well where the Lord Jesus met a Samaritan woman was on a parcel of________________land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

In Cana of Galilee the Lord Jesus performed a miracle, changing water into_______________.

The servant of______________met Rebekah by the well of water.

As Moses sat by a well of water, the seven daughters of Reuel came and drew water and filled the_______________to water the flock.

At what place did the children of Israel come where were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees?

In Revelation 22 John told of seeing a pure ______________of water of life, clear as crystal.

In Isaiah 12 we read, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of______________.

(Send your answers to me at this address - Garret J. Moerdyk, 1104 Roseland Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001.)

The answers to the July quiz are as follows -

“The Way, The Truth,

and the Life” John 14:6

Things - Acts 10:33

Head - Acts 4:11

Eat - Acts 11:7

Walk - Acts 3:6

Agrippa - Acts 26:28

You - Acts 4:19

Temple - Acts 3:2

Heaven - Acts 4:12

Ethiopia - Acts 8:26–28

Thou - Acts 9:6

Respecter - Acts 10:34

Unclean - Acts 10:28

Tarsus - Acts 9:11

Hand - Acts 7:56

Authority - Acts 9:14

Name - Acts 9:15

Drusilla - Acts 24:24

Tertullus - Acts 24:2

Hear - Acts 7:37

Egyptian - Acts 21:37–38

Life - Acts 3:15

Ignorance - Acts 3:17

Festus - Acts 26:24

Euroclydon - Acts 27:13–14

Answers were received from the following boys and girls:

Steve Boluyt

Jackie Schelling

Steve Bazen

Peter Bazen

Bobby Van Kempen

Janice Stapel

John Stapel

JoAnn Van Ravenswaay

Esther Van Ravenswaay

Norm Van Ravenswaay

Margot Mast

Harlan Rozeboom

Richard Rozeboom

Larry Rozeboom

Terry Post

Willard Post

Cindy Hoogendoorn

Gene Hoogendoorn

Perry Hoogendoorn

Mary Van Oostenbrugge

Steven Van Oostenbrugge

Karl Van Oostenbrugge

Shirley Slotsema

Larry Slotsema

Mark Meeuwse

Neal Boerkoel

John Blok

Jane DeBat

Richard DeBat

Randy Van Giessen

Mary Van Giessen

Kristi Boluyt

Tammy Troff

Julie Frens

Mary Frens

Sharon Frens

Elaine Frens

Leonard Frens

Debbie Kamp

Tom Kamp

Bill Kamp

Marilyn Kamp

Steve Bleeker

Laurie Bleeker

Frances Vander Meulen

Harmen Vander Meulen

Joyce Vander Meulen

Sidney Vander Meulen

Tim Van Stelle

Andy Van Stelle

George Van Strien

Kevin Verbeke

John Verhey

Julie DeBruine

Mike Van Bemden

Carol Van Bemden

Kathy Van Bemden

Mary Lynn Fluit

Sue Van Ess

Rick Van Ess

Brian Westrate

Mary Van Tilburg

Leah Van Tilburg

Tonia Willekes

Carrie Blok

John Boonzaayer

Maria Boonzaayer

Gary Blok

Rebecca Jane Markus

Sonja Boonzaayer (2)

Elise Polderman

Janice Polderman

Mary Polderman

Denise Zaremba

Lynn Kamp

Mary Kamp

Linda Kamp

Henry Kamp

John Vander Boon

Irene Sommer

Janet Sommer

Ingrid Sommer

Amy Mieras

David Mieras

Rita Neels

John Bosch

Melanie Van Brugge

Danny Sweetman

Paul Van Grouw

Robbie Southway

Barbara Southway

Diane Thiessen (2)

Arlen James Klarenbeek

Neil Mast

Jane Mast

Joylynn Mast

Carl James Mast

Virginia Vander Waal

Billy Greendyk

Alan Greendyk

David Greendyk

Bernice Bouman

Hendrika Kroesbergen

Bill Kroesbergen

Lisa Markus

Kim Timmer

Paula Timmer

Michelle Timmer

David Kwekel

Nancy Kwekel

Laurie Sweetman

Janet Sweetman

Jenny Sweetman

Judy Sweetman

Tunis Sweetman, Jr.

Cornell de Kok

Jany de Kok

Henry de Kok

Kristi Jane Rosendall

Richard Rosendall

John Rosendall

Edward Nieuwenhuis

Rita Erickson

Deanna Erickson

Debbie Erickson

Roger Erickson

Nancy Hoogmoed

Joanne Hoogmoed

Robert Kamp

Jonathan Kamp

Richard Kamp

Peter Verloop

Arlis VerlooD

Loretta Faye Olivier

Adrian J. Bush

Nicholas John Bush

Brad Zomer

Brenda Zomer

Kevin Zomer

Vonda Zomer

Carol Mol

Joan Lugthart

Janice Van Voorst

John Boerkoel

Bobby Boerkoel

Ruth Boerkoel

Linda Van De Vendel

Sharon Van De Vendel

Darwyn Klarenbeek

David Klarenbeek

Joe Neels

Jim Neels

David Neels

Paul Greendyk

Alida Greendyk

Jeanette Vanden Berg

John Vandenberg

Elizabeth Sisco

Stanley Bylsma

Wayne Vande Waerdt

Linda Vande Waerdt

Linda Bazen

Jim Bazen

Herbie de Kok

Laura Talbot

Audrey Kievit

David Vlietstra

Jon Vlietstra

Deloris Zomer

Michael Zomer

Stanley Aart Vander Waal

Gladys Van Bochove

Rhonda Van Bochove

Bill Van Wingerden

Ken Van Wingerden

Donna Kuiper

Betty Van Der Weile

Leonard Van Der Weile

Mary-Ann Berman

Daniel Van Dyke

Ruth Van Dyke

Evelyn Van Dyke John Van Dyke

David Van Dyke

Helen Van Dyke

Paul Vanden Berg

Henry Vanden Berg

Mineva Ymker

Daniel Ymker

Mark Vande Berg Kaye Vande Berg

Herman John Vander Meulen

Ann Marlene Vander Meulen

Rhonda Van Voorst

Judy Van Voorst

Lisa Neels

Ricky Van Manen

Mary Van Manen

Julie Van Gemert (2)

Steve Van Gemert (2)

Ruth Bouma

Albert Bouma

Ellen Kros

John Korevaar

Adrian Korevaar

Abraham Korevaar

Andy Korevaar

Jeanette Slingerland

Ken Kroesbergen

Jane Kroesbergen

Cathy Kroesbergen

John Kroesbergen

Linda Sue Schelling

Kent Schelling

Elizabeth Schelling

Kathryn Lynn Schelling

Brenda Kay Schelling

Howard Hubers

Harriet Hubers

Marcia Hubers

Thomas Berkenbush

Edward Dekker

Jannie Slingerland

Neil Slingerland

Joanne Slingerland

Nellie Slingerland

Helen Hubers

Donna Marie Hubers

Janny Van Wingerden

John Martin Vander Wiele

Jane Ellen Vander Wiele

Judy Lynn Vander Wiele

Ruth Ann Van Dalen (April)

Jonathan Van Dalen (April)

Adrian den Hoed

Maryjean den Hoed

Art den Hoed

Kathy den Hoed

Joleen den Hoed

Wendy Grisnich

Rhonda Grisnich

Richard Grisnich

Cheryl Grisnich

Andrew Kieboom

Ella Kieboom

Arline Kieboom

Annette Koppelaar

Walter Koppelaar

Timothy Jay Nieuwenhuis

Molly Geiger

Jeff Geiger

Meloni Geiger

Mark Fintelman

Mike Fintelman

Mike Neels

Jerry Pluim

Gloria Pluim

Rose Pluim

Todd VanDe Stouwe

Nancy VanDe Stouwe

Mark Heystek

And now the answers to the letters which we received -

MARY LYNN FLUIT - You certainly must be busy this summer, Mary Lynn. How do the crops look at the present? In parts of Michigan west of here there was a hail storm which destroyed much of the fruit crop in that area. How quickly our plans for a bountiful harvest can be disappointed.

DAVE VLIETSTRA - How large a fish did you catch on your vacation, Dave? I have never been in Maine, but they say that it is beautiful country. It probably is quiet there compared to New Jersey. Today we are leaving on our vacation - a trip to the Netherlands.

JANE MAST - It was nice to hear from you again, Jane. What did you do to your fingers? Since it is vacation time, you at least don’t have to do too much writing. What time does your rooster wake you up in the morning? I suppose he is an early riser.

ELLA KIEBOOM - We are all quite well, Ella. There are many scenic places in this large country. Wherever we are, though, the wonder and greatness of creation can be seen. In our psalter we find the words, “All nature praises God”, and how true it is.

KRISTI JANE ROSENDALL -No, Kristi, my children are all older than you. We have four daughters - the youngest is 18 -and also a son-in-law. But I do have lots of nieces and nephews your age, as you can see. How are you getting along with your swimming lessons?

VIRGINIA VANDER WAAL -There were two possible answers to the one question, Virginia, but only the one started with the proper letter to make the answers spell out the word “sluggard”. All ravens are fowls, but all fowls are not ravens. Do you see ravens where you live?

LISA NEELS - Sorry to hear that you had the chicken-pox, Lisa. You don’t miss any school when you have them during the summer, but it is not a nice time of the year to have to stay inside. Did you think the questions were easier this month?

ELLEN KROS - Your answers were done very neatly, Ellen. Did you like the book which we sent you? I would imagine that all the books should have arrived by this time, although sometimes the mail delivery is a bit slow. Are you thinking about school again?

SHARON VAN DE VENDEL -Do you live on a big farm, Sharon? We are glad to hear that you enjoy answering the Bible quiz. It takes quite a lot of work to put together a Banner of Truth each month, and so we like to hear that it is read and appreciated.

JEANETTE VANDEN BERG - I thought the Youth Day was very good, Jeanette, and very well attended. Our church is not as large as your church, so with that attendance there would have been standing room only. We will have to wait and see where they decide to have it next year, D.V.

STANLEY VANDER WAAL -And your letter is the last one, Stanley. I am stopping a little earlier this month because of my vacation, but any more letters received will be answered next month, if we are living and well. So many things can happen by that time, but we hope and pray that we may all be spared from accidents and sickness.

To all the boys and girls, our thanks for your replies to the Bible quiz. We hope that we may hear from all of you again next month.

With love and best wishes,

Your friend,

“Uncle Garret”

AUNT BESSIE’S PROVERB

“If a hole is made, put in a patch,” was a constant saying of my Aunt Bessie. And she used to practice what she preached for many a hole have I known her to patch, but it was her tongue, not her needle, that she used for the purpose. The holes that her proverb referred to were not such as fingers could repair. When she heard a disparaging remark made of a neighbour, she called it “Making a hole in their character,” and would instantly find some good word to say for them by way of putting a patch in. “A patch is better than a hole,” she used to say, “though it is better still if the hole be not made in the first place.” Out of the many instances of this practice that Aunt Bessie had, I shall give but one.

We lived in the village of Laveston in Hertfordshire. My aunt, Elizabeth Welford, was the daughter of a farmer who had left her just enough money to live in a tiny house. When I became an orphan she took me to live with her. Although of humble means and a most retiring person, it was wonderful how much she was sought after in various ways by her neighbours, and how greatly she was loved. I believe the secret was that she was never heard to speak unkindly of another. If she saw people’s faults (and she was a keen-sighted woman), she would never bring them into notice by any word of hers, but she was always ready to enlarge upon their good traits if they were mentioned.

Not far from Aunt Bessie’s house there lived a widow named Susan Styles who sold drapery goods and haberdashery. She had no shop window, but, for all that, she did a good trade. Even the rector’s wife often bought things of her, and the carriage from the Hall was sometimes to be seen at her door. Susan was a good sort of woman in her way, but she had a long tongue and always said what she thought without pausing to consider whether her words were kind or right. Thus, in speaking about people, she was very apt to pick holes in them. I remember her coming to my aunt one evening with cloth samples, and in the course of conversation she asked if my aunt had heard that Mary Knolles, the carpenter’s oldest girl, was anxious to go into domestic service.

“And a very good servant she will make,” remarked my aunt. “The girl is clever and active. I hope she will get a good place.”

“There’s a lady staying at the Hall wants a maid. She called today with Lady Grainger, and they asked me about her.”

“You advised them to try her, I hope?” said my aunt.

“Well, I said she was good enough in her way, but that of course she knew nothing, and I thought she would be above being taught for she had a good conceit of herself.”

“What makes you think that?” said my aunt. “I have always considered Mary a humble-minded girl, glad to be advised, and I know her better than most of the girls about.”

“I used to like her well enough,” replied Susan, “but since she’s grown up, she’s got above letting one have a voice in the affairs of their house, and as she’s got no mother, she ought to be glad if someone drops in now and then to see how things go on.”

My aunt was silent. I knew what was passing in her mind. Susan was well-known to be a busy-body, loving to meddle with other people’s affairs, and in more than one case she had made mischief, though unintentionally. If Mary Knolles had not encouraged her to their house, it only showed her prudence and good sense.

When she had gone, my aunt said to me, “I am afraid Susan may have done harm to Mary and prevented the lady taking her as her servant; that’s what I call making a hole in a character.” “You’ll try to put a patch in that hole if it is at all possible,” thought I. Sure enough, the very next day Lady Grainger called to enquire about some poor woman who was ill, and my aunt brought the conversation round to the. subject of Mary Knolles wanting a situation. Of course, she was not surprised to hear her ladyship say that her friend, then staying at the Hall, wanted a young maid.

“But,” said Lady Grainger, “I have heard that she is above being told how to do things of which she is ignorant, so we are afraid to try her.”

From the woman’s words it was clear how a few thoughtless and unjust remarks had made a hole in Mary’s character, and a good opportunity for a motherless girl to obtain a start in suitable service had been lost. But my aunt hastened to insert her patch. “Indeed, my lady, if I may say a word, I think Mary Knolles is as humble and good a girl as any you would find. I have known her well from a baby, and many a bit of advice I have given her since she lost her mother, and not once did I see a cross look or hear a vexed word from her. True, she will be ignorant of new work like that, but whoever takes her will find her teachable, I am sure.”

Aunt Bessie’s words produced a good impression, and the decision to engage Mary was soon taken. A fortnight later she went off to London with her new mistress and found herself in an excellent situation where she was very happy. She never knew either of the hole or the patch, but she ever retained a strong affection for my aunt.

Dear Aunt Bessie! It was actual pain to her to hear an unkind remark made of another. She could not be easy until she had said something to undo, or at least lessen, the effect it might have. So well was this known that rarely would anyone venture to speak unkindly of a neighbour before her, and her example had its effect upon others. The saying, “If a hole is made, put in a patch,” became quite a village proverb, and it was a good and wholesome one to be circulated. In every rank and in every place holes of the kind we have been speaking of are too frequently made. May this little tribute to Aunt Bessie’s memory incite some reader to begin and watch for opportunities of patching holes as she did---or, in other words, follow the Saviour’s command in this matter; “As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” (Luke 6:31)

---Young People’s Magazine

VARIOUS

Isaac was ransomed when he lay

Upon the altar bound;

Moses, an infant cast away,

Pharaoh’s own daughter found.

Joseph, by his false brethren sold,

God raised above them all;

To Hannah’s child the Lord foretold

How Eli’s house must fall.

David the bear and lion slew, And over Gath’s champion trod; Josiah, from his boyhood, knew His father David’s God.

To good Naomi gentle Ruth Clave with a daughter’s soul; A little maid revealed the truth, When Naaman was made whole.

Children have thus been made God’s care,

May youths here seek His face;

Since His own Son He did not spare,

O may He give them grace.

Grace, like the young of whom we read,

Early in Him to trust;

A Friend in need, a Friend indeed,

As merciful as just.

That when like them their course they’ve run,

They may find God their Friend, Safe in the footsteps of His Son, Conducted to the end.

GOD LOOKS AT ME

Wherever I am, whatever I do,

Cannot concealed be,

For God from His exalted throne,

Does always look at me,

The secret thought within my heart

No mortal eye can see;

But God beholds it moving there;

He always looks at me.

I cannot from His presence go,

Nor from His Spirit flee;

He is Himself in every place,

And always looks at me.

If I am led to fear Thy name,

To love and worship Thee;

Then will the words delight afford;

“God always looks at me.”

Wm. Gadsby

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.

Proverbs 9, 10

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