Judaism chapter 23

We are well aware that it has been many centuries since Israel has had any of the forms of worship mentioned in this Scripture. These words have been and are being literally fulfilled. We are glad, however, that it does say that there will be a return on the part of the people towards the Lord and towards their King. It does not here say that in the latter times they will return and build up the city of Jerusalem and again establish themselves by the offering of their sacrifices and the restoration of their temple service;[2] it does say that they will return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king.

2. This, therefore, naturally raises the question, What are the prospects for the Jews for the future? It is clear to the Bible student who is at all familiar with the word of God that we are living in the last times, and that we have reached the period mentioned in these verses of Scripture as recorded in the book of Hosea.^(p317) We must conclude that in the proclamation of the gospel of Christ to the world in these latter times, the Jewish people have a future as bright as any of the people in this world, since the gospel must also include them.[3]

3. From what has been written in the preceding pages of this book, we feel certain that the reader has had awakened in his heart a desire to do something to show an interest in behalf of the Jewish people.[4] If this be true with every person who shall read the foregoing lines, we believe that, with the blessing of the Lord, there will be an interest aroused in behalf of gospel work among this people. There are brighter times for them; this is evident from the word of God. When we speak of brighter times, we mean that, ere the blessed Messiah shall return in power and great glory, the gospel of the grace of God will be given to the Jews, and many of them, according to the Scripture, will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king.

4. And why should there not be a returning of them? It is true that the Jew has been a hard man to reach with the gospel of grace for many hundreds of years, but we feel confident that the time has come when the Holy Spirit will work for the Jews, by making them to understand that much of the work which has been conducted under the guise of the Christian religion during these many centuries, and which has been so bitter towards the Jewish people, was no part of Christianity.^(p318) The Lord God of Israel is still able to work for the Jews as He has worked for them in days gone by;[5] and according to the Scriptures we have come to that period.

5. In fact there is a tremendous change of sentiment taking place among the Jewish people themselves. There never has been a period when the Jews were in the condition that they are at the present time. They are broken up in many fragments.

First, there are the two great divisions; namely, Orthodox and Reform Judaism. The first class claim to be the successors of the Pharisaical Jews of New Testament times; the second class profess to have little left of the faith which was once delivered to their ancestors. They have but little faith in the inspiration of the Bible, either of the Old Testament or of the New. To the Reform Jew the Bible is inspired like many other great books; and the writers of the Sacred Volume, in the estimation of this class of Jews, were inspired as have been the writers of many of the great works of to-day. The books and the men are alike to them. They are not prejudiced against religion of any kind, but pride themselves upon their large amount of liberality. As far as this class is concerned, Judaism is of no value from a religious standpoint; to be a Jew means to be of a certain class of people of a peculiar nationality. With them there is no Bible, no God of Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob, no prophecies, no wonderful or divine miraculous history, no hope of a Messiah, to come either once or twice.

^(p319)6. The first class, or Orthodox Judaism, is passing through a very trying experience It has many subdivisions. In this country, in England, and in other so-called civilized and enlightened lands, Orthodox Judaism is passing through strange metamorphoses, and it appears that soon its entire original form will be cast off. The older generation of Jews, those who were reared among the Ghettos, and who have been mentioned in the earlier chapters of this book, is fast passing away. They are dying with sad and broken hearts because the old-time, strict, Orthodox Judaism is rapidly declining. The middle generation, the class who have come in contact with modern civilization, and who have been affected by its influences and environments, are coming to see that their consciences have been wrongly educated, and the bondage of rabbinical tradition must be cast aside. This class is wavering; it is halting betwixt two opinions,[6]leaning, however, to the side away from the old sturdy, strict rabbinical forms. This class attends the synagogue, when it cannot lose much business by so doing. This class will observe the more strict and rigid holidays, provided that it can secure faithful substitutes to attend to the busy cares, except that on the Day of Atonement and on the New-Year’s Day the business must be entirely suspended. This class is practically letting go its grip, and is drifting from its mooring. But still it calls itself Orthodox Judaism.

7. This class of orthodox Jews still has a form of a faith in the coming of the Messiah, and is willing to read things religious when it can, especially when any of these Jews come in contact with men in business and social life.^(p320) But they are by no means pious, and are not at all burdened with their religion. If they sustain the upkeep of the rabbi and the synagogue, it is because occasionally they feel that they may wish to go there to a service, or perhaps the good wife is still devout and zealous, and the children must not be brought up entirely faithless and unbelieving. To this class of orthodox Jews the Bible is still the word of God, yet not as it was to their fathers. It does not carry the sacredness which the holy oracles carried with the older generation. By this class of orthodox Jews the Sabbath cannot be observed because it interferes with their business, and the holidays are very nice if they have the time to be with their families more than on ordinary days. These Jews say, the age now is of that character that they must accommodate themselves to their surroundings, and to the building up of the present-day institutions. To this class of orthodox Jews the religion of Christ is not so vile and so wicked as it seemed to their parents, save that they know very little about it from a practical standpoint, as they have never seen it lived, only as manifested in modern commercial life. To this class the New Testament might not be so very bad, if they only knew what it contained. Some few of them have read it, but one great reason why the larger part have not read it, is because they have never taken the trouble to do so, or because no one has ever interested himself in these Jews to offer it to them.

8. The rising generation of the orthodox Jews has very little use for orthodoxy as a religion.^(p321) The younger men and women attend synagogue very little, if at all; they know little comparatively what is meant by the orthodox religion of the Jews, they know but little of the teachings of the Bible or of the synagogue, and they are interested in the religion only while young, because their parents tell them that it is right to be an orthodox Jew. It is the proper thing to go to synagogue sometimes. They have no personal knowledge of the law, the prophets, the Talmud, or the teachings of the rabbis. To this class the synagogue or the services of the Jews mean very little, and the rabbi is of little service. The festivals are so many occasions for an extra day’s vacation, and some of the days set apart as times of memorial of God’s dealing with His people are pleasantly spent in dances, in balls, or in whist parties. The Day of Atonement is not really a day to fast, only one must keep up a semblance of the form, for he is an orthodox Jew. It is perfectly right and proper not to labor on that day, as it is necessary to take account of stock at some time, and then business must be suspended semi-occasionally to prepare for either the fall or the spring styles of clothing or other forms of apparel.

9. This class of Orthodox Judaism has no use for the synagogue after it reaches the age of responsibility. It has not forgotten that it is orthodox, because its parents have so taught it. This class knows that somewhere the rabbi said something about the T’nach, the Bible, the Torah, the law, and the Sider, the prayer-book. But these words are simply terms, and if these people do not know what they mean, they can ask their father, for he still knows. Religion to this class means something that their grandparents once possessed; and their parents yet have a little, only it is not a very necessary essential.^(p322) The rabbis, to this class, are a class of people who used to try to make laws for their grandfathers to observe, so that they could get money without working. Of course they cannot observe the laws of milk and meat, and it will not bother any one if they do eat food that has not the kosher, lawful stamp, upon the meat. (a)

The Jews of this class do not object to listening to a religious service among Christian people, but of their own accord it would not be expected for them to go to a Christian church, since they do not interest themselves to go even to their synagogue. They do not seriously object to the New Testament if ever one comes their way; of course they do not believe it to be inspired as they were taught the Old Testament is inspired, since they have been told that it is not really the best kind of book for one to read. They will not seriously oppose it, nor are they particularly in its favor. This class is practically neutral.

10. The orthodox Jews are divided into the three classes mentioned, and we believe from actual knowledge, experience, and observation this is a fair description of Orthodox and Reform Judaism. However, there is another growing class of Jews not included in either of the two great divisions, and they are beginning to make themselves known and felt. Their influence is spreading in this country as well as in Europe, and their synagogues are beginning to make themselves a factor in the religious life of the Jews. This class is what might be termed a progressive class.^(p323) They are not exactly like the Reform Jew, because they do believe in a measure that the Bible is the word of God, even though their view of inspiration is not really orthodox; they are not like the orthodox Jews because they have no use whatever for the Talmud, the rabbinical learning of the wise men of the ages, nor of the prayer-book, nor the rites and customs of the orthodox synagogue. This class of Jews believe that one of the great needs of the Jew is the New Testament. These Jews claim that one of the great factors of the religious life of the Jewish people has been omitted, because the Jew has not read or accepted the New Testament. While these Jews do not accept the New Testament as the Christian does, while this class does not regard the blessed Saviour as the divine Son of the living God, many of them do believe that there is much for them in the New Testament, and there is much for them in the Christian religion. This class has created quite a stir in Jewry in almost every land, and as a result Judaism is having perplexing times. Among the many breaks which have occurred in Judaism during the past twenty or even ten years, it would seem that there is almost a revolution going on through Jewry. It is a fact that the foundations of many generations are being razed, and many of the Jews are trying to find out where they belong and what they believe.

11. I have particularly devoted space to this phase of the Jewish question, because I believe that over and above it all, there is a divine providence at work to prepare the Jews for the reception of the pure and undiluted gospel of the blessed Christ as it shall be presented to them in these latter times. The anchor of the Jews is loosening. A prominent business man said to me:

The bonds which have held the Jews together for nearly nineteen hundred years — the Talmud and the system of rabbinism — are rapidly being loosed, and the Holy Spirit is surely and steadily preparing the way to make many of the lost sheep of the house of Israel free in the blessed Christ.[7]

12. The old, pious, orthodox Jew, who is so extremely bitter towards Christianity, still has a great love for the T’nach, the Bible. To him it is still the word of God. He remains firm in the belief that the Lord gave that book to his ancestors, and he still has faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If this man can be impressed by the Holy Spirit that all these prophecies in the Bible are fulfilled in the blessed Jesus, then surely there is hope for him. With him the scales are still upon his eyes. He is yet blinded by the veil.[8] While he still adheres to the idea that the Christian religion is a bitter and persecuting religion, while he knows that Russia is still persecuting the Jew in the name of Christianity, he clings to the Bible and to the Talmud. If he can see that Jesus is the true and the holy Messiah, and that the rabbis have perverted the ways of the Lord because of the Jews’ rejecting the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, when He was here to redeem Israel, the scales will fall from his eyes, and he will see that there is hope for him in God through the Messiah.[9] ^(p325)If then, too, he shall learn that the Messiah is soon to return to earth, and this Messiah who shall come the second time is none other than the Jesus of Nazareth who was here nineteen hundred years ago — when these things are made plain to his understanding, and he learns that the religion of Jesus is not a perverted religion of the Bible, his heart will surely rejoice, and he will thank God for the blessed and glorious truth of the word of God, as revealed in Moses and the prophets.[10] It may mean a hard battle, it may mean much persecution, it may mean bitter opposition, it may mean the wasting of much precious seed; but the word of the Lord says that they will return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king. The Saviour worked among them for many years, and saw little results of His direct labors; but the fruits appeared in due time.[11] These were the first-fruits, and they were abundant.[12] It was the Saviour Himself who said that seventy-five per cent of the seed would be liable to go to waste, but a good harvest would be produced from the remaining twenty-five per cent.[13]

13. The other classes of orthodox Jews who do not have such bitter prejudices, who are not so saturated with hatred against Christianity, who are coming in contact with modern life and civilization, can be reached with literature, with the preaching of the gospel, with the New Testament, with the word of God in its various forms. True they may not go out of their way, for a time, to hear the truth of God;[14] but we believe that, if the seed shall be sown, there will be an awakening, and God in his own good time will bring about marvelous results.^(p326) The class who are advocating the reading of the New Testament and who believe that there are many things in the Christian religion for them, are surely hopeful, even though their faith in Christ may not be so strong as we could wish. The Lord God of Israel is yet able to draw a Paul, to convict a Peter, to attract a Gamaliel, and to convince a Nicodemus. Jesus Christ still has the power to win a Joseph of Arimathea, and to enable a Barnabas to lay his wealth at the feet of this most blessed Saviour. A large company of priests may yet be added to the faithful in the Lord, and thousands of Jews may yet be led to the feet of their divine Lord and Master.

14. Why may not this be possible? Paul prayed that Israel might be saved.[15] The apostle tells us that God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.[16] The word of the Lord tells us they are still beloved for the fathers’ sakes.[17] We are encouraged in the word of God to believe that there is yet a remnant of the literal seed who will help swell the number of the true remnant that shall stand on Mount Zion.[18] The fig-tree, though it was cursed many centuries ago, will yet put forth some leaves.[19] Jesus Christ was born the King of the Jews, and died the King of the Jews.[20] Why shall not some of His own brethren in the flesh help to bring back the King?[21] It is true the call goes to them the last, but why may they not have the privilege of helping to bring Him back? ^(p327) It is true that they lost their hope because of the rejection of Him by their ancestors, but the callings of God are without repentance.[22] It is true that some of the natural branches were broken off because of unbelief. It is true that other branches were brought in to take the place of those who were broken off.[23] It is true that for many centuries the lost sheep of Israel have had very little of the King’s meat, and have known little of the King’s feast.[24] God is able to graft them in again, if they remain not in unbelief. But faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.[25]

15. Since the Gentiles received the mercy of God through the unbelief of the Jews, surely the Jews should receive the mercy of God through the actions of the Gentiles in winning them back to the Saviour.[26] They have lost their King; they have lost their Friend and Saviour. Let us do all in our power to bring to them their own King. The Bible assures all the believers that there will be gathered on Mount Zion people from every tribe, every nation, every kindred, and every tongue.[27] This must include the Jews. They will be there; for it was the Israelites who sang the song of Moses,[28] and why should not the Israelites sing the song of the Lamb? True all those who do sing the song of Moses and the Lamb will be real Israelites, but why may not some of His own flesh and of His own bone?The Bible assures us there will be some of them there; and we know that the prospects for the future are bright and cheerful.^(p328) It is true that Joseph’s brethren sold him, but he himself said that God had sent him before to preserve life for them.[29] While it is true that the Jews had a part in putting the Saviour to death, He has gone to prepare a way for them that they may in Him find life, and have it more abundantly.[30] He still loves the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and still His voice is calling to them, Come home.

16. Let us do all in our power as hunters and fishers to throw out the gospel net to these lost ones of Israel. Let us make manifest to them the true gospel of the divine Son of God. Let us remember that if we seek the straying sheep of the fold, we shall be rewarded in finding the lost sheep; and these Jews who have been wandering and straying in the mountains away from the true fold because of having lost their way, shall yet bring joy and gladness to the heart of the Father and the Saviour, when the lost have been found, and the dead have been brought to life.[31]

17. Doubtless it will bring joy and happiness to the heart of the dear Master as He returns in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory to find among the redeemed who have been waiting for Him, some of His own brethren who will, with the saved of God, look up and say, “This is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.[32]

^(p329)18. We cannot close this work in a more fitting way than by quoting the words of one who has said many encouraging things concerning the work for the Jews and the prospects for the future:

paragraph 9 (a). — There are three texts of Scripture in the Old Testament which contain these words: “Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.” Exodus 23:19; 34:26; Deuteronomy 14:21. Upon this statement the rabbis have built up a great system of dietetic, hygienic, and sanitary arrangements which enter into every detail of every-day life, and have stoutly maintained that they comprehend the idea of not eating milk and meat at the same meal. The Jewish home therefore, has to maintain two sets of dishes, one for the use of milk, butter, and cream, the other for flesh and fatty substances derived from the meat. People who do not observe this difference are execrated and anathematized, and are regarded as apostates from Judaism. Back

[1] Hosea 3:4 .For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: 5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

[2] Hosea 2:11. I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.

[3] Matthew 24:14. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

[4] Esther 9:3, Revised Version.

[5] Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

[6] 1 Kings 18:21. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

[7] John 8:32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

[8] 2 Corinthians 3:14. But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.

[9] Acts 2:38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Acts 3:26. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Acts 26:6. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: 7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

Acts 28:20. For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

[10] Acts 26:22. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

.[11] John 4:37. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

[12] Acts 2:41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 4:4. Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

Acts 21:20. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

[13] Matthew 13:1. The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

[14] Ezekiel 3:4. And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. 5 For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel; 6 Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee. 7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.

Matthew 10:6. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

[15] Romans 10:1. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

[16] Romans 11:2. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel.

[17] Romans 11:28. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

[18] Romans 11:5 .Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Romans 9:27. Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: 28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

Revelation 14:1. And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

[19] Matthew 21:19. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

Luke 13:6. He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Matthew 24:32. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

[20] Matthew 2:2. Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Luke 23:38. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

[21] 2 Samuel 19:11. And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house. 12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

[22] Romans 11:29. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

[23] Romans 11:16. For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

[24] 2 Samuel 19:41. And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan? 42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?

[25] Romans 11:23. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

[26] Romans 11:30. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

[27] Revelation 14:6. And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

Revelation 14:1. And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

[28] SeeExodus Chapter 15.

[29] Genesis 45:5 .Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

[30] Acts 4:26. The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 10:10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

[31] Jeremiah 16:16. Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.

Luke 15:3. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

Luke 15:24. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

[32] Isaiah 25:9. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

^(p316)

CHAPTER XXIII

THE PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE