A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

BAPTISM — BY IMMERSION OR BY SPRINKLING?

My previous article concerning the subject of baptism ended with the question — Is it then not true, as maintained by our Baptist friends, that the Greek work “baptizo”, which is always used in the New Testament for baptism and subsequently translated into the word “baptism”, can have no other meaning than “to immerse”?

The word “baptizo”, used in the New Testament when baptism was administered to persons, is the same word used in the Greek version or translation of the Old Testament Scriptures (the so-called Septuagint) to translate the Hebrew verbs meaning to sprinkle or to pour. In the days of the Old Testament clean water, the water of purification, had to be applied by sprinkling or pouring upon persons and things in order to cleanse them from uncleanness. You may read about this in Leviticus 15 and Numbers 19. Not only people had to be cleansed in that way, but also tables and other cumbersome articles which were to be used for the service in the temple, and even the houses of lepers.

It is a very significant fact that the New Testament writers, inspired by the Holy Ghost, used the word “baptizo” when writing about the baptism of persons, whereas this word was never used before other than to signify purification by sprinkling or pouring. If you compare the words as read by the eunuch to Philip out of Isaiah 53 with the words of the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, you will see that there are some differences in the texts. The reason — the eunuch was reading the Greek translation of Isaiah 53, the Septaugint. You will notice similar differences between texts used by the Lord Jesus and the apostles with those recorded in the books of the prophets. Christ and His apostles also used the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament. This translation was completed about 300 years before the birth of Christ.

The Bible-writers knew very well that the word “baptizo” was used to indicate the purifications by sprinkling and pouring, and they used the same word to record the baptism of persons. As far as the Scriptures are concerned, “baptizo” never means to immerse. There is another word — “bapto”, which is the root of “baptizo”. This word “bapto” is never used in the Holy Scriptures in connection with eithc purifications or baptisms, but is used in instances that have nothing to do with baptism where it is clear that the meaning is to immerse or dip. Thus we can assert that every instance recorded in the New Testament is a clear case against immersion.

In addition, when the Holy Ghost was received, was He not poured out upon the disciples, and did He not come upon them similar to the sprinkling and pouring of water in the ministration of baptism? The prophet Ezekiel was instructed to write: “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean … and I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and ye shall keep My judgments and do them. (Ezekiel 36:25 & 29). For all these reasons we do not feel uncertain or guilty when administering Holy Baptism by sprinkling. It adequately signifies and seals the cleansing from sin by the Blood and Spirit of Christ, and we can defend the practice against our opponents with the Bible in our hands. The insistence of our Baptist friends on the re-baptism by immersion of any who are baptized by sprinkling as in fants or adults is for this reason not justifiable or defensible. The dipping of the person in water is neither required in Scripture nor was it universally practiced in the Christian church at any time.

We don’t put as much emphasis on the mode of baptism as our Baptist friends do. Neither baptism by immersion nor baptism by sprinkling yield any spiritual profit without a true faith and conversion. This is what we should be concerned about.

That baptizing by sprinkling was practiced in the days of the apostles can be stated not only on account of textual proof; there are also other evidences. Next time, D.V., more about that.

Your friend,

Rev. A. Elshout

112 Pratt Road

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001

Bible Quiz

Dear Boys and Girls:

Last month the answers spelled out the words “there is a God in “Israel”. These words were spoken by David, and, by fighting with and killing Goliath, he wished to prove the truth of these words to all the world. We have many similar proofs of this in God’s Word as told in the history of the children of Israel, but even though they had seen these proofs that God was with them, yet how often they turned away from God and His service. Again in the Book of Kings we have a proof by the prophet Elijah that “there is a God in Israel”. As the people saw the fire of the Lord, they shouted certain words. It is these words that we have chosen for the first letters of the answers to our quiz this month.

Some of you might say, “We act differently than those people did. We don’t serve other gods.” It is true, we do not have images in our churches, but how much do we do that is not pleasing in God’s sight, often acting as if there is no God, serving the world and its pleasures, and making these things more important than anything else. Today it is as true as it was then, as described to us in Psalter 23 —

“From Heaven the Lord with searching eye

Looked down the sons of men to try,

To see if any understood

And sought for God, the only good.

From righteousness they all depart

Corrupt are all, and vile in heart;

Yea, every man has evil done;

Not one does good, not even one.”

It is my wish and prayer that all of us may learn to say with David, “O Lord, I have confessed Thee to be my God alone”.

Hiram, king of ______, furnished Solomon with materials and workmen for the building of the temple.

Elijah said to the people, “How long ______ ye between two opinions?”

Upon whom did Elijah cast his mantle, to show him that he was to take his place as prophet?

Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was ______ of his feet.

Who hid 100 prophets in a cave so that Jezebel would not kill them?

When Solomon died, who became king in his stead?

Joab took three ______in his hand and thrust Absalom through the heart.

Absalom said, The counsel of ______ the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.

Who said, “There shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word?”

Abner took ______ the son of Saul, and made him king over all Israel.

The queen of what country came to prove Solomon with hard questions?

How many golden calves did Jeroboam make and set up so that the people did not have to go to Jerusalem to worship?

What did the wife of Jeroboam take with her in a cruse when she went to see the prophet Ahijah about her son?

Who was the father of Jezebel, the wife of Ahab?

Ahijah said to the wife of Jeroboam regarding her son who was sick, “He only of Jeroboam shall come to the ______.”

In whose house did the ark of the Lord remain for three months after Uzzah died because he touched it.

At the brook Cherith the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, “Arise, get thee to Zarephath and ______ there.

The answers to the June quiz are as follows —

“There is a God in Israel”

Ten I Samuel 1:8

Helmet I Samuel 17:4–5

Ebenezer I Samuel 7:12

Ramah I Samuel 7:15–17

Endor I Samuel 28:7–8

Ichabod I Samuel 4:19–21

Sacrafice I Samuel 15:22

Adullam I Samuel 22:1–2

God Ruth 1:16

Oxen I Samuel 22:18–19

Dog I Samuel 17:43

Inheritance I Samuel 10:1

Nabal I Samuel 25:2–38

Intreat Ruth 1:16

Sword of Goliath I Samuel 22:10

Ramah I Samuel 25:1

Abinadab I Samuel 31:1–2

Ekron I Samuel 17:52

Lamented I Samuel 25:1

During the past month answers to the quiz were received from the following bovs and sirls:

Elfriede Elshout

Jeff Kaat

Tammy Kaat

Arline Kieboom

Tim Vander Waal

John Vander Waal

Betty Vander Waal

Dan Lords

Lisa Lords

Cheryl Kalee

Debbie Kalee

Karel Kalee

Steven Boluyt

Bill Boluyt

Susan Vander Boon

Bob Vander Boon

Henry Rosendall

Laura Rosendall

Gary Kwekel

Alice Moerdyk

Char Kwekel

Joan Velier

Martha Vander Male

Mary Jean Vander Male

Lillyann Vander Male

Dianne Van Ravenswaay

Marilyn Van Ravenswaay

JoAnn Van Ravenswaay

Esther Van Ravenswaay

David Kwekel

Robert Mol

Eleanor Meeuwse

Joanne Beeke

Ruth Meeuwse

Caren Nieuwenhuis

Denise Carol Zaremba

Donna Lyn Zaremba

Marilyn De Maagd

George De Maagd

Curt Jenison

Marilyn Densel

Jackie Vanden Berg

Tom Blok

Sandy Van Giessen

Gary Van Giessen

Randy Van Giessen

Donna Lynn Densel

Carol JoAnn Mol

Bruce Blok

Gary Blok

John Blok

Linda Kamp

Betty Jean Kamp

Mary Jean den Hoed

Arthur den Hoed

James Van Tilburg

Mary Van Tilburg

Mark Van Tilburg

Ella Kieboom

Marsha Koedam

Henry Vander Valk

Alan Van Der Stad

Chris Van Der Stad

Jacqueline Van Der Stad

Cheryl Berman

Lillian Berman

Joyce Vander Meulen

Teresa Vander Meulen

Frances Vander Meulen

Florence Jane Sweetman

Barbara Ann Sweetman

Betty Ann Vander Valk

Jim Dole

John Dole

Alma Van Beek

Casey Blom

Bobby Blom

Dan Meeuwse

Amy Mieras

Ruth Kievit

Mary Kievit

Julie Ann Frens

Mary Beth Frens

John Van Wingerden

Billy Van Wingerden

Janny Van Wingerden

Joyce Van Den Top

Judy Van Den Top

Gloria Van Den Top

Darlene Van Den Top

Eldon Van Den Top

Todd Van Middendorp

Richard Allen Rozeboom

Bill Moerdyk

Judy Sweetman

Janet Arlene Sweetman

Tunis Sweetman, Jr.

William Grisnich

Ray Grisnich

Peter Grisnich

Jenny Lee Sweetman

Kathy Van Giessen

Jim Van Giessen

Ruth Boonzaayer

Karel Boonzaayer

Esther Boonzaayer

Debbie Vos

Donald Vos

Vickie Vos

Lorie Vos

Carol Jean Van Bemden

Mary Ann Kamp

Joan Lugthart

Val Lugthart

Neil Mast

Betty Mast

Jane Mast

Tineke Hakkenberg

Wilma Hakkenberg

Dave Verhey

John Verhey

Beverly Southway

Barbara Southway

Jane Derksen

Roger Derksen

Russell Derksen

Nick Bush

Adrian Bush

Ellen Verwys

Susan Verwys

Nick Greendyk

Tommy Greendyk

Bobby Greendyk

David Greendyk

Billy Greendyk

Alida Greendyk

Peter W. Kievit

Denise Van Ravenswaay

Alane Van Ravenswaay

Judy Teunissen

Lanna Teunissen

Alma Van Beek

Miriam Kuperus

Arlene Kuperus

David Kuperus

Hans Kuperus

Ruth Ann Van Dalen

Marie Van Dalen

Roxanne Herfst

Carolyn Heystek

Gertrude Spaans

Joanne Spaans

Mark Heystek

Harvey Hup

Dennis Hup

Alfred Hup

Joe Van Woudenberg

John Remus

Lynda Remus

Janet Remus

Peter Fey ter

Arlene Wallenburg

Wanita Wallenburg

Carol Wallenburg

Gary Vander Waal

Art Vander Waal

Janet Vander Waal

Tonica Vander Waal

Nancy Drost

Paul Vandenberg

Arie Vandenberg

Janetta Vandenberg

Cordy Vandenberg

Sharon Bouma

Albert Bouma

John Neels

Gary Roozenboom

Mary Boluyt

Ruth Lynn Boerkoel

Neal Boerkoel

Raymond Rieder

Carol Overbeeke

Robert Verbeke (2)

Randy Teunissen

Mark Teunissen

Judy Koedam

Ruth Van Grouw

Deanna Erickson

Cindy Erickson

Ellen Gail Van Ginkel

Karen Van Den Top

Marty Anker

Judy Slingerland

Billy Kamp

Ruth L. Kamp

Jacob Van Dalen

Conny A. Boesteid

Thomas Kamp

Francina Boesterd

Loren Zomer

Daniel Ymker

Mineva Ymker

Joan Van Zweden

John Van Zweden

Helen Hubers

Heimina F. Hubers

Mary Van Zweden

Janet Van Zweden

Martin Oudshoorn

Diana Oudshoorn

Billy Oudshoorn

John Oudshoorn

Wendy Grisnich

Rhonda Grisnich

Cheryl Grisnich

Billy Van Wingerden

Tina Blok

Shirley Blok

Helen Van Dyke

Wilma Droogers

Shirley Rus

Debbie Droogers

Arnold Rus

Cindy Hoogendoorn (2)

Delia Vanden Brink

Stephan Vander Brink

Roy Vanden Brink

John Van Hoepen

Marianne Van Hoepen

Roelie Stapel

Henrietta Stapel

Janice Stapel

Rudolph Stapel

Gloria Roskam

Randy Vande Stouwe

Nancy Vande Stouwe

Janice Vlietstra

Martin Peter Vlietstra

David Vlietstra

Christian Koppert

Nelly Koppert

Peter Koppert

Alice Koppert

Elizabeth Geerling

Joanne Geerling

Bobby Van Grouw

And now we shall answer our mail -

BILLY VAN WINGERDEN — Your letter is first this time, Billy. Are you remembering to feed your rabbit? Have you given the rabbit a name? I suppose you are riding your new bike quite a lot during your vacation.

CONNY A. BOESTERD — I certainly would like to pay you a visit, Conny, and hope that some time we might be able to do so. Next week we hope to go on a little vacation, but won’t be travelling quite that far. Did your cousin arrive O.K.?

JUDY SLINGERLAND — You write nice long letters, Judy. As you can see, your answers arrived in time. It is too bad that you did not receive the Banner for the month of April. It may have become lost in the mail. Did you find the rabbits which ran away?

DEBBIE DROOGERS — Are you sisters enjoying their trip to the Netherlands, Debbie? I imagine you would have liked to go with them. We hope they may have a safe trip. My parents are also visiting there and hope to return the early part of August.

JOHN VAN HOEPEN — We are quite well, John. Your answers were correct. We have a small garden — just tomatoes, beans, peas, and a few strawberry plants. My daughter is the gardener. When you were studying about Holland, did you learn lots of things you didn’t know before?

ROY VANDEN BRINK — Do you think the questions are easier when the answers are all found in one or two books of the Bible, Roy? I suppose it does help when you don’t have to look in many places. Are you memorizing the 53rd chapter of Isaiah?

JUDY KOEDAM — How is David getting along, Judy? A broken collar bone, just like other broken bones, is probably quite painful, and it is not easy for little boys to keep from moving too much. I was glad you liked the book. We hope to hear from you again next month.

JOHN REMUS — I see that you read the story about the disciples and the net full of fishes very carefully, John. Can you tell me where we find about a man who caught just one fish, but it had money in its mouth? What are you doing during your vacation?

DARLENE VAN DEN TOP — How is your arm, Darlene? Do you still have it in a cast? Was it your right or your left arm? This is the time of the year when accidents happen. At least it seems that way. You get out of school quite early.

PETER GRISNICH — It sounds as if you make good use of your bike, Peter. Do you have many flat tires? Twenty acres of beets sure seems like a lot of them. Did you ever figure out how many beets there are in an acre? Your answers were all correct.

JOHN VAN ZWEDEN — Did your mother’s aunt from Holland arrive safely, John? She must be quite spry to be making such a big trip when she is eighty years old. You really must have had a lot of rain in order to wash out the bridges.

DONNA LYNN DENSEL — It was nice of you to write, Donna. If you were in Grand Rapids, you were only fifty miles from Kalamazoo. Do you like to go travelling? I suppose you do, especially when you are going to visit your grandparents.

HENRY VANDER VALK — Have you slept in your tent yet, Henry? Are you going to sleep in it with your friends? This is the time of the year to use your tent. It would not be such a good place to sleep in the wintertime when it is cold and snowy.

ARLINE KIEBOOM — I imagine your choir has been practicing for the Youth Day, Arline. How often do you meet together? Do you have any flowers from the seeds you planted? Say Hello to the rest of the family.

JOE VAN WOUDENBERG — It is that time of the year when it is nice to be outdoors, Joe. What are you doing during the summer months? I suppose you have the lawn to mow and other similar jobs. Does your family plan to do any travelling?

STEPHAN VANDEN BRINK — Where did you plant all of the spruce trees, Stephan? How big were they when you planted them? We have one in our yard which we planted when it was only six inches high. Now it is about ten feet tall. Is the new addition to your house all finished?

WILMA HAKKENBERT — Your answers were all correct, Wilma. How long have you taken organ lessons? Do you like to practice? It sounds as if you would rather be outdoors than to practice on the organ. Am I correct? Practice often seems like work.

JANET VANDER WAAL — I suppose you have eaten some of the vegetables from your garden by this time, Janet. Do you manage to keep all of the weeds out of your garden? Sometimes they grow faster and better than the vegetables do.

CHERYL GRISNICH — That was too bad that you had to go to the hospital on your birthday, Cheryl. I hope you are feeling well and strong again. Did you miss any school, or was school finished by that time? Some schools are out the end of May and some not until almost the end of June.

JOAN VAN ZWEDEN — It was nice to be able to see you in Grand Rapids, Joan. It doesn’t seem possible that you have grown so in those few years since we saw you last. Starting a new school always seems a little frightening, but it takes only a few days to learn your way around.

BETTY ANN VANDER VALK — You have several pets, Betty Ann. What kind of bird do you have? Have you had any more run-away turtles? I think it was trying to hide from you when it was under the rug. Or maybe it was looking for food.

PETER W. KIEVIT — Thank you for the stamps, Peter. You always seem to send quite a variety. I really don’t know what happened to your name that one month. Of course, with the long list of names, it is very possible to fail to list someone.

HELEN VAN DYKE — Did you receive the books, Helen? We were happy to be able to send them out to all of the boys and girls. Sometimes they are used as a reward for the best ones, but we know that everyone works hard to answer the quizzes, so we sent them all one.

JOHN NEELS — Since we live in the city, John, we don’t have much wild life around the house. Once in a while we see a wild rabbit, and, of course, there are quite a few different birds. Skunks and foxes and muskrats are nowhere to be seen, unless we go out into the country.

FRANCINA BOESTERD — You are doing real well with your organ lessons, Francina. And you are making good use of that new organ. It doesn’t seem possible that it is two and a half year ago since Andrew was born. How that time flies by.

MARTY ANKER — One-hundred forty degrees temperature would sure make it difficult to do manual labor, don’t you think, Marty. I’m glad it isn’t that hot here. You asked about Jesse having eight sons in one place and only seven listed in another place. They say it is possible that one son had no children, and therefore is not counted among the descendents.

AMY MIERAS — It was nice of you to write again, Amy. Do you find that some of the Bible quiz questions are quite easy to answer? I am sure that some of them are taken from stories which you already know. Say Hello to your parents for us.

DELLA VANDEN BRINK — Is “Farmers’ Day” a holiday for everyone in Canada, Delia? Or is it a holiday just in your area? I didn’t remember hearing of it before. Did you think the quiz was fairly easy this time? Or do you think it is always quite easy?

LYNDA REMUS — At the present we are having nice weather, Lynda. Of course, nice weather in Michigan doesn’t mean nice weather in other parts of the country. I suppose your sister Arlene is happy when you play with her. And that keeps her out of mischief also.

WILLIAM GRISNICH — I just notice that I am writing this on your birthday, William. I hope you may have a happy birthday and may also have many more of them. You certainly have enough cats on the farm if you have nine of them.

TONIA VANDER WAAL — Did you have a good report card, Tonia? Next year you will be having subjects that are more difficult again, and that is the way it will go each year. Have you finished reading the book yet? We hope everyone who answered the February quiz has received the book by this time.

JANETTA VANDENBERG — At the Youth Day I hope to meet many of the boys and girls who answer the quiz. And, of course, we hope to meet many new friends. Are you keeping quite busy during the summer months, Janetta? Those months always seem to go by so much more quickly.

CAROL OVERBEEKE — I see your letter is the last one this month, Carol. Since summer is now here, we can expect mostly warm days for the next few months. We certainly had quite a few letters to answer this time. Do you read all of them?

To all the boys and girls, many thanks for your replies and letters. We hope that the Lord will spare us so that we may hear from all of you again next month. So many things can happen, even though we are young.

With love,

Your friend,

“Uncle Garret”

1104 Roseland Ave.,

Kalamazoo, Mich. 49001

UNEQUAL THINGS MADE EQUAL

As I started to write to you I could not but think of the many things among you which are not equal. I pictured some of you in the burning heat of Rhodesia and remembered how I used to long to get under the shade of some tree. Others of you in Britain or America have been experiencing the bitter coldness of the winter season. Then I thought of how unequal are your conditions in this world, some having plenty and others not having enough. And in spiritual ways some of you have homes where God’s Word is read and honoured, while others of you see nothing but what is contrary to that Word. These are unequal things and they must remain unequal. In the parable of the householder who went out at various hours of the day to the market-place to engage labourers for his vineyard, the number of hours worked by the different persons engaged was very unequal — twelve — nine — six - one! What is remarkable is not that there was such unequal hours worked, but that we are told about the matter “Thou hast made them equal.” Twelve equal to six; nine equal to one.

The parable illustrates the different periods of life at which various persons enter the kingdom of God. Some are called at birth as was John the Baptist; others are called in childhood like Samuel; others again are called in teenage — such I suppose were to be found in the family of the Philippian jailor; Saul of Tarsus is not alone in his being called as a young man; and does not the question asked by Nicodemus ‘How can a man be born again when he is old?’ suggest that he was called when old, like some others. A great variety! Yes, but it is concerning them in particular that it can be said, “Thou hast made them equal.”

How does God make all the workers in His kingdom to be equal? He does it, first of all, by showing them that all spiritual desires come from His Holy Spirit. It is He who has called them and without His divine, heavenly, powerful calling they would never have entered into the kingdom. True it is that Christ is calling all the day long, but apart from the special work of the Holy Spirit in our souls a person cannot answer that call but will continue to stand all the day idle serving sin, Satan and the world. It is in this way then that God makes all in His kingdom to be equal. It matters not how many years you may be in the kingdom of God, you owe it all to the work of God and not to any willingness of your own.

Some may now be ready to say that if this is the case, then it does not matter when I enter into the kingdom of God, and so I need not concern myself about it. Such an attitude shows that you are not willing that God should make them all equal, and unless we are made to agree with the Lord in making all equal, we show that we have not obtained the Holy Spirit. What you are saying is, that if God took notice of the hours you worked, you would be anxious to be at work now. Thus you resemble those that murmur at God’s way of dealing with sinners. Did you see that no-one deserves to be allowed to work for one moment in the kingdom, you would not have this spirit. If we are to serve the Lord, it must be without any complaint about His making these unequals to be equal, but rather feeling and believing that unless the Lord had called you, you would still be serving sin, Satan and the world like others.

You do not know what hour of your day it is. You may be near to the end of your day in this earth. Stay not in the service of sin and Satan but pray to the Lord to make you hear His voice saying, “Go ye also into the vineyard.” And if your hear His voice in this way, you will have no complaint that such unequal things should be made equal. “Thou hast made them equal.”

Young People’s Magazine

THE LORD’S DAY MORNING

This is the day when Christ arose

So early from the dead;

Why should I keep mine eyelids close,

And waste my hours in bed?

This is the day when Jesus broke

The powers of death and hell;

And shall I still wear Satan’s yoke,

And love my sins so well?

Today with pleasure Christians meet,

To pray and hear Thy Word;

And I would go, with cheerful feet,

To learn Thy will, O Lord.

I’ll leave my sport to read and pray,

And to prepare for heaven:

Oh, may I love this blessed day

The best of all the seven!

GOD’S WAYS ARE NOT OURS

Just over the borders of Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire lies the pleasant country town of Olney, Bucks. Down its broad main street each year is run the annual race on Pancake Day. But just on the sheltered side of the market place stands the house where William Cowper came to live just 202 years ago.

He had been on the verge of taking a Parliament office in former years, but the distress of his mind under conviction of sin had unfitted him for it. It was a most distressing period for him; to feel oneself as a sinner in the sight of a holy God is no light matter. His advice to a close relative was, “Think of eternity.” Reader, has the Lord made you think of it?

At length the Lord delivered his soul from condemnation, as he read the words of Romans 3:25. “Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” For weeks and weeks he was filled with joy at the mention of the name of Jesus.

Soon after this came his move to Olney, and the beginning of his friendship with John Newton. Together they wrote and brought together the ‘Olney Hymns’, and some of them are very well-known. Cowper it was who wrote ‘God moves in a mysterious way …’ and also ‘How sweet the name of Jesus sounds.…’ How he must have written the latter hymn out of the very depths of his own experience. There is in existence an additional fourth verse to it, which is almost unknown —

‘By Thee my prayers acceptance gain,

Although with sin defiled;

Satan accuses me in vain,

And I am owned a child.’

Today the house in which he lived, called ‘Orchard Side’, is a museum containing many interesting mementoes which will well repay a visit. In the long garden stands the summer-house where he spent so many of his meditative hours.

What a blessed thing, reader, to be brought to prove for ourselves that the Saviour that did him so much good, is still the same today.

(Cheering Words)

BIRDS OF THE BIBLE THE DOVE

We read about the dove many times in the Bible, and more than any other bird.

Three times Noah sent a dove from the Ark. The first time it returned ‘finding no rest for the sole of her foot’. The flood waters were still high. The second time she returned with an olive leaf in her beak: this meant that the tree tops were to be seen. The third time the dove did not return: at last a place to rest and nest had been found. (Genesis 8:8)

We read that ‘the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle (dove) is heard.’ This refers to the return of the turtle dove from the south where it had wintered. The sound of its voice meant that spring had really come.

The dove’s song sounds very sad; so when we read ‘I did mourn as a dove’, we can easily understand how the writer felt.

Matthew tells us that when Jesus was in the Temple, he overthrew the tables of those who sold doves. (Matthew 21:12)

We remember the dove especially as the emblem of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove. (Matthew 3:16)

THE NOBLE RESCUE

A ship was sailing to the North. It had left one of the South American harbors.

Among the passengers there was a negro preacher, who was greatly despised by his fellow travelers. Whenever they had a chance, they let him feel how they abhorred him.

Some rich planters, who could not bear this son of the slaves, schemed to cast him overboard at the first opportunity. The poor man had learned of this devilish plan, but he remained friendly to all of them and at the same time prayed to God for help and protection. One big, rough planter in particular made every moment miserable for the negro and loaded him with cutting and offensive words.

It happened, however, that the eight year old son of this wicked man, who was as a plaguing devil for the poor negro preacher, fell overboard in a moment when no one was watching him. All at once the desperate cry was heard: “A child overboard!”

The despairing father saw it and cried: “Ten thousand dollars for the man who saves my boy!”

Suddeny the frantic cry was heard: “A shark! A shark!” and all the people stared horrified at the large, sharptoothed fish swimming towards the struggling boy. The father, filled with stark terror, was unable to speak.

“Make room!” suddenly cried the loud voice of a man, and at the same time they heard a plunge into the water. When the hero came to the surface again, bloody spots appeared on the water. Just in time, the powerful, courageous swimmer had cut open the belly of the dangerous shark with his sharp knife, and was enabled to grasp the sinking boy. He held him safely in his strong arms and grasped the rope which was thrown down from the ship. He was soon pulled to the deck with his burden and he laid the boy, who was remarkably saved, down at the father’s feet.

And who was the rescuer? It was the despised and plagued negro preacher. The father of the boy came forward and stammered words of thanks. All the passengers encircled the negro, who had given such a token of love and great courage, and warmly expressed their admiration for his valiant rescue.

One among the group of people was heard to say, “And we have plagued the poor man so much, and we had even planned to …” — Then the negro preacher looked very earnestly at the father and at the others, and said, “Yes, Sirs, I knew of your plan, but I earnestly prayed to God to help me and to frustrate your evil scheme; and He has certainly given me a wonderful chance to show you my Christian task. All honor be unto Him!

Very much ashamed, they scattered to other parts of the ship.

The negro was not troubled any more. From that time on, he had the respect of the whites. The ten thousand dollars were paid to him, and another token of Christian love was evident when he told them that he would use the money to advance the spreading of the Gospel among his poor and ignorant people.

—A Translation

DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS

Supported by the word,

Though in himself a worm,

The servant of the Lord

Can wondrous acts perform:

Without dismay he boldly treads

Where’er the path of duty leads.

The haughty king in vain

With fury on his brow,

Believers would constrain

To golden gods to bow:

The furnace could not make them fear,

Because they knew the Lord was near.

As vain was the decree

Which charged them not to pray;

Daniel still bowed his knee,

And worshipped thrice a day:

Trusting in God, he feared not men,

Though threatened with the lion’s den.

Secure they might refuse

Compliance with such laws;

For what had they to lose,

When God espoused their cause?

He made the hungry lions crouch,

Nor durst the fire His children touch.

The Lord is still the same,

A mighty shield and tower,

And they who trust His name

Are guarded by His power;

He can the rage of lions tame,

And bear them harmless through the flame.

Yet we too often shrink

When trials are in view;

Expecting we must sink,

And never can get through;

But could we once believe indeed,

From all these fears we should be freed.

THE LIGHT MUST SHINE

On the coast of Normandy, a lighthouse keeper lived with his two children in a lighthouse. One day the lighthouse keeper went to the shore for provisions. While he was gone, a storm arose. He was unable to return to the lighthouse.

The time for lighting the lamp came. Mary said to her little brother, “We must light the lamp, Billy.” The two children climbed the long, narrow stairs to the tower where the lamp was kept. Mary pulled up a chair and tried to reach the lamp in the great reflector, but it was too high for her to reach. She went down the stairs and came back with a small lamp in her hand. “I will hold this up,” she said “so the sailors can see a light.” Again, she climbed on to the chair, but the reflector was to high to catch the light.

“Get down,” said Billy, ‘T know what to do.” Mary jumped down, and Billy got on to the chair. “Stand on top of me,” he said. Mary stood on the little fellow, and then she raised the little lamp high. The reflector caught its light, and the light shone far out across the water. She held the lamp first with one hand, and then with the other, to rest her arms. Then she said to her brother, “Does it hurt you, Billy?” “Of course it hurts,” he said, “but we must keep the light burning!”

Is the light of God’s Word and love in our hearts, and is it shining forth in this dark world, even when it hurts?

(Banner of Truth)

THE UNENDING SEARCH FOR RICHES

“When I was a lad,” says one, “an old gentleman took some trouble to teach me some little knowledge of the world. He once asked me as to when a man was rich enough? I replied, When he had a thousand dollars. He said, No. Two thousand? No. Ten thousand? No. Twenty thousand? No. A hundred thousand? which I thought would settle the business; but he still continued to say no. I gave up and confessed that I could not tell, but begged him to tell me. He gravely said, When he has a little more than he has, and that is never! If he acquires one thousand, he wishes to have two thousand; then five, then ten, then twenty, then fifty; from that his riches would amount to a hundred thousand, and so on, till he had grasped the whole world; after which he would look about him, like Alexander, for other worlds to possess.”

(John Whitecross)

TO LATE

A young man was lamenting in terms of sincere grief the death of one of his dear parents. His companions tried to comfort him by reminding him that he had always behaved to his parent with duty, tenderness, and respect. “So I thought,” replied the youth, “while my parent was living; but now I recall with pain and sorrow many instances of disobedience and neglect, for which, alas! it is too late to make atonement.”

(John Whitecross)

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