BIBLE QUIZ

Dear Boys and Girls,

Many years ago I received at Sunday School a book entitled, “Ears for Little Gleaners.” I am sure that most of you know what gleaning is, especially if you have read the story of Ruth the Moabite which we find in God’s Word. Gleaning, as it was done in the time of Ruth, is not a common thing for us today, but the word “gleaning” may be used for other meanings than to gather the grain left behind by the reapers.

In my dictionary I find one of the meanings of the word “glean” is “to get by searching here and there.” I thought this was a perfect description of my young friends as they searched God’s Word for the answers to the Bible quiz. In this way you are all gleaners.

If we read the story of Ruth, we know that gleaning was not such an easy task. The ears of grain had to be picked up from the ground, so that much stooping and bending was necessary. Working in the open field, the hot sun in harvest time made gleaning especially hard work. Rich people did not go into the fields to glean, but it was done by the poor, by widows, and by strangers. In the laws given by God to Moses the land owners were commanded not to reap the corners of the field nor to pick up the grain which had been dropped by the reapers. We read that Boaz even commanded his servants to drop some handfuls on purpose for Ruth to pick up.

It is our prayer that as you “glean” in God’s Word you may do so as poor and needy ones, hungry and thirsty for the blessings of God’s Word, and that you may then find those precious ears of grain which you may carry away with you. The Lord has placed them there by His servants, by holy men of old, and boys and girls (and also adults) may still find them many years later to receive benefit from them.

The seven words spelled out in our quiz were spoken by Boaz to Ruth, but are also spoken to you. May the Lord teach us this together.

Eli said to his sons, “Nay, my sons; for it is no ______ report that I hear.”

______ said to Elijah, “I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth.”

Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of ______ the Jezreelite.”

Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, ______ strange fire before the Lord, which He commanded them not.

In the handwriting on the wall, the word ______ meant, “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”

King Solomon had seven hundred wives, princesses; and his wives ______ away his heart.

Samuel said to Saul, “Behold, to ______ is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

Ahab made a ______, and did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.

One of Saul’s servants said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and the ______ is with him.”

The child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before _______

The Lord God called unto ______, and said unto him, “Where art thou?”

The Lord said to Jonah, “Arise, go to _______ that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before Me.”

Daniel’s three friends said to the king, “We will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden ______ which thou hast set up.”

______ said to the king, “Send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.”

Miriam and ______ spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married.

______ built the ark; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

The Lord had respect unto Abel and to his _____.

Paul wrote to Timothy, “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the _______”

Of Ruth we read, “And her ______ was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz.”

King Josiah, in the ______ year of his reign, while he was yet young, began to seek after the God of David his father.

When ______, the son of Solomon, humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him.

In the parable the prodigal son gathered all together and took his journey into a ______ country.

Elijah said to Ahab, “I have not troubled ______; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandment of the Lord.”

______did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.

Paul also wrote to Timothy, “Demas hath forsaken me, having ______ this present world.”

Samson’s parents said to him, “Is there never a woman among the ______ of thy brethren, or among all my people?”

Your answers should be sent to:

Garret J. Moerdyk

5211 Woodmont Drive

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001.

The answers to the crossword of last month are:

ACROSS:

1. Slept —I Kings 19:5

4. Sparrow — Psalm 84:3

8. Water —John 5:3

9. Blessed —Revelation 14:13

10. Earth —Genesis 19:23

12. Hope —Acts 2:26

13. Learn —Matthew 11:29

16. Solomon —I Chronicles 22:9

17. His —Matthew 8:24

20. At —Numbers 9:18

22. Strength —II Chronicles 6:41

24. Run —Isaiah 40:30

25. So —Jonah 1:6

28. Sanctified —Genesis 2:3

29. Have —Revelation 14:11

30. Sleep —Esther 6:1

31. Moses —Deuteronomy 34:7

DOWN:

1. Sabbath —Exodus 20:11

2. Everlasting — Isaiah 40:28

3. Gad —Genesis 49:19

4. See —Psalm 27:13

5. Pray —Luke 18:1

6. Ruth —Ruth 3:18

7. Waxed —II Samuel 21:15

8. Weary —II Samuel 17:2

11. Honour —I Kings 3:13

14. Moth —Psalm 39:11

15. Holy —Revelation 4:8

16. Sat —John 4:6

18. Is —Mark 5:39

19. Rest —Mark 6:31

21. Angel —Acts 12:7

23. Noise —Psalm 65:7

26. Adam —Genesis 2:21

27. This —Genesis 28:16

28. Sun —Jonah 4:8

Answers have been received from:

Bernie Bakker (2)

Billie Bakker (2)

Jason Bakker

Joshua Bakker (2)

Trish Bakker (2)

Brian Baum

Cathy Baum

Aron Bazen

Carrie Bazen

Amy Beeke

Bill Beeke

Karrie Beeke

Katie Beeke

Lori Beeke

Yvonne Bisschop

Greg Bleeker

Jeremy Boot

Melanie Bos

Stephen Bos

Stephanie Bos

Neil DeBoer

Peter DeBoer

Rachael De Bruine

Tyler De Bruyn

Steve N. De Bruyn

Melinda DeMeester

Tammy DeMeester

Jackie Den Dekker

Neil Den Dekker

Arlen Den Hoed

Betty Den Hoed

Bruce Den Hoed

Gerald Den Hoed

Glen Den Hoed

Larry Den Hoed

Sharlene Den Hoed

Sheila Den Hoed

Susan Den Hoed

Tim Den Hoed

Chantal De Patie (2)

Marc De Patie (2)

Melissa Derksen

Jodi Lynn Deur

Fred De Vries (2)

Mary De Vries

Stephen De Vries (2)

Joleen L. Droge

Anita Droge

Gordon Eckhardt

Susy Eckhardt

Jason Engelsma

Kristi Englesma

Rachel Engelsma

Daniel Eppinga (2)

Robbin Eppinga (2)

Scott Eppinga (2)

Tonya Eppinga (2)

Mark Faasse

Thane W. Fluit

Remco Funcke

Benjamin Hayes

Daniel Herfst

David Herfst

Jason Herfst

Kevin Herfst

Wieska Hoedeman

Carrie Hoogendoorn

Tori Hoogendoorn

Peter Hoogendoorn

David Hoogerheide

Katie Hoogerheide

Charmain Huisman (2)

Brenda Hulshof

Cindy Hulshof

Katie Lynn Hulshof

Ronald Hulshof

Gary Kanis

Kathleen Kanis

Frank Kardux

Janet Kardux

Myrna Kardux

Rosemary Kardux

Jody Kegel

Karen Kegel

Stephanie Kegel

Karla Joy Knibbe

Kevin Knibbe

Randy Knibbe

Ryan Knibbe

Jim Kranendonk

Joanna Kranendonk

Mary Kranendonk

Susan Kranendonk

Cindy Kreft

Derek Kreft

June Krygsman

Becky Kummerow

Ryan Kummerow

Joan Lamain

Kristy Lamain

Sara Lamain

David Marcus

Nicole Renee Meeuwse

Nathan Meeuwse

Gerrit Neels

Julia Neels

Alyce Nieuwenhuis

Karen Nyenhuis

Billy Middendorp

Bobby Middendorp

Sarah Middendorp

Craig Phillips

Wendy Phillips

John Polderman

Heidi Remijn

Sonya Remijn

David Rose

Darla Rus

Jason Rus

Toyin Sangorinde

Anne Schelling (2)

John Schelling (2)

Pam Schelling

Rebekah Schelling

Renita L. Schelling

Ben Schipper

Kristina Schipper

Johanna Scholten (2)

Margaret Scholten (2)

Estella Schouten

Philip Schouten

Diane Slingerland

Aaron Stubbe

Kevin Stubbe

Steven Stubbe

Jonathan Ten Elshof

Tim Ten Elshof

Angela Timmer

Sally Van Bemden (2)

Lida VandeBruinhorst

Mary VandeBruinhorst

Jaron VandeHoef

Beverly Vandenberg

Leona VandenBrink

Louise VandenBrink

Marvin VandenHoek

Jon VandenToorn

Jaclyn VandenToorn

Kim VandenToorn

Lisa VandenToorn

Marsha VandenToorn

Mike VandenToorn

Tammy VandenToorn

Dave VanderMeulen

Fran VanderMeulen

Bob VanderZand

Rodney VanderZand

A.J. Van Maren

Sara Van Pagee

Dawn Van Seters

Cynthia Van Surksum

Jason Van Surksum

Steven Van Surksum

Trina Van Tol

Joel Van Veldhuizen

Kristi Van Veldhuizen

Rebecca Van Veldhuizen (2)

Robert Van Veldhuizen (2)

Phyllis Van Veldhuizen

Sheila Van Veldhuizen

Janelle Van Voorst

Jeffrey Van Voorst (2)

Larissa Lynn Van Voorst

Rachel Van Voorst

Timothy Van Voorst

Corinna Van Wingerden

David Van Wingerden

Karen Van Wingerden

Mark Van Wingerden

Mariene Van Wingerden

Steven Van Wingerden

Paula Van Woudenberg

Jacqueline Velthove

Pieter Len Velthove

John Wesdyk

Karen Wesdyk

Eric Wielhouwer

Andrea Wright (2)

Chad Wright (2)

Cindy Ymker

Denise Ymker

Edward Ymker (2)

Gregory Ymker

Janice Ymker (2)

Jean Ymker

Kevin Ymker (2)

Tim Ymker (2)

Jeff Zevenbergen

Vanessa Zylstra

Again we have some letters to answer—

Benjamin Hayes

We were sorry to hear about your teacher, Benjamin. How is he now? We hope he is much better again. Our bodies are so wonderfully made, as the psalmist says, but how soon we can be laid low. In another psalm we read, “How frail I am.”

Julia Neels

We are quite well, Julia. Do you have an assembly every week, or just on special occasions? We read often about prayers which were answered as we study God’s Word. Can you think of some other examples besides that of Elijah?

Philip Schouten

I have never been south of the equator, Philip. There was a time when a trip of 10 miles was considered to be quite a distance, but today we travel much farther and, of course, much faster. But when we look at the globe, we are reminded of the psalter which says that earth’s remotest regions shall be Christ’s empire.

Brian Baum

We are happy to have you join in answering the quiz, Brian. It was also nice to receive your letter. Were you glad to go back to school after your week of vacation? I have been in New Jersey quite a number of times.

Dawn Van Seters

We had a rather large tree blow over in a windstorm last week, Dawn. They too become old, and then are cut down or fall before the wind. We read quite a number of times about trees in the Bible. Can you think of some stories in which trees are mentioned?

Remco Funcke

You are right, Remco; the weather is not for us to decide upon, and it certainly is a good thing. Even now we hear many complaints about the weather, and in reality we are complaining against God who determines it. Can you think of weather conditions spoken of in the Bible?

Cerrit Neels

The publican prayed for mercy and so did David, as you wrote, but we too need that same prayer, Gerrit. We, like the disciples, may ask the Lord to teach us to pray differently than the Pharisee did. Even a very short prayer of only a few words is heard and answered by the Lord.

Sara Van Pagee

I am sure you found your name in the list this time, Sara. Sometimes the answers arrive just a day or two after I have sent the names to the printer, and then they are held over until the next month. We hope we never miss anyone.

Derek Kreft

Has your garden brought results already, Derek? It seems quite early for working in the garden, but I suppose that the sun and the spring rains can soon cause the garden to flourish. Give our greetings to your parents and family.

Estella Schouten

How far is Gisborne from your home, Estella? Are there lots of things to do there? Looking at the map, I see that it is situated on the ocean, so I am certain there are some nice beaches there for swimming.

Cindy Kreft

Congratulations on your birthday, Cindy. We hope that you may have many more, but that you may also have a second birthday. On a watch or clock we can see the time go by, but it seems to move so slowly. Looking back, it is so different, as we wonder where the time has gone.

Many thanks, boys and girls, for

your answers to the quiz again this

month. May the Lord remember us together, and favor us with His blessing.

With love,

Your friend,

“Uncle Garret”

THE POWER OF PARENTAL OPINION

There are little eyes upon you,
And they are watching night and day.
There are little ears that quickly,
Take in every word you say.
There are little hands all eager,
To do everything you do;
And a little boy who’s dreaming,
Of the day he will be like you.

You are the little fellow’s idol,
You are the wisest of the wise;
In his little mind about you,
No suspicions ever rise.
He believes in you devoutly,
Holds to all you say and do,
He will say and do in your way,
When he’s grown up just like you.

There’s a wide-eyed little fellow
Who believes you’re always right,
And his ears are always open,
As he watches day and night.
You are setting an example
Every day in all you do,
For the little boy who’s waiting
To grow up just like you.

JOHN FOXE, THE PENMAN FOR THE MARTYRS

The story of the life of John Foxe is one of the faithfulness of, and faithfulness to, the Lord. Foxe is most remembered today for his Book of Martyrs, originally called Foxe’s Acts and Monuments. The following account of his life is given in the preface of an abridgement of his work published by the Protestant Truth Society of London, England.

John Foxe was born in Lincolnshire, in the year 1517. At the age of sixteen he went to Brasenose College, Oxford, where he took his degree of MA. While at the University, and for some time after, he was a zealous Papist, and was strictly moral in his life. Being led to read church history, and also to study the Bible, he became convinced of the errors of the Romish Church. The Romanists soon discovered the change in his opinions, and had him expelled from the University. Oppressed and forsaken, he was in great need, when Sir Thomas Lucy, of Warwickshire, befriended him, and engaged him as tutor in his family.

After remaining some time at Coventry, he removed to London; but, being a stranger, and without money, he was soon reduced to great want. From this he was relieved in the following extraordinary manner. Sitting one day in St. Paul’s Church, and looking like a spectre, being almost starved, a stranger whom he did not remember having ever seen before, sat down by him, and, putting a large sum of money into his hand, exhorted him to be of good cheer, for Cod would, in a few days, give him more certain means of subsistence. The prophecy was fulfilled, for within three days he was appointed by the Duchess of Richmond tutor to her nephew’s family.

But Mary was now on the throne, and the persecution carried on against the Protestants became at length so bitter, that Foxe was forced to leave England. He betook himself to Basel, in Switzerland; and it was in this city, famous for printing, that he began his well-known work on Martyrology. When Elizabeth ascended the throne he returned to England. The Duke of Norfolk, one of his former pupils, received him into his house, and at his death left Foxe a pension. He was afterward settled at Salisbury, where he revised and completed his Book of Martyrs.

After a long life of piety and usefulness, he died on 18th April, 1587, and was interred in the chancel of St. Giles’s, Cripplegate, of which parish during the reign of Elizabeth he had for some time been vicar. A plain tablet, bearing a Latin inscription, was erected by his son to his memory.

THE VOICE OF MY BELOVED

Hark! the voice of my Beloved,
Lo, He comes in greatest need,
Leaping on the lofty mountains,
Skipping over hills with speed,
To deliver,
Me unworthy from all woe.

In a dungeon deep He found me,
Without water, without light,
Bound in chains of horrid darkness,
Gloomy, thick, Egyptian night;
He recover’d
Thence my soul with price immense.

And for this let men and angels,
All the heavenly hosts above,
Choirs of seraphims elected,
With their golden harps of love,
Praise and worship,
My Redeemer without end.

—William Williams, 1771

GOD OR BAAL?

“If the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him” (I Kings 18:21). These words were spoken by Elijah to the people of Israel. Elijah was a person with a very strong faith. He was very industrious for his God and country, although the time of his ministration was very difficult. At that time Ahab was king, and his wife was the wicked Jezebel. The country was not ruled according to the Word and the law of the Lord. This is at all times unprofitable for a country.

The people of Israel certainly did not prosper. There was a famine in the land. How shall we prosper if the Creator of heaven and earth is not acknowledged by the creature? In Romans 12:2 the apostle Paul said, “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Israel was also serving two masters— God and Baal. In Matthew 6:24, we read, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.” There on Mt. Carmel Elijah stood alone against the prophets of Baal. There it would be proven who is God and who is not.

Four-hundred fifty priests of Baal were present. With beautiful garments and much ado, they prayed for fire. What was the outcome? Nothing! They became furious, but all the commotion did not help. Elijah was calm. He built an altar of twelve stones, as a witness that all Israel should be one. Twelve barrels of water were poured upon the altar of Elijah. Then the prophet said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that Thou art God in Israel.”

In verse 38 we read, “Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice.” When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces, and they said, “The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God.”

Oh, my young friends, may we all come to this confession. We cannot serve Baal and God at the same time. Elijah was taken up into heaven, but the God of Elijah still lives, today and forever. “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him.”

—Rev. M. Romeyn

A HOUSE TO COME

A prosperous man lay dying. His lawyer had been at his side settling his affairs. His little daughter, sitting near, had heard the conversation between the two, from which she gathered that her father was going to leave the house in which he was, and that it was to pass on to somebody else. “Father,” she asked, “when you leave this house, where are you going to live?”

A very sensible question, but would you believe that he had never thought of it before? Happy are they who can say, “We know that if the earthly house of this tabernacle were destroyed, we have a building of Cod, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor. 5:1).

MY VERY OWN

A little girl was once asked by her teacher, “Is there anything you can call your own?”

She hesitated for a moment, and then, looking up, replied, “I think there is.”

“What is it?” asked the teacher.

“I think,” said the girl, “that my sins are my own.”

THE MAN WHO SHOT HIS BEST FRIEND

One most tragic event occured during the battle of San Juan, preceding the now historic surrender of Santiago. In the charge on San Juan Hill, early in July 1898, Lieutenant Ord, at the head of a handful of soldiers, was one of the first to reach the top of the hill. Just as he passed over the brow of San Juan, he observed a wounded Spanish soldier lying on the ground, and pointing to him, said, “Take care of that man,” meaning that no harm was to be done, and that medical aid was to be obtained as soon as possible. The Spaniard saw the motion of the officer’s hand, and evidently thinking it meant a command to his soldiers to shoot, he raised his rifle, fired, and brave and kind Lieutenant Ord dropped dead. He had shot his best friend! When the men following Lieutenant Ord saw how cruelly the Spaniard had misjudged his action, they were wild with rage, literally riddled the body of the murderer with bullets, and rolled it into the trench.

In wondrous contrast, God, instead of sending legions of angels to avenge the death of “His only begotten Son,” sent the disciples with a message of love, commissioning them to “begin at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47), for “Cod commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8) Has this contrast ever become reality for you, friend?

HER TWO SONS

A mother had two sons. One went as a missionary to cannibals, was clubbed, and eaten. When the mother recovered from overwhelming grief she said she just had one desire. That was for the other son to go and tell the murderers of Him “in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7).

WILLING TO DIE SIX TIMES OVER

A well-known Christian worker in Lanarkshire, used to relate the following incident:

Some years ago I went to see a little girl, seven years of age, who I was told was dying. She lived in a back street. When I got there, a woman showed me to where this child was, and I sat down.

“What do you want, darling?”

“I want to see you before I die.”

“Why!” said I, “are you dying?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Would you not like to get well again?”

“I hope not, sir.”

“Why not?”

“Why, sir,” she said, “ever since I was converted I have been trying to bring father to church, and he won’t come; and I think if I die you will bury me, won’t you?”

I said, “Yes, darling.”

“Well, I’ve been thinking, if I die, father must go to the funeral; then you will be able to preach the gospel to him. And I would be willing to die six times over for him to hear the Gospel once.”

Just as she was to have been buried, I was taken seriously ill myself. I thought of the poor little girl, and I should so like to have buried her.

Time passed on, and a rough-looking fellow called upon me, and held out his hand, “You do not know me?”

“No, I do not.”

“I am the father of Mary, the father she died for; for I heard as how she said she would die for me six times, if I could only hear the Gospel once. It nearly broke my heart, and now I long to know the way of salvation.”

Thus is seen the power of the truth — “A little child shall lead them” (Is. 11:6).

THE POLICE COMMISSARY AND THE TESTAMENT

In a remote Russian village the Commissary of Rural Police related the following bit of autobiography to an agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society:

“I had been promoted to be Commissary

in _____ Province, when one of our chiefs

was passing through, and I was ordered to meet him at the boundary of our circuit. Through some accident I had unexpectedly to spend two days and a half waiting for his Excellency at the solitary post-station. I had nothing to read or to do, and was at my wits’ end to know how to kill time. Lying under the Ikon I saw a copy of the Russian New Testament—they are to be found placed at each post-station, thanks to your Society. I had seen the same thing hundreds of times, and now I said to myself, ‘What’s the use of wasting time reading fables?’ I felt great reluctance even to take the book in my hand. However, this frightful idleness made me open it, and I began reading from the first chapter of St. Matthew. As I read on my attention grew. This was no book of fables and nonsense! No book had ever awakened such tender feelings or touched me like this. I did not notice that my candles were burning out until they spluttered, and then I got fresh ones, and sat on reading until the dawn. I read the book right through from cover to cover, and since that night I have thanked God over and over again for your Society which puts the New Testament even in such out-of-the-way post-stations.”

“MAKE ME A DOORMAT”

An enthusiastic brother once prayed: “Lord, make me even a doormat.”

He was trod upon not long after, and manifested quite the opposite spirit. Not “words,” but “works,” manifest whose we are and whom we serve (Rev. 22:12).

Garret J. Moerdyk serves as elder in the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

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