The Wonderful Book

by G. E. HORNE | Category: General | Jun 1943

Many attempts have been made to get rid of this wonderful book; no other book has been so heavily or so variouslyattacked. In spite of all these attacks the Bible to-day has a wider circulation and is translated -into more languages than any other book in the whole world. These facts in themselves indicate that there is behind the Bible some mighty power. It claims, as no other book claims, to be, in the original, the Word of God, and the candid mind will surely be impressed with the fact that the power behind the book is the power of God.

Open opposition bas been tried in the destruction of copies of the book, which were burned in large numbers; and in the persecution of those who read it, very many of whom were put to death. These efforts failed; the fiercer the persecution, the greater the circulation became.

Infidelity has tried its hand, and men like Strauss, Renan, Voltaire and Paine have sought to reason and ridicule the book out of existence. Voltaire is reported to have said that one hundred years after his day the Bible would be a discredited book, and Christianity an exploded theory. Since his death his printing press has been used to print copies of this very book, and the house in which he lived has been stacked with Bibles by the Geneva Bible Society.

Scientists, modernist clergy and others have done their utmost to undermine faith in the Scriptures as the Word of God, but in spite of all attacks, how true are the words of Whitaker:

"Stedfast, serene, unmovable, the same

Year after year.

Burns on for evermore that quenchless flame;

Shines on that inextinguishable light."

Ample proof of Divine origin is to be found in the book itself. Various lines might be taken to prove this; for instance, the wonderful accuracy of the earliest. writings when touching scientific truths, while other literature of the same period contains glaring and ridiculous errors; or the loftiness and

beauty of its moral teaching, and the marvellous transformation in the lives of those who followed it, might both be pursued. In the mind of the writer, however, the evidence of fulfilled prophecy is irrefutable.

In the present article attention is drawn to some remarkable prophecies concerning the birth, life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, which to any open mind contain ample proof that the Scriptures are God-breathed.

The first promise of a Saviour was given by God in speaking to the Devil after he had succeeded in accomplishing the fall of man in Eden. This promise concerning the seed of the woman, of whom God said, "It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel" (Genesis 3.15), is a reference to the mighty victory gained at the cross by Christ. There is also here a veiled allusion to

THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF THE LORD JESUS.

This is plainly foretold in the words of Isaiah 7.14. "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (God is with us).

>From then onwards the Old Testament Scriptures abound with prophecies regarding the Coming One, and detail after detail is given as to His Person, character and work.

THE FAMILY.

In Genesis 22.18 Abraham is promised that the Messiah shall be his seed. He is not to come through Ishmael or Esau, but through Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 26: 4; 28.14). Jeremiah makes known by the Spirit of God that He shall also be of the royal line of David, the rightful Heir to the throne (Jeremiah 33.15-17).

PLACE OF BIRTH.

Micah, some 700 years B.C., foretells that Christ is to be born in Bethlehem (chapter 5. 2). This was well known to the leaders of the Jewish nation, of whom Herod enquired where the Christ should be born, and was told," In Bethlehem of Judea" (Matthew 2. 4-6). A short time before the birth of the Lord, it seemed most unlikely that He. would be born in Bethlehem, for His parents were then living in Nazareth; but God, who was watching over His word to perform (Jeremiah 1.12), caused the heathen Caesar to make a decree for a world-wide census to be taken, for. which purpose all must go to their own cities to register. So, just before the birth, Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem the city of David, where Christ was born.

DATE AND MANNER OF DEATH.

Daniel 9.24-26, written about 600 B.C., gives the year of Christ's death 483 years after the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 2). The manner of His death is graphically described by David 1,000 years beforehand in Psalm 22. There such expressions as "All My bones are. out of joint," "My strength is dried up like a potsherd," "My tongue cleaveth to My jaws," and "I may tell all My bones" tell of the result of the whole weight of the body being upon hands and feet, of the fever and thirst, which accompany crucifixion, and of the terribly emaciating effect of this cruel manner of death. It is remarkable to note that such a mode of putting to death was unknown in David's day, yet it is described in detail, so long beforehand, which could only have been done by God. Again we read in this Psalm, "They pierced My hands and My feet. " This was not always done at crucifixion, for sometimes the victim was tied by ropes; but we do know that nails were used to fasten the Lord to the cross.

God multiplies such details even to the discrimination by the soldiers between Christ's garments, which were divided, and the coat upon which lots were cast.

LIFE AND CHARACTER.

Psalm 1. and Isaiah 53., written so long before the Lord came, and many other scriptures tell what kind of life the Lord would live.

BURIAL.

Isaiah even makes. known how the grave intended for Him would be made at the foot of the cross, but his words,-" with the rich in His death," foretold that His body would lie in the tomb of the rich man-" wherein was man never yet laid" (John 19.41).

RESURRECTION.

David, by the Holy Spirit, speaks in Psalm 16.10 of the resurrection, that all-important event, by which God put His seal upon the finished work, shewing His perfect satisfaction therewith.

One writer has summed up the Bible in this way. "Supposing that in a central place stones were collected from many quarries, all cut and shaped at the places where they were excavated. An army of builders was employed, until all the stones were used and there was found to be none short. The result was a beautiful building. What is the natural conclusion? Why, that behind it all lies the master mind of a great architect. So with this wonderful book, the Bible, which has been written in many different countries, by many different authors, including. kings, great scholars, fishermen, a herdsman and a tax gatherer. Included amongst the writings are history, prophecy, poetry and ethics. There are altogether 66 books, which were written at different times covering a period of about 1,600 years. When all these books are brought together they form one perfect whole not one too many, not one short." Surely the only conclusion a candid person can reach is that behind the book is the master mind of God.

G. E. HORNE | Jun 1943
General