A SIMPLE PRAYER.
A faithful and successful servant of God was once watched by his people, who sought to ascertain the secret of his inspiring ministry. He seemed, to know every sorrow of his large congregation, and had learned how to speak the word to help. He seemed to read their hearts in every condition, and he knew how to soothe their wounds.They watched him at his work far into the night as he turned over the pages of'the Book of books, comparing this with that, and building up his message for a coming day. At length, in the still hours of the new-born day, men, then occupies the scene. If then, the Church's work is done, the time has come for the Church to go "Home," but if it is not yet done, then It is God's responsibility to keep His workmen here. And though the whole world becomes a howling mob, hurling destruction from the skies like torrential rain, the Hand of God can shield His child and keep him safe until the clock of Providence chimes the hour, Let every child of God take courage then, and know within his heart of hearts that till his (or her) clock strikes "twelve," no weapon that is formed against him can reach its mark —he (or she)"is immortal till their work is done."
He closed his Book and brought his hands together. child-like, and offered his short prayer. His watchers listened eagerly to hear what he would say. Would it be some finely worded prayer? It was this-—"My Gracious Heavenly Father, we are still on the same old terms! Thou art mine, and I am Thine, in Jesus' Name—Good night!" How beautiful was this prayer. Familiar, but without undue familiarity; reserved and reverent, but saying everything that was best and necessary. God knew his heart, and accepted the renewing of his covenant as incense sweet. It is not necessary to preach to God when we pray.
Bible Student Monthly
March 1941
A MEDITATION ON THE LAST SUPPER
It was very' quiet, up there in the cool and peacefutness of the upper room. A noisy crowd surged and jostled in the street below, sturdy countrymen up in Jerusalem for the feast rubbing shoulders with Greek merchants; truculent Galileans striding past the gentler Judean shepherds with glances of contempt and veiled hostility; whilst ever and and a party of Roman soldiers stepped smartly along the centre of the highway, Pharisee and beggar alike hasting to give them free passage and combining after their passing to look upon their retreating backs with smoldering animosity. But upstairs, in the upper room, it was quiet and cool.
Loving hands had been very busy setting out the table for those who were soon to meet around it in solemn observance of Israel's ancient Passover. The lamb, roast with fire, ready cut into his pieces, lay in the centre of the festal board. Little piles of unleavened bread—bitter herbs—cups of wine—the dish of "cheroseth" (fruit and nuts)—all stood ready against that time when twelve men and their Master should enter the room and partake together "Silent, like men in solemn haste Girded wayfarers of the waste Passing out at the world's wide gate." In every home in Jerusalem that feast lay spread. In palace and in hovel, in the best rooms of every inn and within the Temple precincts where dwelt that priestly course whose turn it was that day to conduct the sacred service, the lamb, the bread, the bitter herbs, lay waiting, mute testimony to a night in olden time when the Destroying Angel passed over the land of Egypt, to the first-borns of the land a messenger of death, but those who were under the blood, deliverance ---deliverance glorious and complete. And now the door is opening, and men appear. One by one, until twelve have entered, they take their place around the table—waiting. A quiet footfall on the threshold. Their Master enters and closes the door, and by that simple action shuts out the world and all its cares and interests. The faint murmur of peoples rising from the street below dies down and is gone, The world is very far away and the disciples are with their Master—and alone.
Who among them but did not feel the solemnity of this night. Accustomed as they were to the Passover ceremonial, observing it year by year continually, it could not but be plain that after to-night things would never be the same. Not so, on those two previous occasions when they had partaken of the Passover Jamb with their Master, had this consciousness of impending crisis filled their minds. Something was going to happen; they realized that instinctively, without knowing what it was to be, and yet mingled with that apprehension there was a strange triumphant joy, as though at last all the perplexities and misunderstandings of the past three years were'to be resolved into a clear knowledge of the life which lay before them. That trouble and distress might yet lie beyond the bounds of this Passover evening they knew, but that God was with them in all their ways they were confident; and now His voice broke the silence. Tender tones, vibrant with rich feeling, searching their inmost souls and drawing their very hearts to an ecstasy of devotion and surrender.
"With desire I have desired to eat this pass-over with you before I suffer; for 1 say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God."
Magic words. The Kingdom of God; so soon to come; the goal of all their hopes, the prayer of every child of Israel. Thrilling words —no more would He eat of the Passover with them until the Kingdom should have come. That was wha,t He had said so lately on the summit of Mount Tabor—some. of.-them..would not taste of death "until the Kingdom of God should come"; and now that they had endured with Him in all His trials, surely the day. If God's recompense was at hand and Messiah would declare himself. Eager thoughts are interrupted. The Master has taken a cup of wine in His right hand and is looking upward to Heaven. His voice breaks the stillness in solemn invocation, "Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, the King of the universe, who hast created the fruit of the vine." Silently, reverently, they all drank. The feast had begun. All eyes were turned to that beloved One at the centre of the table. Again He spoke.
"Hear, ye children of Abraham. This is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, Who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron, whom He had chosen. He brought them forth also with silver and gold, and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. Egypt was glad when they departed, for the fear of them fell upon them. He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night, for He remembered His holy promise, and Abraham His servant. And He brought forth His people with joy, and His chosen with gladness, that they might observe His statutes, and keep His laws. Therefore are we constrained to confess, to praise, to glorify, to extol, to magnify and) to ascribe victory unto Him Who did unto our fathers and unto us all these' signs, and Who brought us forth from servitude to freedom, from sorrow to joy, from darkness to marvelous light; and we say before Him, Hallelujah."
In low tones the word passed from tip to lip, "Hallelujah; Hallelujah," a murmur of reverent praise ascending to Israel's God. Then twelve voices joined in the recitation of familar words. "Let the name of the Lord be blessed from this present time and for ever. From the rising of the sun to his setting the name of the Lord is to be praised...At the going forth of Israel from Egypt,...the earth trembled, at the presence of the- Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob." "Hallelujah."
Once more the Lord's hands are moving over the table. Now He is breaking one of the cakes of unleavened bread. His quiet voice rises in the benediction. "Blessed be thou, O Lord our God, the King of the Universe, who bringest forth food' out of the earth."
The little cakes passed from man to his neighbor. Reverent hands reached out to the dish upon which lay the lamb roast with fire. They ate. hastily, solemnly, as men fulfilling an ancient ritual. The room was very quiet— the flickering lamp cast strange shadows on the wall behind the Lord Jesus. As He raised His arms in blessing His shadow took a strange form...the form of a cross. But no, that could never be, for was He not a King? Had He not just told them in so many words that ere twelve short months had passed they would be reigning with Him in Kingly power; for He would not again eat of the Passover until He ate with again in the Kingdom? And yet......"This is my body which is given for you. This do in remembrance of me,"
They took of the bread, sharing each with the other, wondering. The lamp flame flickered low? in its vessel band the shadow of the cross grew longer and seemed to come nearer, bending over towards them. "This is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins.,. Drink ye, all of it." They drank, a strange, fierce joy pervading their souls as realization came that they were to be brothers indeed to the One they served ns Lord To have His blood run in their veins —His words meant nothing less than that. They were to receive life—rich, vital life,— from Him. The ancient blood-brotherhood covenant of olden time was invoked by this mystic symbol; now and for all time were they to be joined to Him they loved in a relationship that should never be severed, to serve Him and be with Him for ever. Surely now He would speak plainly and disperse die uncertainty and misunderstanding which had surrounded their hope for so long. Now surely He would tell them all.
"Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me."
They looked at each other fearfully. What horrifying calamity was this? How could any one of them even dream of betraying the Master and the Cause they loved so dearly? What did it mean? What dread portent lay behind those unexpected words?"Is it I?'"......"Is it I?"......"Is it I?"......How could it be? The question rippled round the table. It came to one whose hunted eyes looked' every way for succour—for assurance—for denial, Surely this could not be real: this was not in very truth happening to him. Surely it had all been a nightmare; that visit to the Priests, that shameful bargain, the cynical congratulations of those whom he hated more than he hated any man. And Jesus knewj he was sure of that, jesus knew all about that night visit; about me thirty pieces of silver, about his own desperate resolve to precipitate a climax to their three years preaching. He knew, and still He did not declare Himself—It was true then; He did not intend to act until the last minute. He meant to wait until His enemies had actually arrested Him, and haled him before Pilate for judgment, and then—and THEN—at last— He would throw off the mask and defy the power of imperial Rome.
There could be no doubt about it; He could dally no longer then, could not possibly postpone His revelation as the long promised Messiah when standing in the very shadow of the cross. One scornful word from His lips and that great Temple, centre of idolatry and evil would collapse in irretrievable ruin, its treasures scattered to the winds, its inner sanctuary opened to the profane gaze. One arm upraised to Heaven and God's artillery, fire and thunderbolt, would pour down upon the proud legions of Rome and annihilate diem in an instant. The armies of die angels Would descend as in olden days and crash the stately walls of Jerusalem headlong down the hillside to the valleys beneath, The earthquake of Uzziah, the hailstones of Joshua, the heavenly fire of Elijah, all would bring turmoil and destruction to the sinful, rebellious city which had rejected his Leader. Another flood—not of water as in the days of Noah, but of fire; an avalanche of fire to devour God's adversaries—would sweep Judea and Galilee and, all the world with a besom of destruction. Jesus had the power—He knew that. He had seen enough of His miracles to be sure of that; and He would use it. He could not help Himself. And then, at last, would come the moment for which he had waited these many years, the moment for which his whole being craved. Seated upon a lofty throne, a friend of the Messiah, an executor of God's vengeance, he would crush to the earth those proud Pharisees and priests. Men would come to Judas and beg favours, and whom he would he would favour and enrich, and whom he "would, he would cast down, despoil, reduce to beggary. Roman procurators and Greek merchants. the honourable and the rich of this world, would come into the presence of Judas of Kerioth' with respect and awe, Jesus would do all this for him...He would do all this.. But would He?.......Would He?
He lifted his eyes in sudden alarm, meeting other eyes across the table, regarding him with a burning intensity that seared his very soul. With a sudden shock he realised that the words his tortured brain had refused to receive those few minutes ago had indeed been uttered. "One of you shall betray me." This was no fantasy of the mind. It was dread reality. And Jesus was not going to save Himself. He could see that now. Something had gone wrong...But how could it? The Messiah could not die.
The Messiah was to live and] reign for ever___But Jesus was going to die. He knew it. And he had betrayed Him. He had murdered the Messiah-—Those grave eyes regarded him still. The question had circled die assembly and men were looking at him, wonderingly, curiously. It was his turn now. His mouth worked strangely. "is it I"?........."is it I?......"Thou hast said." The sound of a door, opening, and closing, quietly. Footsteps dying away down the stairway. Silence.Judas the betrayer was gone.
"Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; and' if God be glorified in Him, God shall also glorify Him in Himself, and shall straightway glorify Him. Little children, yet a little while 1, am with you. Ye shall seek me; And as I said unto the Jews "Whither 1 go ye cannot come'; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as 1 have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that, ye are; my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
The soft cadences ceased. They sat silent, knowing now that their golden dreams were after all only dreams. Dimly they visualised a life without their Leader; a continuation of the toil and weariness of constant pilgrimage no longer illumined by the presence and companionship of the One they loved. Heads were bowed on breasts; they could not meet each other's eyes. He was going away, and they would never see Him again. Peter—a strangely quiet and subdued Peter —broke the silence, a quiver in his voice. "Lord., .whither goest thou?" "Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God—believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; I go to prepare a place for you; and I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where 1 am, thereye may be also......This is my commandment, that ye love one another as 1 have loved you. And the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God."
A sign from those dear hands, and eleven men rose to their feet, eyes uplifted to Heaven, voices joined in the traditional hymn which was to conclude their feast. The solemn chant rose upon the night air and listening angels wondered at its note of triumph. The lamp burned up brightly in its last expiring flicker in the upper room—but the forces of evil were speeding fast away.
What shall I render unto the Lord
For all His benefits to me? The cup of salvation will I take
And call upon His holy Name. I will pay my vows unto Him now
In the presence of His people. Precious and rare in His holy sight
Is the death of His holy ones. Truly O Lord am I thy servant,
From my bond thou hast set me free. To Thee will I offer thanksgiving
And call upon thy Holy name I will pay my vows unto Thee now
In the presence of Thy people. 0 give thanks unto the Lord
Because His mercy endureth forever. Let Israel now say,
Let the house of Aaron now say, Let them now that fear the Lord say,
That His mercy endureth for ever. I called upon the Lord in distress.
The Lord answered me, The Lord is on my side, The Lord taketh my part,
The Lord is my strength and song And is become my salvation.
I shall not die, but live And declare the works of the Lord.
Open: to me the gates of righteousness Into which the righteous shall enter. The stone which the builders refused Is become the head of the corner. This is the work of our God, It is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made, We will rejoice and be glad in it O give thanks unto the Lord For He is good For His mercy endureth forever.
And when they had sung their hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives. :cry:
APRIL, 1941
BIBLE STUDENTS MONTHLY
:rabbi: FW: New Moon Report - April 2008
---
On Monday April 7, 2008 the new moon was sighted from several
locations around Israel. The moon was sighted:
*from Eilat by Eli El-Tanani and Shai El-Tanani at 19:13
*from Ashdod by Neriah Haroeh and Nilit Masliach at 19:15
*from Mitzpeh Ramon by Bart Vangronsvelt and Ganneke Kunst at about 19:15
*from Beersheva by Simchon Firouz, Kobi El-Tanani, and Ovadiah Firouz
at about 19:30
*from highway 6 by Chad and Barbara Peterson at 19:39
On the previous evening, Sunday April 6, the moon had a lagtime of 33
minutes and illumination of 0.52% which means it was not visible under
any circumstances from Israel.
Shanah Tovah!
Happy New Year!
Nehemia Gordon
Jerusalem, Israel