1936 Bible Studies - page 3

EDITORIAL.

The exact science of Geometry is based upon certain things taken for granted, the postulates, and upon certain simple statements, the axioms, which are self-evident, being what Euclid called " Common Notions."  On this basis he was able to build up step by step certain theorems, each the precursor of another, and at the end of each he was able to write the very satisfactory words, " Quod erat demon-strandum," or in the vernacular, " which was to be demonstrated."

No doubt many of our contributors this month have felt the glow of being able, so to speak, to write Q.E.D. at the end of their papers, with a very convincing flourish.

If men postulate the existence of God as a supreme being, then it is not difficult to accept the axiomatic statement that " God is light."

But not all who are prepared to accept the thesis that " God is

light" are prepared to accept the corresponding statement that " God is Love."  It is not indeed a " common notion " among all men who accept the possible existence of God, and they confront the preacher with many parts of the Scriptures which, they say prove the contrary, or at least that God is not always a God of Love. It is by no means easy to deduce logically, step by step from accepted things, either this proposition or any others which will be discussed by our friends this year. It is easy to preach to the converted and to convince those who already know, and we trust that this will be borne in mind so that we be not over-confident in our deductions and " proofs."

An esteemed contributor writes to us this month about the heart, and our co-worker writes upon the soul experience contained in the Psalms, and indeed the only proof that carries conviction to the minds of men is that which comes by demonstration of the Spirit of wisdom and of power.  A heart that has been touched by the love of Christ will say " amen " to all the postulates and axioms contained in the words of God Himself, " Jehovah, Jehovah, a God full of compassion and gracious . . . " (Exodus 34. 6 j, and will leave it to the God of Amen to make clear when love needs to be made subject to truth and righteousness.  When we begin to ask ourselves what we mean by 44

love " we encounter the great question that has stumbled men.

How can love be reconciled with the existence of sin, of pain, and of tribulation ?

It was this question that so troubled Job.  How could God be justified in treating him thus ?  It is remarkable how God answers him with the testimony of Nature, and in one place speaks of the natural calamities of the waterflood, the lightning and the thunder, as designed to cause rain on a desolate land, and to cause the tender grass to spring forth.  Job was told that he was darkening counsel by words without knowledge, and this is the common experience of men.  One has said, 44

Words are the counters of wise men and the money of fools." Words without knowledge can be strung together to make an impressive show, but wise students of the Word of God will be concerned to understand t h a t which is in the counsel of God and to know that which is expressed by the words of Scripture.

The fact is that the Scriptures and Nature are alike in that while they reveal God they also hide Him.  Even of a man it is said, "Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water ; but a man of understanding will draw it out," and of God it is true that only the Holy Spirit can search the deep things of God, and prove them to be a wellspring of wisdom.  Another proverb says that it is the glory of God to conceal