This short lesson is extremely important. It is not only the foundation stone of this Epistle, but gives us a comprehensive view of the whole Bible. It is one of the landmarks of God's book, and so pithy that it contains almost everything in a nutshell, and forms a center from which almost every subject in God's book may be approached and studied. It gives us a clear-cut division of God's word, and this by itself will settle many a question. The consequences and corollaries that can be drawn from it, together with the remoter suggestions it contains, cover the whole field of God's dealing with man. Let us not be without this passage. Let us memorize it, retain it, repeat it, assimilate it, teach and preach it.

      That is the first wonderful statement that meets our eye. Now, why has God spoken? Why was it necessary for him to speak? Could we not have searched and found out him and [9] His will by reason and philosophy? And what was the need of his speaking at all? Is not everything that is needful for human welfare within the range of our senses and our reason? Why do we need to know God and his will?

      We see that this opens a great field of inquiry. The Bible deals with these problems and has an answer for each of these questions. The conclusion, not only from the Bible, but from history and observation, is that man needs God--needs him for the highest development of his moral nature, for an eternal stronghold to cling to (for no human heart is independent), for a standard and ideal, for a guide and a Father. All the lower animals live in their animal sphere and fulfill the design of their nature without the need of dealing with a higher being; why should it be different with man? Man is an animal, but not that alone. He stands on the border land between the visible and invisible world; he is the link between the material and spiritual. Moreover, his home is with God. God made man for himself and in his image; therefore no man can fulfill the design of his creation or obtain peace and happiness except in communion with God. So it is the chief object of man's existence to seek God and find him (Acts 17:26, 27). But why is God hidden from us, and why are we separated from him? Was it always so? When did the separation occur?

      Now, if we have rightly answered these questions, we can understand better why God has spoken. Let us illustrate. Suppose that a father and son have had enmity between them and have for a long time been separated. If the father should break the silence and send a letter to his son, showing him the way of adjustment of difficulties and an offer of return, would it not show that the father is solicitous for his son and desirous of reconciliation and reunion? So has God sent us a message, in which we see his tender concern for us, his desire for reconciliation and reunion. He imparts to us his thoughts, shows us his love, points us to a hope and opportunity of return; and all this to bring us back to himself, that we "also may have fellowship . . . with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3.) His word is the only guide of approach.

      There are quite a number of books in the world for which it is claimed that they have come from God. The writer of Hebrews recognizes only the word of the prophets that spoke to the Jewish fathers and the word that came through Jesus Christ. That includes [11] simply the Bible. If you know anything of the Koran, the Vedas, and other sacred books of the nations, and have had opportunity to compare them, can you tell which of the sacred books of the world is most worthy of bearing God's name as to authorship? Which one presents the highest and greatest God? Which one speaks of a God infinite in goodness and purity, in justice and love--a holy God who lives for his creatures? Which one reveals the deepest insight into human nature? Which one is remarkable by its vast superiority over its times and surroundings in which it was written? Which one has had the widest and most beneficial influence over nations and individuals? You may confidently give the same answer to each of these questions. The Bible bears the stamp of the true God.

      With one deep stroke the Bible is cut into two great parts. Using, for the sake of brevity here, the wording of the King James Version, we diagram it thus:

GOD SPOKE.
In times past.		In these last days.
Unto the fathers.		Unto us.
By the prophets.		By his Son.

      The one part was spoken in times past; the [12] other, in these last days. The one, by the prophets, addressed to the fathers; the other, by the Son, addressed to us. And these two pieces are bound together by the fact common to both, "God spoke." The same God spoke them both. Witness the harmony of its parts, the unity of its design; the New Testament fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, types and promises with which the Epistle has much to do. And since the same God spoke them both, both parts are equally true and are of supreme value, each in its place. Neither should we conclude that because the old message was addressed to the fathers it is of no use or meaning to us. (Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:16.) Only it concerns us indirectly, while the other applies to us directly and immediately. The message of Christ is our authority, the guide of the more perfect worship and service of the new covenant.

      We thank thee, Holy Father, that it has been thy will and good providence that we, more than many others, should have free access to thy word and opportunity to know thy will. Make us more appreciative of this great privilege. May the fact that thee, God, hast spoken fill us with reverence and awe when we come [13] to study the word, lest we drift into a contemptful familiarity with it and handle it as a profane thing, as we are too prone to do. And inasmuch as thy speaking calls for our hearing, may our ears be open, our hearts receptive and willing. Let thy word be unto us a light indeed and become in us the power for the enlightening of others and for the final obtaining of the promise through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

      For the next lesson study Heb. 1:1-3. Look up references. Study on Christ--who he is, what was his station before he came to earth, how and why he came, where is he now, and what he is doing. Why did God send his Son this time? Why would prophets and angels not have served as well? Why could they manage the old covenant and not the new? This is worth thinking about. There will be some explanation of those things in the next lesson. After the next, the lessons will be longer. But these three verses form the groundwork of the Epistle and deserve more particular study. [14]

[LOH1 9-14]