安息日下午 · 11月8日
记忆经文：
“你们要先求他的国和他的义，这些东西都要加给你们了。”（马太福音6:33，和合本）
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.. KJV — Matthew 6:33
军队的行动现在暂停了，因为全以色列都要参与一场庄严的宗教仪式。百姓渴望在迦南地定居；他们还没有自己的家园和土地，而要得到这些，他们必须赶走迦南人。但这项重要的工作必须暂时搁置，因为有更高的责任需要首先履行。
在他们得着产业之前，他们必须更新与上帝的忠诚之约。摩西在临终前曾两次指示以色列人，要在以巴路山和基利心山上举行庄严的聚会，以确认上帝的律法。按照这些命令，全体百姓——不仅是男人，还有“妇女、孩子和寄居在他们中间的外人”——都离开了吉甲的营地，穿越敌人的土地，来到位于迦南中部的示剑谷。虽然他们周围都是未征服的敌人，但只要他们忠于上帝，就仍然在祂的保护之下。正如雅各时代一样，“上帝使那四围城邑的人都甚惊惧”（创世记35:5），所以以色列人没有受到骚扰。
这场庄严仪式的地点，本身就因祖先的历史而充满神圣意义。亚伯拉罕在进入迦南地后，曾在这里筑坛敬拜耶和华。亚伯拉罕和雅各都曾在这里支搭帐篷。雅各在这里买下了一块地，将约瑟的骸骨葬在其中。这里还有雅各挖的井，以及他埋葬家中偶像的橡树。
“Military operations were now suspended, that all Israel might engage in a solemn religious service. The people were eager to obtain a settlement in Canaan; as yet they had not homes or lands for their families, and in order to gain these they must drive out the Canaanites; but this important work must be deferred, for a higher duty demanded their first attention. PP 499.2
“Before taking possession of their inheritance, they must renew their covenant of loyalty to God. In the last instructions of Moses, direction had been twice given for a convocation of the tribes upon Mounts Ebal and Gerizim, at Shechem, for the solemn recognition of the law of God. In obedience to these injunctions the whole people, not only men, but “the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them” left their camp at Gilgal, and marched through the country of their enemies, to the vale of Shechem, near the center of the land. Though surrounded by unconquered foes, they were safe under the protection of God as long as they were faithful to Him. Now, as in the days of Jacob, “the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them” (Genesis 35:5), and the Hebrews were unmolested. PP 499.3
“The place appointed for this solemn service was one already sacred from its association with the history of their fathers. It was here that Abraham raised his first altar to Jehovah in the land of Canaan. Here both Abraham and Jacob had pitched their tents. Here the latter bought the field in which the tribes were to bury the body of Joseph. Here also was the well that Jacob had dug, and the oak under which he had buried the idolatrous images of his household.” PP 499.4
星期日 · 11月9日
立约为先
阅读约书亚记5:1–7。为什么上帝命令约书亚在征服迦南的关键时刻给新一代以色列人行割礼？
Read Joshua 5:1–7. Why did the Lord command Joshua to circumcise the second generation of Israelites at this particular time of the conquest?
当人类再次远离上帝时，主拣选了亚伯拉罕，并对他说：“亚伯拉罕听从了我的话，遵守我的吩咐、我的命令、我的律例和我的法度。”（创世记26:5）上帝赐给他割礼作为记号，表明领受割礼的人是奉献给上帝之人的标志——他们承诺远离偶像崇拜，并顺从上帝的律法。
如果人类在亚当堕落之后，就像挪亚和亚伯拉罕那样一直遵守上帝的律法，就不需要设立割礼的仪式。而若亚伯拉罕的后裔能守住割礼所代表的约，他们就不会陷入偶像崇拜，也不会经历在埃及的奴役生活。他们若时常记念上帝的律法，就不必在西奈山上听见雷声般的宣告，也不必将律法刻在石版上。若百姓真正遵行十诫的原则，上帝也不会再赐给摩西更多的规条和条例。
在约旦河附近，以色列人在迦南地扎下第一个营地。这里，约书亚为他们行割礼，并守逾越节。自从加低斯的悖逆之后，割礼的停止一直提醒以色列人，他们已经破坏了与上帝的约。同样，停止守逾越节——那是纪念他们脱离埃及之奴役的节日——也表明上帝对他们渴望回埃及的不悦。现在，拒绝的岁月已经过去，上帝重新接纳以色列为祂的子民，并恢复了立约的标志。于是，凡在旷野中出生的人都受了割礼。耶和华对约书亚说：“今日我将埃及的羞辱从你们身上滚去了。”因此那地方被称为“吉甲”，意思是“滚去”或“除掉”。
异教民族曾讥笑上帝和祂的子民，因为以色列人出埃及后，并未如预期那样迅速占领迦南。他们夸口说，希伯来人的上帝无力将他们带进应许之地。但如今，上帝在分开约旦河时显明了祂的能力和恩典，仇敌再也无话可说。
“As men again departed from God, the Lord chose Abraham, of whom He declared, “Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” Genesis 26:5. To him was given the rite of circumcision, which was a sign that those who received it were devoted to the service of God—a pledge that they would remain separate from idolatry, and would obey the law of God.” PP 363.2
“If man had kept the law of God, as given to Adam after his fall, preserved by Noah, and observed by Abraham, there would have been no necessity for the ordinance of circumcision. And if the descendants of Abraham had kept the covenant, of which circumcision was a sign, they would never have been seduced into idolatry, nor would it have been necessary for them to suffer a life of bondage in Egypt; they would have kept God's law in mind, and there would have been no necessity for it to be proclaimed from Sinai or engraved upon the tables of stone. And had the people practiced the principles of the Ten Commandments, there would have been no need of the additional directions given to Moses.” PP 364.2
“A short distance from Jordan the Hebrews made their first encampment in Canaan. Here Joshua “circumcised the children of Israel;” “and the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover.” The suspension of the rite of circumcision since the rebellion at Kadesh had been a constant witness to Israel that their covenant with God, of which it was the appointed symbol, had been broken. And the discontinuance of the Passover, the memorial of their deliverance from Egypt, had been an evidence of the Lord's displeasure at their desire to return to the land of bondage. Now, however, the years of rejection were ended. Once more God acknowledged Israel as His people, and the sign of the covenant was restored. The rite of circumcision was performed upon all the people who had been born in the wilderness. And the Lord declared to Joshua, “This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you,” and in allusion to this the place of their encampment was called Gilgal, “a rolling away,” or “rolling off.” PP 485.2
“Heathen nations had reproached the Lord and His people because the Hebrews had failed to take possession of Canaan, as they expected, soon after leaving Egypt. Their enemies had triumphed because Israel had wandered so long in the wilderness, and they had mockingly declared that the God of the Hebrews was not able to bring them into the Promised Land. The Lord had now signally manifested His power and favor in opening the Jordan before His people, and their enemies could no longer reproach them. PP 486.1
星期一 · 11月10日
逾越节
为什么约书亚在如此繁重、紧迫的征服任务前，仍选择庆祝逾越节？请阅读约书亚记5:10；出埃及记12:6；利未记23:5；民数记28:16；申命记16:4,6。
Why is it significant that Joshua chose to celebrate Passover despite the pressing and immense task of taking the Promised Land? Read Josh. 5:10; Exod. 12:6; Lev. 23:5; Num. 28:16; Deut. 16:4, 6.
上帝宣告说：“我必趁夜间巡行埃及地，把埃及地一切头生的，无论是人是牲畜，都击杀了，又要败坏埃及一切的神……这血要在你们所住的房屋上作记号，我一见这血，就越过你们去；我击打埃及地的时候，灾殃必不临到你们身上，灭你们。”
为纪念这伟大的拯救，以色列人要每年守一次节作为永久的纪念：“这日要向你们作纪念，你们要守这日，作为耶和华的节……直到永远。”他们要向子孙重述这奇妙的拯救：“这是耶和华逾越节的祭物；祂越过以色列人的房屋，击杀埃及人，拯救了我们的家。”
逾越节的中断，是上帝对他们渴望回到奴役之地的不悦的象征。
在约书亚的带领下，他们在耶利哥平原守逾越节。“他们次日吃那地的出产，就是无酵饼和烘的谷。吃了那地的出产之后，吗哪就止住了，以色列人再没有吗哪了，却吃迦南地的出产。”他们多年在旷野漂流的岁月终于结束，以色列人终于踏上了应许之地。
“The Lord declared: ‘I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment.... And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.’ PP 274.2
“In commemoration of this great deliverance a feast was to be observed yearly by the people of Israel in all future generations. ‘This day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations: ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.’ As they should keep the feast in future years, they were to repeat to their children the story of this great deliverance, as Moses bade them: ‘Ye shall say, It 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.’” PP 274.3
“And the discontinuance of the Passover, the memorial of their deliverance from Egypt, had been an evidence of the Lord's displeasure at their desire to return to the land of bondage.” PP 485.2
“‘On the fourteenth day of the month at even,’ the Passover was celebrated on the plains of Jericho. ‘And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the Passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan.’ The long years of their desert wanderings were ended. The feet of Israel were at last treading the Promised Land.” PP 486.2
星期二 · 11月11日
更新之坛
约书亚为何要为耶和华筑坛？请阅读约书亚记8:30-31，并比较申命记11:26-30，27:2-10。
What was Joshua’s motivation for building an altar to the Lord? Read Josh. 8:30, 31; compare with Deut. 11:26–30, Deut. 27:2–10.
在他们占领产业之前，必须先更新对上帝的忠诚之约。
按照摩西的指示，他们在以巴路山上立起一座大石碑。这些石头先被灰泥覆盖，然后在上面刻上律法——不仅包括上帝在西奈山宣告、刻在石版上的十条诫命，也包括祂通过摩西颁布的其他律法。石碑旁筑有一座用未经凿刻的石头所建的祭坛，在其上向耶和华献祭。祭坛设在以巴路山上——也就是宣告咒诅的那座山——这一点具有象征意义，表明因人类违背上帝的律法，以色列理应招致祂的忿怒；若非因着基督所预表的赎罪之祭，他们必然灭亡。
利亚和拉结的后裔六个支派站在基利心山上；婢女的子孙，加上流便和西布伦，则站在以巴路山上。祭司们抬着约柜，站在两山之间的山谷中。当号筒发出信号，全场寂静无声，约书亚站在约柜旁，宣读顺从上帝律法所带来的祝福。基利心山上的支派齐声回应“阿们”；随后他又宣读不顺从所导致的咒诅，以巴路山上的支派也同声回应。数万人的声音汇成一体，在庄严肃穆中向上帝立约。接着，约书亚又宣读了上帝的律法，以及摩西传给他们的各样律例和典章。
“Before taking possession of their inheritance, they must renew their covenant of loyalty to God.” PP 499.3
“According to the directions given by Moses, a monument of great stones was erected upon Mount Ebal. Upon these stones, previously prepared by a covering of plaster, the law was inscribed—not only the ten precepts spoken from Sinai and engraved on the tables of stone, but the laws communicated to Moses, and by him written in a book. Beside this monument was built an altar of unhewn stone, upon which sacrifices were offered unto the Lord. The fact that the altar was set up on Mount Ebal, the mountain upon which the curse was put, was significant, denoting that because of their transgressions of God’s law, Israel had justly incurred His wrath, and that it would be at once visited, but for the atonement of Christ, represented by the altar of sacrifice. PP 500.2
“Six of the tribes—all descended from Leah and Rachel—were stationed upon Mount Gerizim; while those that descended from the handmaids, together with Reuben and Zebulun, took their position on Ebal, the priests with the ark occupying the valley between them. Silence was proclaimed by the sound of the signal trumpet; and then in the deep stillness, and in the presence of this vast assembly, Joshua, standing beside the sacred ark, read the blessings that were to follow obedience to God’s law. All the tribes on Gerizim responded by an Amen. He then read the curses, and the tribes on Ebal in like manner gave their assent, thousands upon thousands of voices uniting as the voice of one man in the solemn response. Following this came the reading of the law of God, together with the statutes and judgments that had been delivered to them by Moses.” PP 500.3
星期三 · 11月12日
刻在石上的话
请阅读约书亚记8:32–35。这些经文中描述的行动有什么意义？对我们今天又有什么启示？
Read Joshua 8:32–35. What is the meaning of the act described in these verses, and what should it say to us today?
这场庄严仪式的地点，本身就因祖先的经历而成为圣地。亚伯拉罕在这里筑下了他在迦南的第一座祭坛。亚伯拉罕和雅各都曾在此支搭帐篷；雅各在这里买下那块地，后来以色列支派把约瑟的遗骨葬在那里。这里还有雅各挖的井，以及他埋葬家中偶像的那棵橡树。
所选择的地方是巴勒斯坦最美的地区之一，极其适合作为这场宏伟而庄严仪式的场所。翠绿的山谷被橄榄树点缀，泉水从山间涌出，野花盛开，形成一幅生机勃勃的景象。以巴路山和基利心山相对而立，山脚相距很近，仿佛天然的讲坛，一边所发出的声音在另一边都能清楚听见，而两边的山坡又足以容纳庞大的人群。
“The place appointed for this solemn service was one already sacred from its association with the history of their fathers. It was here that Abraham raised his first altar to Jehovah in the land of Canaan. Here both Abraham and Jacob had pitched their tents. Here the latter bought the field in which the tribes were to bury the body of Joseph. Here also was the well that Jacob had dug, and the oak under which he had buried the idolatrous images of his household. PP 499.4
“The spot chosen was one of the most beautiful in all Palestine, and worthy to be the theater where this grand and impressive scene was to be enacted. The lovely valley, its green fields dotted with olive groves, watered with brooks from living fountains, and gemmed with wild flowers, spread out invitingly between the barren hills. Ebal and Gerizim, upon opposite sides of the valley, nearly approach each other, their lower spurs seeming to form a natural pulpit, every word spoken on one being distinctly audible on the other, while the mountainsides, receding, afford space for a vast assemblage.” PP 500.1
为什么必须把这约刻在众人可见的碑石上呢？
Why was it necessary to write a copy of the covenant on a monument, visible to all? (See Deut. 4:31; Deut. 6:12; Deut. 8:11, 14; 2 Kings 17:38; Ps. 78:7.)
以色列人曾在西奈山亲耳听见上帝的律法，并将上帝亲手所写的法版保存于约柜中。如今，上帝再次吩咐将律法写在众人可见之处，使所有人都能亲眼看到他们与上帝立约的条件，并公开表明他们愿意遵守上帝的命令，接受顺从或悖逆所带来的祝福或咒诅。律法不仅刻在纪念碑上，也由约书亚亲自宣读给所有以色列人听。虽然摩西不久前才在申命记中宣讲过这些律法，但约书亚再次向全体百姓宣读。
不仅男人，连“妇女和孩子”都聆听律法的宣读，因为他们也必须知道并遵行上帝的旨意。上帝曾吩咐以色列人：“你们要将我这话存在心里、意中，系在手上为记号，戴在额上为经文；也要教训你们的儿女……使你们和你们子孙的日子得以长久，如天覆地的日子一般。”（申命记11:18-21）
“Israel had received the law directly from the mouth of God at Sinai; and its sacred precepts, written by His own hand, were still preserved in the ark. Now it had been again written where all could read it. All had the privilege of seeing for themselves the conditions of the covenant under which they were to hold possession of Canaan. All were to signify their acceptance of the terms of the covenant and give their assent to the blessings or curses for its observance or neglect. The law was not only written upon the memorial stones, but was read by Joshua himself in the hearing of all Israel. It had not been many weeks since Moses gave the whole book of Deuteronomy in discourses to the people, yet now Joshua read the law again.” PP 500.4
“Not alone the men of Israel, but “all the women and the little ones” listened to the reading of the law; for it was important that they also should know and do their duty. God had commanded Israel concerning His statutes: “Therefore shall ye lay up these My words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, ... that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.” Deuteronomy 11:18-21.” PP 503.1
星期四 · 11月13日
渴慕祂的同在
请阅读约书亚记18:1–2。约书亚为什么暂停分配土地的工作？
Read Joshua 18:1, 2. What was the activity for which Joshua interrupted the process of allotting the land?
此前，吉甲一直是以色列民族的总部，也是会幕所在之处。但如今，会幕要被迁到上帝所选定的永久安置之地——示罗。示罗位于以法莲支派的地界，地理位置居中，方便各支派前来敬拜。那一带的敌人已被平定，敬拜者不会受到打扰。于是“以色列全会众都聚集在示罗，在那里立起会幕”。当会幕从吉甲迁移时，那些尚未分得土地的支派也随同前往，在示罗附近安营，直到后来分得自己的地业。
约柜在示罗安放了三百年之久，直到以利家族犯罪，使约柜被非利士人掳去，示罗也因此被毁。约柜再未回到原处，圣所的礼仪最终迁至耶路撒冷的圣殿，而示罗从此衰落，只留下废墟。后来，先知耶利米以此警告耶路撒冷：“你们且往我先前立为名的地方——示罗去，看我因以色列百姓的恶所行的事。……我必照样对待这称为我名下的殿，和我赐给你们与列祖的地方。”（耶利米书7:12-14）
“Heretofore Gilgal had been the headquarters of the nation and the seat of the tabernacle. But now the tabernacle was to be removed to the place chosen for its permanent location. This was Shiloh, a little town in the lot of Ephraim. It was near the center of the land, and was easy of access to all the tribes. Here a portion of country had been thoroughly subdued, so that the worshipers would not be molested. “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there.” The tribes that were still encamped when the tabernacle was removed from Gilgal followed it, and pitched near Shiloh. Here these tribes remained until they dispersed to their possessions. PP 514.3
“The ark remained at Shiloh for three hundred years, until, because of the sins of Eli's house, it fell into the hands of the Philistines, and Shiloh was ruined. The ark was never returned to the tabernacle here, the sanctuary service was finally transferred to the temple at Jerusalem, and Shiloh fell into insignificance. There are only ruins to mark the spot where it once stood. Long afterward its fate was made use of as a warning to Jerusalem. “Go ye now unto My place which was in Shiloh,” the Lord declared by the prophet Jeremiah, “where I set My name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of My people Israel.... Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by My name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.” Jeremiah 7:12-14.” PP 514.4
请阅读希伯来书6:19–20，9:11–12，10:19–23。对于没有地上圣所承载上帝可见同在的我们，基督徒可以从约书亚的经验中学到什么？
Read Hebrews 6:19, 20; Hebrews 9:11, 12; and Hebrews 10:19–23. What can we as Christians, who do not have an earthly sanctuary enshrining the physical presence of God among us, learn from Joshua?
未来必有困惑、艰难与欺骗，唯有在上帝所交托的合一工作中，祂的子民才能得安全，因为唯有祂是我们的监督。凡坚定信心到底的人，必在额上得上帝的印记。主必宣告说：“然而你在撒狄还有几名是未曾污秽自己衣服的，他们要穿白衣与我同行，因为他们是配得的。”（启示录3:4）到了指定的时刻，他们的得救信息将传来，充满喜乐与赞美。
此时，那些守上帝诫命之人的唯一安全，就是在基督里合而为一，与祂同心，藏在上帝里面。救主看见即将来临的冲突，呼召祂的子民要倚靠祂的力量，与祂和好。那时，当他们被考验时，上帝将赐给他们雅各的经历，使他们能凭信心宣告应许：“我必与他们立平安的约，作永远的约；我也要将我的圣所设在他们中间，直到永远。我的居所必在他们中间，我要作他们的上帝，他们要作我的子民。”（以西结书37:26-28）
“In the future there will be perplexity and trouble and deception. The only safety of God’s people is their unity in the work He has given them to do, over which He alone can act as supervisor. All who hold the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end will receive in their foreheads the mark of God. Of them He will say, “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy” (Revelation 3:4.) At the appointed time the glad tidings of their deliverance will come, filling their hearts with gladness and their lips with joyful praise. 21MR 272.1
At this time the only safety of those who are keeping God’s commandments is in being of one heart, bound up with Christ and with one another, hid with Christ in God. (John 13:33-35.) The Saviour looks upon the coming conflict and He calls upon His people to strengthen themselves by taking hold of His strength, by making peace with Him so that when they are challenged, as they will be, God can give them the experience of Jacob, enabling them to claim the words of the promise: “Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore” (Ezekiel 37:26-28). 21MR 272.2
星期五 · 11月14日
深思与默想
撒但一直在努力歪曲上帝的话，蒙蔽人的心智，使他们陷入罪中。因此，上帝的话语总是非常明确，使人不会误解。祂不断地吸引人靠近祂的保护之下，好使撒但不能施展那残酷的欺骗之力。上帝曾亲自发声，用祂的手写下生命之言，这些充满真理和光明的话语，是人类完美的指南。因为撒但总想夺走人的思想，使他们的情感远离上帝的应许与要求，所以我们更当专心记念、把祂的话刻在心上。
宗教教师应更加重视教导人明白圣经的历史事实、教训与警告，这些内容要用孩子也能明白的语言讲解。牧者与父母都应承担教导年轻一代认识圣经的责任。
父母既能，也应当引导孩子对圣经产生兴趣。但若他们希望子女热爱上帝的话，自己也必须热爱并熟悉它的教训。正如上帝吩咐以色列人：“无论你坐在家里，行在路上，躺下，起来，都要谈论。”（申命记11:19）凡希望子女敬畏上帝的人，必须常常谈论祂的良善、威严与能力——无论在圣经中或在创造的奇迹里。
圣经的每一章、每一节，都是上帝向人类的启示。我们应将其训诲系在手上，戴在额上，成为生活的指引。若人们研究并遵行圣经，圣灵必像云柱火柱一样，引领上帝的子民。
“Satan is ever at work endeavoring to pervert what God has spoken, to blind the mind and darken the understanding, and thus lead men into sin. This is why the Lord is so explicit, making His requirements so very plain that none need err. God is constantly seeking to draw men close under His protection, that Satan may not practice his cruel, deceptive power upon them. He has condescended to speak to them with His own voice, to write with His own hand the living oracles. And these blessed words, all instinct with life and luminous with truth, are committed to men as a perfect guide. Because Satan is so ready to catch away the mind and divert the affections from the Lord’s promises and requirements, the greater diligence is needed to fix them in the mind and impress them upon the heart. PP 503.3
“Greater attention should be given by religious teachers to instructing the people in the facts and lessons of Bible history and the warnings and requirements of the Lord. These should be presented in simple language, adapted to the comprehension of children. It should be a part of the work both of ministers and parents to see that the young are instructed in the Scriptures. PP 504.1
“Parents can and should interest their children in the varied knowledge found in the sacred pages. But if they would interest their sons and daughters in the word of God, they must be interested in it themselves. They must be familiar with its teachings, and, as God commanded Israel, speak of it, “when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deuteronomy 11:19. Those who desire their children to love and reverence God must talk of His goodness, His majesty, and His power, as revealed in His word and in the works of creation. PP 504.2
“Every chapter and every verse of the Bible is a communication from God to men. We should bind its precepts as signs upon our hands and as frontlets between our eyes. If studied and obeyed, it would lead God’s people, as the Israelites were led, by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.” PP 504.3