The subject worked out for this month is: The use and abuse of the various members of the body.
The scope of the subject was we think sufficiently indicated in the remarks made in the February number. "The work of the Class is to select out of the large number of passages where these subjects are spoken of, those only which directly illustrate or speak of the use and abuse of each member." It is evident that by the former (use), is not intended every instance of the use of a member, as this would have included every instance in the Bible when a person spoke or walked, or indeed performed any of the ordinary actions of daily life, but only such cases where the use, as contrasted with the abuse, is indicated. Nor did the subject include the use made in Scripture of the words eye, hand, foot, &c., but only the use of the members themselves, either literal or figurative. A consideration of these points will, we hope, show some who have sent in, papers, why many of the passages they have quoted are not included in the result.
The Use of the Eye.
The eye in Scripture, we find from the papers sent in, is very generally spoken of as being directed to God, and is thus expressive of the attitude of the heart towards Him. The passages illustrating this are found in almost every book of the Bible, being especially numerous in the Psalms and Prophets, and they are thus too numerous to find a place in our printed result. As instances amongst many we may give the following where the eye is expressive of- a desire for guidance or help, 2 Chron. 20:12; Psa. 121:1
confidence and trust, Psa. 5:3.
expectation of blessing, Psa. 123:2.
The eye of faith looks for
Salvation, Isa. 45:22; Mic. 7:7.
Redemption, Luke 2:38.
The Savior, Phil. 3:20.
Blessed hope of the appearing, Titus 2:13.
A city (Old Testament saints), Heb. 11 to.
The coining of the day of God, 2 Peter 3:12.
New heavens and new earth, 2 Peter 3:13.
The mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, Jude 21.
The eye of faith looks at or on
The glory of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3:18.
Unseen things, 2 Cor. 4:18.
The things of others, Phil. 2:4 (expressive of desire for their welfare).
Jesus glorified, Heb. 2:9.
Jesus the author and finisher of faith, Heb. 12:2.
The eye is expressive of
Humility, Job 22:29 (margin).
Sorrow, Job 17:7; Lam. 5:17; John 11:35.
Satisfaction, Psa. 92:11.
Compassion, Prov. 22:1.
Liberality, Prov. 22:9.
Sympathy, Lam. 1:16.
Those who used their eyes in direct obedience to a divine command:
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Abraham, Gen. 13:14Balaam, Num. 22:31.
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Hagar, Gen. 21:19.
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Moses, Deut. 3:27.
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Jacob, Gen. 31:12
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A young man, 2 Kings 6:17
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The king of Syria's host, 2 Kings 6:20.
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The Abuse of the Eye.
The eye is variously used in Scripture in a bad sense as expressing Pride, Psa. 18:27; 101. 5; Prov. 6:17;21. 4; 30: 13; Isa. 2:11; 5:15; 10:12.
Greed, Prov, 27:20; Eccl. 1:8;4. 8.
Wantonness, Isa. 3:16.
Cunning (winking) Job 15:12; Psa. 35:19; Prov. 6:53; 10:10.
Mockery, Prov. 30:17.
Lust, Job 24:55; Prov. 23:33; Matt. 5:28; 2 Peter 2:14; John 2:16.
Evil generally, Deut. 15:9; Prov. 23:6; Matt. 20:15.
Half-hearted service (eye service) Eph. 6:6; Col. 3:22.
Those who used their eyes improperly
Eve, Gen. 3:6.
Sons of God, Gen. 6:2.
Lot, Gen. 13 to (contrast with Abraham, verse 14).
Lot's wife, Gen. 19:26 (compare Luke 9:62.)
Potiphar's wife, Gen. 39:7).
Achan, Josh. 7:21.
Ahaz, 2 Kings 16:10; see Deut, 4:19, & Job 31:26,27.
Haman-(envy), Esther 5:53.
Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 4:29,30.
Peter, Matt. 14:30.
We use our eyes wrongly when we
Look at others' faults and overlook our own, Matt. 7:3-5. Look on our own things and not on the things of others, Phil. 2:4.
An abuse of the eye is when it refuses to look at what God puts before it. See Isa. 6:9; Jer. 5:21; Ezek. 12:2; Matt. 13:13,14; John 12:40; Acts 28:27; 2 Cor. 4:4.
The Use of the Hand.
The hand is said to be
Lifted up to God, as taking an oath, by Abraham, Gen. 14:22.
Stretched out in blessing, by Jacob, Gen. 48:14; by Aaron, Lev. 9:22.
Spread abroad before the Lord in prayer, by Moses, Ex. 9:29.
Held up in supplication, by Moses, Ex. 17:11; Psa. 28:2.
Laid upon the head of an offering, for identification, Lev. 1:4.
Washed in token of innocence, Deut. 21:6; Matt. 27:24.
" Ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities," Acts 20:34.
" Let him labor working with his hands the thing that is good," Eph. 4:28.
The Abuse of the Hand.
Used for murder,
By Cain, Gen. 4:8.
By Joab, 2 Sam. 20:9, 10.
By Herod, Acts 12:1.
" Hands that shed innocent blood are an abomination to the Lord," Prov. 6:17; Isa. 1:15.
"The Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of men and they shall kill him," Matt. 17:22.
Used in violence,
By Sheba, against David, 2 Sam. 20:21.
By Haman, against the Jews, Esther 3:8,9.
By the Jews, against the Lord, Matt. 26:50.
By the chief priests, &c., against the apostles, Acts 4:3.
By Herod, against John, Matt. 14:3.
By Peter, against the servant of the high priest, Matt. 26:51.
Used in deceit, " The balances of deceit are in his hands," Hos. 12:7. " They hold fast deceit," Jer. 8:5.
"(Not) handling the word of God deceitfully," 2 Cor. 4:2. Used to make idols, Psa. 115:4; Acts 7:41;19. 26.
Used to denote slothfulness,
"Folding of the hands to sleep," Prov. 6:10.
"A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom," Prov. 19:24.
Used generally for evil, Lam. 4:10; Mic. 7:3; Matt. 5:30.
" A slack hand," Prov. 10:4.
" Thou shalt not put thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness," Ex. 23:1.
"Thou shalt not shut thine hand from thy poor brother," Deut. 15:7.
The Use of the Feet.
The word "walk" is used to denote the character of a man's conduct in the sight of God; thus amongst others, the following are said to have walked before God, or in His ways:
Enoch, Noah, Abraham, David, Josiah, Jehoshaphat.
Exhortations to walk before God, in His law, the blessings conditional on so doing, and the judgments that would follow, are found abundantly in the Old Testament.
A selection of passages denoting the right use of the feet-Feet set in a large room, Psa. 31:8.
Feet set on a rock-the goings established, Psa. 40:2.
Feet kept, 1 Sam. 2:9.
Feet turned unto God's testimonies, Psa. 119:59.
Feet removed from evil, Prov. 4:27.
Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, Eph. 6:15.
Feet of him that bringeth good tidings, Isa. 52:7.
Feet guided into the way of peace, Luke 1:79.
Feet standing in an even place, Psa. 26:12.
Walking in integrity, Psa. 26
Walking in God's truth, Psa. 86
Walking in the light of His countenance, Psa. 89:15.
Walking with a perfect heart, Psa. 101:2.
Walking uprightly, Prov. 2:7.
Walking in the name of the Lord God, Mic. 4:5.
True characteristics of a christian's walk.
Following Jesus and so having the light of life, John 8:12.
Walking, In the fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, Acts 9:31.
In the steps of the faith of Abraham, Rom. 4:12.
In newness of life, Rom. 6:6.
Not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, Rom. 8:4.
Honestly, Rom. 13:13: honestly toward them that are without, 1 Thess. 4:12.
As the Lord has called, 1 Cor. 7:17.
Not in craftiness, 2 Cor. 4:2.
By faith and not by sight, 2 Cor. 5:7.
In the Spirit, Gal. 5:16.
In good works, Eph. 2:10.
Worthy of the vocation wherewith he is called, Eph. 4:1.
Not as others walk, Eph. 4:17.
In love, Eph. 5:2.
As a child of light, Eph. 5:8.
Circumspectly, Eph. 5:15.
Worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, Col. 1:10.
In Christ Jesus the Lord, Col. 2:6.
In wisdom toward them that are without, Col. 4:5. Worthy of God, 1 Thess. 2:12.
According to the apostle's word, 1 Thess. 4:1.
In the light, 1 John 1:7.
Even as Christ walked, 1 John 2:6.
After His commandments, 2 John 6.
In the truth, 3 John 4.
Running not uncertainly, 1 Cor. 9:26.
Running with patience the race set before him, Heb. 12:1.
The abuse of the feet.
Some who did not walk in the ways of God.
The Children of Israel, Lev. 26:40; Solomon, 1 Kings 6:33; Abijam, 1 Kings 15:3; Baasha, 1 Kings 15:34; Omri, Kings 16:26; Jehoram, 2 Kings 8:18; Amon, 2 Kings 21:22.
The feet are abused when permitted
To be swift to shed blood, Rom. 3:15.
To haste, Prov. 19:2.
To haste to deceit, Job 31:5.
To run
To do evil, Prov. 1:16.
To excess of riot, 1 Peter 4:4.
Into darkness, Job 5:14.
To be
Proud, Psa. 36:11.
Restless, Prov. 7:11
Discontented, 1 Cor. 12:15.
Out of joint, Prov. 25:19.
To wander
Out of the way of understanding, Prov. 21:16.
From house to house, 1Tim. 5:13.
To walk
Contrary to God, Lev. 26.21
In vanity, Eph. 4:17.
After the flesh, Rom. 8:4.
In sins, 1 Kings 16:31.
After other gods, Deut. 8:19
In lasciviousness, 1 Peter 4.3 -
After the imagination of
In craftiness, 2 Cor. 4:2.
an evil heart, Jer. 3:17.
In the ways of darkness, Prov. 2:13
With slanders, Jer. 9:4.
In a vain show, Ps. 39:6
With wicked men, Job 34:8.
In darkness, Ps. 82:5.
In lies, Jer. 23:14.
Disorderly, 2 Thess. 3:11
In pride, Dan. 4:37.
The use of the mouth (tongue or lips)
in the praise of God, (a selection of passages)
" I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall be continually in my mouth." Psa. 34:1.
" My tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. Psa. 35:28.
" He hath put a new song into my mouth, even praise unto our God Psa. 40:3.
" O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall speak forth thy praise " Ps. 2:15.
" I cried unto him with my mouth and he was extolled with my tongue." Psa. 66:17.
"My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, Psa. 145:21.
" That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God," Rom. 15:6.
" By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name, Heb. 13:15.
When used to
Admonish Rom. 15:14.
Give a soft answer, Prov. 15:1.
Beseech, Rom. 12:1.
Intreat, 1 Cor. 4:13.
Comfort, 2 Cor. 1, 4.
Preach, Rom. 15:20.
Declare God's wondrous works Ps. 71:17
Prophecy, 1 Cor. 14:5.
Rebuke, 2 Tim. 4:2.
Exhort, 2 Tim. 4:2.
Reprove, 2 Tim. 4;2.
Speak:
wisdom, 1 Cor. 2;6.
gracious words, Eccl. 10:12.
out of the abundance of the heart, Luke 6:45
a word in season, Prov. 15:23.
right things, Prov. 23;16.
sound speech, Tit. 2:8,
Teach, Rom, 12:7.
Warn, 1 Cor. 4:14.
" He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life," Prov. 13:3.
" If any man offend not in word," James 3:2.
" With the mouth confession is made unto salvation," Rom, 10:10,
'The Abuse of the Mouth (Tongue or Lips).
When used for
Babbling, Ecc. 10:11.
Backbiting, Prov. 25:23; Rom. 1:30.
Bitterness, Rom. 3:14.
Blasphemy, Matt. 12:31,32; Rev. 13:5.
Contention, Prov. 18:6;19. 13.
Corrupt communication, Eph. 4:29.
Craft, Job 15:5.
Cursing, Rom. 3:14; James 3:9.
Deceit, Ps. 52:4; Jer. 9:8; Rom. 3:13.
Evil speaking, Prov. 15:2; Eph. 4:31.
Falsehood, Isa. 59:13.
False witness, Prov. 6:19.
Filthy communication, Col. 3:8.
Foolishness, Prov; 15:14; Eph. 5:4.
Flattery, Psa. 5:9;12. 3; Prov. 20:19;26. 28.
Iniquity, Job 6:30.
Jesting, Eph. 5:4.
Lying, Prov. 6:16;26.28; Eph. 4:25.
Malice, 3 John Da.
Mischief, Eccl. 10:13; Psa. 52.2.
Naughtiness, Prov. 17:4.
Perverseness, Prov. 4:24; 17:10; Isa. 59:3.
Proud speech, Psa. 12:3;
Rash speech, Eccl. 5:2.
Reviling, John 9:28,
Slander, Psa. 1. 20; Prov. 10:18.
Smiting, Jer. 18:18.
Speaking guile, Psa. 34.13.
Speaking idle words, Matt. 12:36.
Strife, Psa. 31:20; 1 Tim. 6:4.
Swearing, Jer. 23:10; Matt. 5:33;26. 72, 74.
Tale-bearing, Lev. 19:16; Prov. 18:8.
Unadvised speech, Psa. 106.33
Frowardness, Prov. 4:24.
Grievous words, Prov. 15 I.
Hasty speech, Prov. 29:20.
Hidden wickedness, Job 20:12.
Hypocrisy, Prov. 11:9.
Unbridled speech, James 3:6.
Unruly and vain talking, Titus 1:10.
Vain words, Eph. 5:6.
Whispering, Prov. 16:28.
When abused it defiles, Matt. 15:11. James 3:6.
It is called
A sharp sword, Psa. 57:4.
An arrow shot out, Jer. 9:8.
A fire, a world of iniquity, James 3:6.
An unruly evil, full of deadly poison, Jas. 3:8.
The Use of the Ear. "Faith cometh by bearing."
That which the ear may rightly hear, or listen to, or hear of, The words of God, Deut. 4:10; Isa. 55:3.
The praises of God, Judg. 5:3.
The wonderful works of God, Job 13:1.
Joy and gladness, Psa. 51:8.
The loving-kindness of God, Psa. 143:8.
Understanding, Prov. 5:1.
Them that instruct, Prov. 5:13.
The reproof of life, Prov. 15:31.
The words of the wise, Prov. 22:57.
Words of knowledge, Prov. 23:12.
God's guiding voice, Isa. 30:21.
God's judgment, Hos. 5:1.
The words of Christ, John 5:24; Matt. 11:15. &c.
The voice of the Son of God, John 5:25.
The Lord calling by name, John 10:3.
Words applied to the ear when used aright-
" The ears of the people were attentive unto the book of the law," Neh. 8:3.
"The hearing ear... the Lord hath made," Prov. 20:12.
" SO is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear," Prov. 25:12. The Lord opens the ear, Job 33:16;36:10.
Exhortations to hear, to incline the ear, to hearken unto the Lord, are frequent throughout the Bible. " Let every man be swift to hear," James 1:19.
Mark 4:20. The ear seems to be frequently one of the first means used by God, by which the heart is inclined to Him, and when the servant has learned to say plainly, Ex. 21:5. " I love my master"
Deut. 15:16: " I will not go away from thee ... " the boring of the ear, the consecration of that first avenue of the heart and so of the whole man, is the sign that His servant shall Ex. 21:6. Serve Him forever.
The Abuse of the Ear "Ears have they and they hear not."
Is when we refuse to listen to God or to His messengers, and when we listen to Satan and his emissaries, 2 Tim. 4:3.
Refusal to listen to God's word will be visited with His judgments, Lev. 26:14-16, and many passages, and it is seen to have been thus judged, Dan. 9:6, &c.
Instances of those who refused to listen to God's messengers-Pharaoh to Moses and Aaron, Ex. 7:13.
The Israelites to their judges, Judg. 2:17.
Eli's sons to their father, 1 Sam. 2:25.
Joash and his people to the prophets, 2 Chr. 24:19.
Josiah to the words of Necho "from the mouth of God," 2 Chr. 35:22.
Jehoiakim to Urijah, Jer. 26:21.
The Jews to Stephen, Acts 7:57.
The Jews to Paul, Acts 22:22.
Those who gave heed to what they ought not to have listened to-Adam to Eve, Gen. 3:57.
Abraham to Sarah, Gen. 16:2.
Saul to those who hated David, 1 Sam. 24:9.
Joash to the princes of Judah, 2 Chr. 24:17.
The people to the lies of the false prophets, Ezek. 13:19. Illustrations of the abuse of the earWhoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, Prov. 21:13. The poor heareth not rebuke, Prov. 13:8.
A liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue, Prov. 17:4.
If a ruler hearken to lies all his servants are wicked, Prov. 29:12.
Hearers of the word and not doers, James 1:23.