NO. 565 THE GLORY OF GOD

by Epiphany Bible Students


Most of our readers are familiar with the attributes of God: Justice, Wisdom, Love and Power.  In 2 Timothy 1:7 we are told that “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”; but this is not God’s power in the full sense of that word.  For us, it is not physical strength, as we recognize that many of the Lord’s people are very weak physically; but we are given will power.  St. Paul is an outstanding example of this truth.  The name his parents had given him was Saul, probably after Israel’s first king, who was a handsome physical specimen.  “There was not one among the children of Israel of goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.” (1 Sam. 9:2)  When he was anointed with the Holy Spirit Saul adopted the name of Paul which was more in keeping with his physique - “Paul” meaning “little one.”  But in will power he was one of the strongest of whom we have any record, so he could well say the Lord has given us “the spirit of power.”

In 1 Timothy 1:5 Paul says, “The end of the commandment [the entire Bible] is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.”  This text thus treats of the four great attributes of God - not in all ways, but to inform us of his intention in making the statement.  And he is telling us that the great purpose of God in all His dealings with His people through His Spirit, Word and Providences is to develop in them Agape love, flowing out of, based upon and acting in harmony with power, justice and wisdom.  These exact words are not used in the text; but he refers to them by calling attention to each one’s main ingredient or ingredients.  By the expression “unfeigned faith” he is giving us in sufficiency two of the ingredients of wisdom - trust and truth.  By “good conscience” the duty feature of justice is meant.  By the expression “pure heart” the Apostle means a will fixed in good principles and executing them.  Thus will be seen the relation of all three of these characteristics to agape love and its sources, bases and modifiers.

Therefore, agape love permeates and expresses itself in the various graces, as is succinctly shown in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: “Charity [agape love] suffereth long [is very tolerant], and is kind [shows kindness wherever possible]; charity envieth not [is generously disposed - no covetousness]; charity vaunteth not itself [refrains from self-praise - the Germans have a proverb, “Self-praise has a bad odor”], is not puffed up [displays a proper humility], behaveth not itself unseemly [always polite], seeketh not her own [selflessness - always striving to give to others a little more than we receive from them], is not easily provoked [literally, is not enraged or infuriated, forbearance - “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” - Prov. 17:22], thinketh no evil [without guile]; rejoiceth not in iniquity [abhors sin, never glad to see others indulging in evil], but rejoiceth in the truth [appreciates and delights in the Truth and its Spirit - always happy to see  others prosper]; beareth [literally covereth] all things [ever ready to forgive], believeth all things [trustfulness, always ready to give others the benefit of the doubt], hopeth all things [hopefulness, optimistic], endureth all things [patience, perseverance - stick-to-itiveness].  Charity never faileth [permanency is something no one can take from us].”

Thus charity sourced, based and modified in wisdom, power and justice, enfolds in its ample embrace all of these graces, as well as every lower primary, secondary and tertiary grace.

It is probably in order here to consider how these four dominating graces, especially love, carry on their domination over all our other affections, virtues and graces.  They do this first by detaching our affections from lower and earthly things and attaching them to higher and heavenly things; secondly, by using our other affections, virtues and graces as servants of truth, righteousness and holiness.  Thus, these, especially love, make our lower affections: love of self-esteem, of approbativeness, of rest, of secretiveness, of safety, of possessions, of self-defense, of aggressiveness, of nourishment, of health, of life, of friends, of home and country, of the opposite sex, of wife, of husband, of children, of parents, of brethren, serve truth, righteousness and holiness.  Accordingly, if justice and love are the rulers, they develop respectively the lower primary virtues and graces of self-esteem, approbativeness, restfulness, secretiveness, cautiousness, providence, combativeness, aggressiveness, alimentiveness, vitativeness, sexliness, husbandliness, wifeliness, parentliness, filiality, brethrenliness, friendship, domesticity and patriotism.

Thirdly, they use our lower sentiments, especially humor as safety valves, vents.  Fourthly, they, especially love, carry on this domination by suppressing the efforts that our lower affections and lower primary graces make to control us, and by such suppression develop the secondary virtues and graces.

It is written in Psalms 89:14 that “justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.”  And, while the Divine attribute of Justice is prominently discussed in the Bible, it was not the first attribute that operated in the creation of the universe and the creation of man.  St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:24: “Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”  First of all God had to plan (wisdom) the universe: then His power was applied to carry out that plan.  For man justice was the next attribute to appear when He expelled him from the Garden of Eden for disobedience; then came “the kindness and love of God.” (Titus 3:4)

In Reprints 4917 (November 15, 1911) appears an excellent article on A PRACTICAL SELF-EXAMINATION OF LOVE, from which we quote a few paragraphs:

“Nothing in this signifies that one should neglect the caring for and providing     in every way for those dependent upon him by the ties of nature, in order that he may do good to others.  In every sense, ‘love begins at home.’ The proper thought, as we gather it, is that men and women, possessed of the spirit of perfect love, would not think exclusively of their own interest in any of the affairs of life.  Put into exercise, this element of Love would have a great influence upon all the affairs of life, inside as well as outside the home and family.

“Have I the love which is good tempered, ‘not easily provoked’ to anger - love that enables me to see both sides of a question, that gives me the spirit of a sound mind, which enables me to perceive that exasperation and violent anger are not only unbecoming but, worse than that, injurious to those toward whom they may be directed, and also injurious in their effect upon my own heart and body?

“There may be times when love will need to be firm, almost to sternness and inflexibility, where principles are involved, where valuable lessons are to be inculcated; and this might come under the head of anger, using that word in a proper sense, in regard to a righteous indignation, exercised for a loving purpose, for doing good; but it should be exercised then only for a time.  If justly angry we should see to it that we sin not either with our lips, or in our hearts, in which, at no time may we entertain any but loving and generous sentiments toward those who are our enemies, or toward those of our friends whom we would assist or instruct or correct.”

THE GREATEST OF THESE

In 1 Corinthians 13:13, Dia., St. Paul tells us “these three remain - faith, hope, love - but the greatest of these is love.”  Love in this text is from the Greek agape, which means good will motivated from unselfishness.  It means doing good for the love of doing good; and such love is a refreshing and uplifting thing for all who come into contact with it.

In Romans 5:3-5, Dia., we have this: “We triumph also in afflictions, knowing that affliction works out endurance; and endurance approval; and approval hope; and this hope is not put to shame, because the love [agape] of God has been diffused in our hearts, through that Holy Spirit which has been given to us.”  That spirit in the new spiritual will lays hold on our organs of veneration, benevolence and appreciation and exercises them toward God, Christ, the brethren, the world of mankind and enemies, and thereby cultivates all the graces mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

This is the thought of Galatians 5:22, where the Apostle tells us that “the fruit of the spirit, the product of the new will, exercising our new spiritual capacities and affections is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith [fullness].  Thus, the full complete result of the Holy Spirit is a Godlike and Christlike character, disposition, mind, heart and will.  Isaiah 11:2-4 also tells us that the Holy Spirit gives us God’s disposition: “And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.”

It would seem that the following from Reprint 5668 (April 15, 1915) is quite appropriate here.

THE SUM OF ALL GRACES

“‘And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.’ (1 Cor. 13:13)  The Apostle Paul has just been referring to the various miraculous gifts of the Spirit then granted to all begotten of the Spirit to the new nature.  Anyone lacking some such special gift at that time would thus manifest to all believers that he had not become a member of the Church of Christ.  These supernatural gifts also served to assist the primitive Church in spiritual growth.  They did not have the Bible in those days [the New Testament], and if they had possessed it, very few could have read it; hence, they needed special assistance which the Church afterward did not need and was later taken away.

“In this letter to the Church at Corinth, the Apostle, after discussing these various gifts, says, ‘And yet I show unto you a more excellent way.’  Then he proceeds to point out the superexcellence of the fruit of love.  Whoever has the Holy Spirit must have a measure at least of this fruitage, whether it be the little flower that contains the fruit-bud or whether it be the partly developed fruit, the fully developed fruit or the ripened fruit.  God our Father, who looks upon the heart, knows how His Holy Spirit in the heart is seeking to control the flesh, to guide the mind and all the words and actions.  We are not able to judge one another’s hearts.  The Apostle said that he did not feel able properly to judge even himself, but left judgment to the Lord.  He knew that his heart was loyal and that he was endeavoring to be all that the Lord would have him be.  Though he was conscious of his inability always to ‘do the things that he would,’ he knew that the Master would accept his loyalty of heart; so he would do his best and leave the remainder with God.

“Our faith and our hope in the Lord lead us to earnest endeavor to develop the fruitage of love in all its varied and beautiful phases.  Gentleness is a part of love; meekness is a part of love; so also are humility and brotherly-kindness.  The question at issue with each child of God is not, How tall and well-built am I? or, How fine-looking or well-educated or well-connected am I according to the flesh? or, How many or how fine sermons have I preached? or even, How many have I brought to a knowledge of the Truth?  But the vital question is, How much of the quality of love have I developed?  How great is the likeness of my character to that of Christ?

LOVE IS THE PRINCIPAL THING

“Why is this quality of love made so prominent in the Word of God?  We answer, Because it is the first thing, the most important thing, the principal thing.  It is the fulfilling of God’s Law; and, indeed, the sacrificial love enjoined upon God’s Saints of this Age goes even beyond the requirements of the perfect law.  But why is love put first?  It is not because God arbitrarily so placed it, not because He exercised His power of fiat and declared that it should be first.  No, it is because no other quality of character is so lovely, so beautiful, so productive of happiness and joy, so great a blessing to all upon whom it operates.  It is the very essence of God’s character, ‘GOD IS LOVE.’  This quality particularly represents His personality.  While God is all-just and all-powerful, we do not say that God is justice or that God is power, but that God is Love.  He uses His great power only as love dictates and approves.  He uses His justice only in fullest harmony with His glorious attribute of Love.  Love is the mainspring of all His doings.

“Whoever, therefore, would be God-like must be loving, must have love as the dominating quality of his character and his life.  Love and righteousness are inseparable.  Love is to continue to all eternity; and only those who become the active embodiment of this gracious quality of character will live eternally.  Hence we see the paramount importance of its development in every life.”

THE SPIRIT OF A SOUND MIND

“EVIDENCES OF A SOUND MIND:  The fall of Adam has worked ruin to mankind, so that from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot there are none sound (Isa. 1:5,6).  None are sound of mind or body.  All are out of the way.  ‘There is none righteous; no, not one.’ (Rom. 3:10)  But in proportion as we receive the spirit of the Lord, and in proportion as that spirit of the Lord works in us and develops us and influences all the conduct of life, in that same proportion we receive the spirit of a sound mind.

“This soundness of mind will teach us how better to use our bodies.  A person of unsound mind may either eat too much or eat what does not agree with him.  In proportion as we have a sound mind, it influences what we eat, what we drink, and everything we do; it helps to regulate and control everything in life for us.  It gives us broad views of all the affairs of life.  It gives us more generous views of mankind.  We recognize that mankind is under the curse, and we have a feeling of compassion for them.  We have much advantage every way, because God has opened the eyes of our understanding.

“This spirit of a sound mind makes us more helpful.  We know better how to deal with each other as brethren.  We know better how to deal with our children, with our neighbors, with the butcher and with every one else.  The truth does not come to many of those who are naturally soundest of mind, and it takes time for the truth to bring in a measure of soundness.  But we notice that when one receives the truth in the love of it, it has a healing effect on his mind.  He will begin to think more correctly and to act more wisely.”

(Reprints 5977, bottom and 5978, top)

The Wise Man tells us in Proverbs 4:7 that “Wisdom [the wisdom that is from above - James 3:17] is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”  But how do we come by this wisdom?  In 1 Corinthians 1:30 we are told that Christ Jesus is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness [justification by faith], and sanctification [He sets us apart for His own good purposes], and deliverance.”

In 2 Timothy 1:7, Dia., we are given a very meaningful synonym of wisdom - a sound mind - which means a proper mental and religious disposition that is based upon the Truth and views matters according to reality in the light of the applicable Truth, and thinks, feels, speaks and acts accordingly tactful.  A sound mind, therefore, is a proper mental and religious attitude.  This Scripture also tells us that love and a sound mind are closely linked together.  “God did not give us a cowardly spirit, but one of power, and of [agape] love, and of a sound mind.”

The proper application of the Holy Spirit in a “Sound Mind” will little by little and more and more give its possessor an ever increasing sound mind, which will by and by “make such a person of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord” (Isa. 11:2,3) - that is, in the application of duty and disinterested (agape) love in accordance with the Divine will.  Thus, in cultivating wisdom (love and the spirit of a sound mind), we constantly improve ourselves in every good word and work.  In this there is a part that God, by Christ, does and a part that we do.  Thus we become “co-workers with God,” as we constantly improve our intellectual and providential circumstances.

The spirit of a sound mind is one of the dominating graces of the Holy Spirit, and sometimes operates negatively in keeping us from doing unwise things, but operates positively in helping us to do the wise things.  This is true in both our secular and religious relations.  We need the spirit of a sound mind in our dealings with the Father and with Jesus, the latter being the Agent as our Creator, Provider, Redeemer, Teacher, Justifier, Sanctifier and Deliverer.

Inasmuch as our own righteousness is as “filthy rags,” we cannot approach Him through works or merits of our own.  Therefore, the spirit of a sound mind forbids us to present ourselves, who are children of wrath, to God in any alleged merit or righteousness of our own.  On the contrary, the Divine wisdom prompts us to seek for ourselves an Advocate before God, which we recognize to be Jesus.  He has told us Himself “whatsoever ye ask in my name it shall be given unto you.” (John 15:16)  Thus, by the Divine wisdom wrought in us by Jesus’ ministry, we are prompted to ask forgiveness for our sins and a righteous standing before God through Him.  Thus, sufficient of the spirit of a sound mind, which we receive from Him as natural men, enables us to see the proper approach to God, and tends to keep us in a righteous condition, and prompts us to present ourselves to God in harmony with Romans 12:1: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”  Upon so doing in harmony with God’s will, He then gives us that sanctification that is necessary to do His “good and acceptable and perfect will.”  This prevents us from engaging in works not motivated by God and Christ.  On all sides today we see thousands zealously devoted to various reform and uplift works, which have no real standing in Heaven.  “Many will say to me in that day, Master, Master, have we not taught in Thy name, and in Thy name expelled demons, and in Thy name performed many wonders?  And then I will plainly declare to them, I never approved of you.  Depart from Me, you who practice iniquity.” (Matt. 7:22,23, Dia.)  Such will be the reward of all rabid sectarians.

The spirit of a sound mind teaches us what to do, and what to avoid doing in spirit, manner and method as to our works toward the world in religious aspects, and also in secular relations.  But a sound mind will give us increasingly the spirit of wisdom in our religious and secular actions.  While we are “not of the world,” yet we are in the world, and have secular relations toward the world.

Our secular relations toward the world may at times give us some consternation, especially with those of lower tendencies.  Yet these are vastly in the majority and if we are inclined to avoid such, we may find it difficult to make a livelihood.  St. Paul treats of this in 1 Corinthians 5:9,10: “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators; yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.”  That is, if we would refuse to have any dealings with persons of disreputable leanings, we might find ourselves out of business.  This does not mean, of course, that we become partners with them.  St. Paul’s advice applies here, too - and positively so: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14)  Our own experience in the business world over the past fifty years is that many put on quite a respectable appearance, but are ready enough to cut corners as opportunity may present itself.  A well-meaning businessman once said to Brother Russell, “Pastor Russell, you have set the standard entirely too high.”  His answer was, “I did not put it there; the Lord did.”  Of course, having a “high calling,” it necessarily follows there would also be a “high” standard.  And the more of a sound mind we have, the more apparent this becomes to us.  Also, the more of Divine wisdom we have the more of a sound mind will be apparent in us.

LOVE - HOW ACQUIRED

In any undertaking the “know-how” is fundamental to success.  And this is certainly true in the acquisition of Agape love.  We have pointed out that love and a sound mind are closely linked together.  All who have developed any degree of Agape love will readily testify that it has put soundness into their thinking.  Among the last words of Jesus to His Disciples are those to be found in Luke 21:12-15, Dia.: “They will drag you before kings and governors… And it will turn out to you for a testimony.  Settle it in your hearts, therefore, not to premeditate on your defense; for I will give you eloquence and wisdom, which all your opponents will not be able to gainsay, or resist.”  “Our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit… the spirit giveth life.” (2 Cor. 3:5,6)

FAITH COMETH BEFORE LOVE

Although, as 1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us Love is the greatest of all the graces, for the Faith Age, faith must come first: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Heb. 11:6)  Nor can we develop perfect (agape) love unless we continue to believe He is a God of Love, Wisdom, Justice and Power, and also, to have faith in His Word that we have received.  Those who are faithful to the truth they have will be ready to “learn more of Him,” and as they do they will develop more and more of the “end of the commandment [the purpose of the commandment] is charity.” (1 Tim. 1:5)  All New Creatures will have to develop perfect love in their hearts during this Faith Age, their trial time for eternal life.  No others are on trial for life; although, it behooves all classes of the Household of Faith to constantly seek to develop perfect love, as they must eventually do if they remain in the Elect classes.  However, some of the unbegotten consecrators are not able to develop perfect love.  In the 11th chapter of Hebrews we are told that it was by faith that the Ancient Worthies were able to do what they did.  Abraham had faith and it was counted to him for righteousness.  He didn’t have Agape love, but he will have it in the Kingdom, or he won’t remain one of the Elect.

In the Millennium when the New Covenant is inaugurated, there will be no crucial experience - no suffering for righteousness sake - that will develop perfect love.  But Restitutionists will have to develop perfect Duty Love toward God and man - love the Lord with all their heart and their neighbor as themselves.  This will be a much easier requirement for them, for instead of suffering for righteousness, they will be rewarded for righteousness, and if their righteousness comes from the heart, they will be rewarded with eternal life.  There was no sacrifice required of Adam - just obedience and faith in God.  So Restitutionists will have a faith in God, but not a faith where He cannot be traced.  Each step of obedience will bring the reward for tracing Him.

From Reprint 5095, top: “The spirit of a sound mind is a most wonderful manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the Lord’s people.  It gives them much advantage every way over the remainder of mankind.  It sees in the present life opportunities for the attainment of character.  It broadens and deepens the mind along all good lines.  It makes one less touchy in respect to his own rights, privileges and preferences, and more considerate of the rights and feelings of others.

“The spirit of a sound mind makes one’s judgment clearer, truer, more trustworthy than before, for it impels him to accept the instructions of the Word of God in respect to what he should and should not do, and to reject his own faulty judgment.  The meek will He guide in judgment.  Whatever may be the imperfection of mind and body resulting from the fall, those who receive the spirit of a sound mind are thereby made purer, kinder, gentler, less selfish and more thoughtful in regard to others.  Those who are thus rightly exercised will develop the spirit of love increasingly until that which is perfect shall have come and that which is in part shall have been done away. (1 Cor. 13:10)”

GOD’S GLORY

In Exodus 33:18 Moses asked God to show him His glory; and in Psalms 104:31 we are told, “The glory of the Lord shall endure forever.”  In Isaiah 42:8 it is written: “I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another.”  From these and other Scriptures we conclude that God’s glory is synonymous with His character attributes of Justice, Wisdom, Power and Love.  All of God’s faithful people of the past have had some of these character qualities; but none of them, not even Jesus, have had them in the same magnificent and grandiose quantity and quality as they are in our Almighty God.  The word translated glory in Isaiah 42:8 is from the Hebrew kabod and one of its meanings is splendor; and the more we see and learn of His character and works, the more His splendor becomes apparent.  Thus, we enthusiastically join with David in his exclamation, “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.  For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” (Psa. 95:6,7)

(Brother John J. Hoefle, Reprint 427, November 1991)

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION - How can I get faith when I don’t have it naturally?

ANSWER   - Faith may be cultivated as any other mental quality, and is increased in proportion to knowledge and reliance upon that knowledge.  To have faith in God, we must learn His character, plans, and purposes.  This we acquire by a study of His Word and relying upon the promises and truths therein stated.  False doctrines have made God’s character appear hideous.  “Fear (dread) of him is taught by the precepts of men.”  A true knowledge of His character and plan greatly increase our faith in and love for Him.  Faith is Scripturally defined as “the understanding of things hoped for, the proof of things unseen.”  Man hopes for eternal life in happiness.  A basis for that hope is found in the Word of God.  A doubter may become a most earnest and tenacious believer upon receiving proper evidence.  “Life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 6:23)  His Word is the only evidence pointing out clearly the way of obtaining that gift.  To increase our faith we must, therefore, study God’s Word in a humble and prayerful manner, with the desire to know and do His will, and to rely upon His Word.  One who knows the letter of His Word and fails to rely upon it has little faith.  Another both knows the Word and relies upon it and strong faith results.  This is illustrated by the following incident; A man doubting the strength of the ice to bear his weight crawled across the river on his hands and knees, and just as he reached the opposite shore he was overtaken by a man, who had confidence in the strength of the ice, gaily driving a team of horses hitched to a sled loaded with pig iron.

(What Pastor Russell Said, pages 774, 775)

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LETTER OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Emily and Marjorie,

We send you warm greetings from the Sea of Galilee.  It is getting warmer here as summer is upon us, but the wonder is that the Sea of Galilee is so full at this point.  Not only did the heavy winter rains fill it, but also the Mt. Hermon snowmelt filled it to the tip-top.  Really it looks like the boats could sail down the streets of Tiberias now.  In our 16 years living here on the shores of the Sea of Galilee we have never seen it so full.

However we missed news of how you both are, and how things are going there in Florida.  We do hope you had an illness-free winter, Emily, and are feeling God’s strength each day to carry you through.

We keep going one day at a time.  Lev was down to the Dead Sea in May for 4 weeks to have his sun treatments for his skin problem of psoriasis.  It had gotten quite bad over the winter.  What a miracle this “dead spot” on the earth produces in the healing of so many illnesses.  This time Lev had a wonderful healing of most of his skin.  We are so thankful to the Lord!

We don’t have so many guests this month, but this is the only month like this since December.  There has been a steady stream of visitors from some ten nations, so it is wonderful to see some brave tourists again in Israel.  It is a start to come back to the “normal” amount of travelers in this direction!  The overall economy is improving here as well, but there are still too many out of work.

There was a lot of tension over the Passover holidays after Israel eliminated the two top Hamas leaders.  Thankfully the eyes of the watchmen were open and the attempted bombings were stopped!  So it has been a rather quiet period, but only because Israel is on the alert day and night to stop the terrorists even when they try to use women and children to carry bombs.  A sick thinking!  So now we are being forced into Gaza withdrawal that will affect the lives of some 7500 people directly as their whole way of life for years will be destroyed.  The question is “and for what?”  There is no “peace agreement” or willingness for the Palestinians to stop fighting.  In fact they see it all as a “victory”!  It is hard to understand how Sharon and his government could change sides so much.  So good to know God has the real answers.

Have a good summer!                               Love to all, Lev and Hava Bausch       (ISRAEL)

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THIS TOO WILL PASS!

Poor heart, break not, though cruel be thy wound

This too will pass!

The weariest day will end in sunset light,

And dawn must follow e’en the darkest night!

 

Nor drink too deeply of Joy’s honeyed cup -

This too will pass!

Caressing hands will lose their loving touch,

 And words mean nothing, that once meant so much.

 

Ah, then, whate’er thy state, seek thou content - t

This will not pass!

True rest is found in God, He knows and cares,

His heart of love thy every sorrow shares!