Words of Current Interest

The words in this issue are related to the Lesson-Sermon in the CHRISTIAN SCIENCE QUARTERLY designated to be read in Christian Science churches on January 7, 1968.

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice (Phil. 4:4)

Phillips suggests, "Delight yourselves in the Lord; yes, find your joy in him at all times"; while The New English Bible has, "I wish you all joy in the Lord. I will say it again: all joy be yours." The Greek chairete (rejoice) was often used as a greeting.

O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth (Ps. 96:1)

Briggs contends that the "new song" is referred to, "not in the sense of a new composition" but in that of "a new outburst of song" of "universal signifiance," in which all the earth would join in blessing the Lord's name and declaring His salvation (see verse 2).

Let the multitude of isles be glad thereof (Ps. 97:1)

While in the Old Testament "isles" sometimes meant islands in the literal sense, it was often employed, as here, with reference to distant places, whether insular or not.

A still small voice (I Kings 19:12)

The margin of the American Standard Version notes that a literal rendering of the Hebrew would be "a sound of gentle stillness." Smith suggests, "the sound of a gentle whisper."

The day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt (Jer. 31:32)

Scholars feel that the reference is probably not to the actual "day" or time of leaving Egypt but rather to the wilderness period taken as a whole. In that case, the "new covenant" with its inward and spiritual law (verses 31 and 33) would be contrasted with the covenant of the moral law associated with Moses (see Ex. 34:28).

Enlightening the eyes (Ps. 19:8)

In his comment on this phrase, Briggs contends that the eyes, as mentioned in this context, are "the eyes of the mind, so that they may see and understand"; while Moffatt renders, "The Eternal's command is clear, a light to the mind."

My strength, and my redeemer (Ps. 19:14)

The Hebrew term tsur, which is here freely translated "strength," means literally "rock." Briggs upholds the rendering "rock," observing that "the Rock is the negative refuge; the Redeemer is the one who grants the positive redemption from the sins so dreaded in the previous context."

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Signs of the Times

December 30, 1967

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