Biography
Ada was born
January 8, 1861 in London, England, the youngest daughter of Dr. S. O.
Habershon. She was brought up in a Christian home by believing parents
and her whole life was devoted to God’s service.
She met D.
L. Moody and Ira Sankey when they visited London in1884 and visited America
at their invitation to deliver lectures on Old Testament topics.
In 1901 she
began writing poetry while ill, and in 1905 she was asked to write some
Gospel songs; within a year, she had written 200, including such well-known
songs as “He will Hold Me Fast,” and “Will the Circle
Be Unbroken.”
Her books include
“Outline Studies of the Tabernacle,” as well as “A Study
of the Types.”
She died on
February 1, 1918.
Preface.
THE substance
of these chapters has been given in various Bible Readings. Their object
is not so much to attempt an explanation of the individual types, on which
so many volumes have already been written, as to arouse interest in the
study as a whole, and to emphasize the importance of comparing one with
another. Not only does this method seem the surest way of arriving at
the meaning of the separate types, but it is valuable as affording evidence
of the presence of one Spirit inspiring the whole.
It has not
been possible to do more than suggest some of the various methods in which
the Bible types may be grouped together, and give samples of the great
variety that exists amongst them.
These studies
are but very imperfect outline sketches of bird's-eye views. To fill in
too many details would have been, in many cases, to lose sight of the
chief lines of the pictures; but if some are induced to explore for themselves,
they will find out the endless beauties that surround them on all sides.
It would be
impossible to acknowledge all the channels through which many precious
things concerning the types have been received. We read a book or hear
an address, and some thought strikes us; we make a note of it, and it
becomes our own. Other thoughts are added on the same subject, and we
soon forget through whom they came. If they are God-given this does not
greatly matter; for in Bible study anything that is really original, anything
that is simply our own, is not worth passing on to any one else. But if
in the course of our study God opens our eyes to behold wondrous things,
it is only that we may tell others of what we have seen. When they look
for themselves and see the same things, they will soon forget who pointed
them out. The man who finds the gold may be quite unknown, or is soon
forgotten; but the gold passes from hand to hand and others are enriched.
The one who
is prefigured in the types is not a mere man, but is Jehovah-God—the
great I AM; and the chief scene which is foreshadowed is the most solemn
event that has taken place on this earth. In considering the types therefore,
and trying feebly to speak of them, the ground whereon we stand is holy
ground.
May anything
in these pages that is contrary to God's thoughts be forgiven for the
sake of the great High Priest who bears the iniquity of our holy things,
and may He use what is of Himself to stimulate many to deeper and more
reverent study of His Word, that His Name may be glorified.
I.
Introductory Chapter.
THE consideration
of the Old Testament types is one of the most interesting and helpful
subjects for Bible study, and at the same time is absolutely necessary
if we are rightly to understand the Word of God.
The Old Testament
is often viewed merely as a collection of historical tales, giving the
origin of the Jewish people and illustrating Oriental manners and customs
useful in supplying Sunday stories for the children, but of very little
practical importance as to spiritual teaching.
The Bible
may be compared to those beautifully illustrated volumes so often published
with a number of engravings of choice pictures at the beginning, followed
by chapters of letterpress describing them, giving their history, or telling
something of the life of the artist. We can scarcely conceive of any one
trying to understand such descriptions without referring to the pictures
themselves; yet this is how the Bible is often treated.
God has given
to us a series of pictures in the early books of the Bible. The New Testament
refers to and explains them: yet many people are satisfied to read the
New Testament without any reference to the types of the Old. They do not
believe with St. Augustine that
"The New
is in the Old contained
The Old is by the New explained."
"All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable,... that the
man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works;"
and yet how many there are who are content to know little or nothing about
parts of the Bible which have evidently been given to us by God for some
purpose.
We are privileged
to live in days of much Christian activity; but while there is so much
energy and zeal, it is possible to engage in "good works" without
being "throughly furnished"—and thus the works themselves
suffer. Mary wrought a "good work" when she broke her alabaster
box of ointment and anointed the Lord; but it was the result of the "good
part" she had chosen when she "sat at Jesus' feet, and heard
His word." It was there that she probably learnt His purpose concerning
His resurrection, and knew that if she did not anoint Him for His burial
"beforehand" she would have no other opportunity. He would have
His children still take that place and in lowly dependence on Him learn
what He would teach. He does not mean us to read the Old Testament as
we should ancient Roman or Grecian history; but by careful study under
His direction to find out His reasons for bringing the events to pass,
or for allowing them to happen, and for giving us the record of these
events.
The development
and success of Christian enterprises is one of the bright features of
the days in which we live; but we cannot shut our eyes to the dark side
of the picture. There are other things which are also growing, and amongst
them there is a marked advance in the spread of unsound doctrine. Many
are giving up the simple truths of God's Word. The Inspiration of the
Scriptures is attacked on all sides; the doctrine of Atonement by substitution
is denied, or thought little of; whilst other things are preached which
are contrary to the Word. This could not be so frequently the case if
the Old Testament types were more carefully studied and more widely taught.
"The
typology of the Old Testament is the very alphabet of the language in
which the doctrine of the New Testament is written; and as many of our
great theologians are admittedly ignorant of the typology, we need not
feel surprised if they are not always the best exponents of the doctrines."[1]
[1] “The Literal Interpretation
of Scripture,” Sir Robert Anderson, K.C.B., LL.D.
Besides this,
the personal loss is great to those who do not study for themselves this
part of the Bible; and yet we often meet those who have been Christians
for years, and those who would be Bible teachers, who have never given
their attention to it.
Many reasons
are given for this neglect. Some think the types difficult; others say
the study is fanciful; others that it is uninteresting; and so from one
cause or another they miss the rich treasure that they might otherwise
obtain. The precious things of God's Word are not all upon the surface.
We must dig in order to find them. Like the first sinking of the shaft,
the work may be laborious at the outset, and therefore needs diligence;
but when we reach a rich vein of ore we are well rewarded, as we find
that we have come upon a mine of inexhaustible wealth.
It is very
important to understand what as meant by a type. In 1 Cor. x. we are told
concerning the various wilderness experiences of the children of Israel,
that "all these things happened unto them for types;" and Paul
explains that the record of these events is given to us in the Bible for
a special purpose, viz., to teach us certain lessons. This passage
seems to cover all that befell God's redeemed people in their journey
from the place of bondage to the land of promise; and we may also conclude
from it that other portions of their history are given to us with a similar
purpose. But although teaching spiritual lessons, the incidents really
took place. Some who are giving up their belief in the inspiration of
the Bible would try and make us believe that though there is spiritual
meaning in these old stories they are only traditions and fables; not
records of real events, but merely allegorical, and no more to be taken
literally than Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress." It is enough for
us that the Lord Himselfand the writers of the New Testament looked upon,
them as truthful records of actual events.
Certain Bible
characters are clearly referred to in the New Testament as types. They
were real living people, not mythical characters that never lived; and
the record of their history is evidently given to teach us of Him whose
coming they foreshadowed. The story of Joseph is a striking example of
this; and when we see in his life a picture of "the sufferings of
Christ and the glory that should follow," and the deliverance He
has wrought, we understand how it is that so large a portion of the Book
of Genesis is devoted to Joseph's history. He is perhaps the most complete
type of our Lord that we can find; and unlike so many heroes of the Old
Testament, there seems no blot on the page of his life to mar the picture.
But besides
typical incidents and characters, there is another very important class
of types, viz., all those things which were expressly commanded by God
in connection with the Tabernacle and Temple service, and which in every
detail were clearly given as types, "The Holy Ghost this signifying"—some
lessons about our Lord and His work. Some would try to make us believe
that the Hebrew religion, as described in the Books of Moses, was only
borrowed from the heathen nations around; but the careful study of the
types leaves no room for doubting that the whole Levitical economy was
divinely instituted to foreshadow the work and person of the Lord Jesus
Christ Himself.
We cannot
state with certainty that anything is a type unless we have some warrant
for doing so. If we can turn to no New Testament passage for our authority,
or if there be no expression or analogy which indicates the antitype,
it is safer and more correct to call it an illustration.
While visiting
Northfield, some of us were looking at the beautiful model of Solomon’s
Temple, designed by Mr. Newberry, which is in the library of Mr. Moody’s
Seminary; and a lady who had listened to our conversation, said she did
not believe in any of the types as such—she thought it was all fanciful.
We tried to explain to her that a true type was something designed by
God to teach us a lesson; and that if in the New Testament it was proved
to be so, there was no fear of our being fanciful. We asked her if there
were no types which she could believe.
"No,"
she said, "none."
"Do you
not think that when John the Baptist said, 'Behold the Lamb of God,' he
meant that all the lambs which had been offered in sacrifice before that
time were types of the Lord Jesus?"
"Yes,"
she said, "I see that."
"Do you
not think that as Peter speaks of believers as lively stones built up
a spiritual house, and of a royal priesthood, we may take the stones of
the temple and the Levitical priesthood as types of believers?"
"Yes,
I can see that."
"Then,
as we are told in Hebrews that the Lord Jesus Christ has consecrated for
us a new and living way, 'through the vail, that is to say, His flesh,'
may we not say fearlessly that the vail was a type of His incarnation,
and the rending of the vail, of His death?"
Yes, she could
see that. And so after she had been obliged to acknowledge five or six
very evident types, we recommended her thoroughly to work out these, and
told her that we were sure she would want to go on with more. She was
soon much interested in the study.
In these days
of many conferences, why do we never hear of one for the Study of Types?
There are evangelistic services for the preaching of the Gospel; there
are conferences on Foundation Truths; upon the Inspiration of the Word;
the Coming of our Lord and other prophetic subjects; the unity and privileges
of the Church, and conventions for "the deepening of spiritual life."
All these subjects are included in the study of the types. Where can we
find more beautiful Gospel subjects than in the Old Testament scenes,
such as the lifting-up of the brazen serpent, the slaying of the paschal
lamb, and many others? Foundation truths are clearly explained and illustrated
for such doctrines as the atonement, substitution, the value of the blood,
are more plainly taught in the types than anywhere [else] in Scripture—save
in the accounts of Calvary itself, which they foreshadowed. Our belief
in the Inspiration of the Bible cannot fail to be strengthened by the
study. We shall find striking prophetic pictures in the Old Testament;
for it is impossible to see the full beauty of many of the Levitical institutions
apart from dispensational truth.
With regard
to subjects relating to the privileges and the unity of the Church, these
are again and again foreshadowed in the types. It is sometimes stated
that the Church is not the subject of Old Testament prophecy; but even
if this be so, it need not be excluded from the types. As early as the
second chapter in the Bible we find the Church foreshadowed; for there
we have the account of the formation of Eve and of her union with Adam,
which Paul tells us in Ephesians v. is a type of our relationship to Christ.
Quoting from Genesis ii. 24, "They two shall be one flesh,"
he adds, "This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ
and the Church."
By far the
largest number of conventions are those for "the deepening of spiritual
life;" and beyond all others the subject of holiness seems to he
emphasized in the types.
In the books
of Moses we learn more clearly than anywhere else to have a right view
of God's holiness and of our need. Eye-witnesses of the sufferings of
Christ have given us accounts in the Gospels of that great antitype, the
cross of Calvary; but we may fail to see all its varied aspects without
the help of the types. The details which are brought before us in the
minute directions respecting the offerings and the institutions of the
Tabernacle, teach us many lessons and emphasize many truths which we might
otherwise miss. How can we fail to learn more and more of God's abhorrence
of sin, and our constant need of cleansing, as we se the wondrous provision
that He has made for every kind of defilement?
Thus we find
prefigured in the types "all the counsel of God." Without the
fuller revelations of truth in the Epistles they could not be wholly understood;
but with this teaching we can see meanings which must have been hidden
from those who lived in Old Testament times.
It has been
remarked that the types are only one little piece of the Bible, and this
is probably a general opinion; but is it correct? Do they not run through
the entire Book, involving in their study a growing familiarity with the
whole of God's Word? In the books of Moses and the historical books we
have typical characters, events, and institutions; in the poetical books
we have typical utterances by typical characters; in the prophecies we
again have typical characters and events, and the fulfillment of the types
is foretold; whiIst throughout the New Testament they are constantly referred
to and explained, and the great Antitype is presented.
*
* *
The
Study of the Types, Chapter 1,
by Ada R. Habershon, 7th Edition
was originally published bY
Pickering & Inglis, London and Glascow
No date.Public domain.
This book, and others by the same author, was reprinted in 1998 by
KREGEL PUBLICATIONS
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