Bands

== Easton's Bible Dictionary == Hosea 11:4Psalm 2:3Colossians 2:193:14Ephesians 4:3Ezekiel 34:27Isaiah 28:2252:2Ezekiel 37:15-28Psalm 73:4Job 21:7Psalm 10:6Luke 8:29Acts 21:31Zechariah 11:7 == Fausset's Bible Dictionary ==

(I) Of love (Hosea 11:4), parallel to "cords of a man," not such as oxen are led by, but humane methods, as a father draws his child by leading strings, "teaching him to go (Hosea 11:1).

(II) Christ's "bands" (Psalms 2:3), an "easy yoke" to the regenerate, seem galling chains to the natural man, and he strives to "break them asunder."

(III) Christ's body, the church, ' by bands," i.e. sinews and nerves binding limb to limb, "having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God" (Colossians 2:19). Faith, love, and peace are the spiritual "bands" (Colossians 2:2; Colossians 3:14; Ephesians 4:3).

(IV) The bands tying the yoke to the neck of a beast of burden is the image of the captivity in which Jerusalem and Israel have been held, and from which Christ shall free them at His glorious coming (Ezekiel 34:27; Isaiah 28:22; Isaiah 52:2); also the captivity to Satan of the spiritual Israel, from which Christ releases us.

(V) "Bands" means, in Zechariah 11:7, the bond of brotherhood which originally hound together Judah and Jerusalem, severed because of their unfaithfulness to the covenant, but to be restored everlastingly when they shall turn to Messiah (Ezekiel 37:15-28), and when Messiah "shall make them one nation upon the mountains of Israel."

(VI) "There are no bands in their death" (Psalms 73:4); i.e., the prosperous wicked, thought the psalmist in a desponding fit of unbelief for a time, have no pains enchaining them in their dying hour; passion and impatience here lost sight of the real death-bringing pains hanging over the wicked (Job 21:17; Psalms 11:6).

== Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types ==

Leviticus 26:13 (a) These are hindrances and restraints placed upon the people of Israel by their Egyptian taskmasters. (See also Psalm 107:14; Jeremiah 2:20).

Job 38:31 (a) There seems to be some strange, unknown influence issuing from these stars which we do not understand or comprehend.

Job 39:5 (b) Here we understand that there is no hindrance of any kind to the wickedness of the wicked as represented by the actions of this animal. This figure would indicate that there is no way of hindering the sinful actions of men except, of course, by the power and grace of GOD.

Psalm 2:3 (a) This is typical of the restraining laws and commandments of GOD wherein He curbs and retards the evil passions and cruel powers of wicked men. These heathen say that they will throw off all such restraint.

Psalm 73:4 (c) We learn from this that many wicked men die in peace with no fear of GOD, and no fear of punishment.

Ecclesiastes 7:26 (b) This is a figure of the tremendous, attractive power of the evil woman who holds in the chains of sin those who yield to her evil attractions.

Isaiah 28:22 (a) This solemn warning is to inform us that the evil habits of life will be made permanent if the evildoer persists in his path instead of coming to the Lord for salvation.

Isaiah 52:2 (b) These bands represent the things that hinder the child of GOD from being a free, happy servant of the Lord. (See also Isaiah 58:6).

Ezekiel 34:27 (a) This is a type of the restraints and hindrances now imposed upon Israel throughout the world by their Gentile rulers.

Hosea 11:4 (a) These are love bands that hold us to our Lord with strong cords which nothing can break.

Zechariah 11:14 (a) This possibly and probably refers to the influence of relatives either good or bad. Frequently relatives are like chains around the neck to keep one from running the race for the Lord, or walking with GOD.

Colossians 2:19 (b) This interesting use of the word teaches us that some of GOD's people have a ministry of restraint and hindrance which prevents enthusiastic leaders in the church from going too far, or getting out of joint. Every joint must move freely, but it must have ligaments and hands so that it will not move too far. This particular ministry is given to some of GOD's people.

== Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature ==

small societies instituted by Wesley to promote personal holiness and good works among the early Methodists. The first rules of the band societies," drawn up December 25, 1738, may be found in Emory, History of the Methodist Discipline, p. 200. These societies were more select than class- meetings (q.v.), and admitted only persons of the same sex, all married or all single, who were put in charge of a "band-leader." They have nearly gone out of use in America, the article relating to them in the Discipline having been struck out by the General Conference of 1856. They still may be found in England, though not very numerous. See Emory, History of the Discipline, p. 200 sq.; Grindrod, Compendium of Laws of Methodism, 174 sq.; Porter, Compendium of Methodism, 50, 460; Stevens, History of Methodism, 1:122; 2:455; Wesley, Works, v. 183.