•Canaanites, even in direct opposition to the will of God. This is called in our text, " presumption:" " they presumed to go up unto the hill-top."
Let us, for the elucidation of this subject, inquire,
I. Wherein their presumption consisted —
To believe the promises of God, and to expect the accomplishment of them to our own souls, is con- sidered by many as an evidence of presumption. But presumption is rather the fruit of unbelief. That of which the Israelites were guilty consisted in two things;
1. They went up without the divine presence —
[God had told them that he would not go up with them : but they, who had just before despaired of success, even though God himself should fight on their side, now thought they could succeed by the unassisted efforts of their own arm. The folly of such a conceit we easily discern ; but are little aware how universally it obtains in reference to spiritual combats. God offers to be with us, and by his almighty power to give us the victory. We persuade ourselves that we have a sufficiency of strength within ourselves, and that we can succeed without any supernatural assistance. Hence we neglect to implore help from God, we refuse to trust in him, and we go forth
against our enemies in our own strength
What is this but the very conduct of those rebellious Israel- ites? The only difference is, that they acted thus in reference to temporal enemies, and an earthly inheritance ; whereas we do it, whilst we have all the powers of darkness to contend with, and no less a prize than heaven itself at stake.]
2. They went up in opposition to the divine command —
[God had expressly said to them, " Go not up :" and yet they would persist in their resolution. They would not go when they were commanded ; but now will go, when they are forbidden. Doubtless they would attempt to vindicate their conduct, by alleging, that the rectifying of their former errors was the best proof of their repentance : and they would per- suade themselves that God could never be angry with them for doing that, which he had just punished them for refusing to do. But vain were all such reasonings as these. Their duty was to obey, and not to put their reasonings in opposition to the divine commands. Yet in this we imitate them continually. We find, as we imagine, good reasons why this or that com- mand is not to be obeyed ; and then we follow our own will, in direct opposition to God's But what presumption