The Pulpit Commentary — Judges — Section 17

did not subdue the citadel, which was in Benjamin's lot. The latter, on the other hand, are too c!lreless, unwarlike, or indisposed to make good their possession.-M. Ver. 19.-T/ie presence of God in the battle of life. The most remarkable circum- Btnnce connected with the wars of ancient Israel is the religious faith which guided and inspired the people for battle. In this respect the conduct of those wars is typical of the Christian method of spiritual warfare. I. Goo IR WITH HIS PEOPLE IN THE BATTLE OF LIFE. God is not only the Refuge in distress and the Father of peaceful mercies ; he is the Source of strength and of courage. and the Inspirer of the masculine virtues of the Church militant-he is with us in battle. God does not grant his aid from a distance, through messengers, &c. ; he is present in the active exercise of his power. 1. When God calls people to any task, he will follow and help thern in it. God had chosen Judah for the work of conquering the Canaanites. He also followed Judah to battle. Divine election was followed by Divine power. God never expects us to undertake any work in v.·hich he will not aid us. If he calls us to any difficult task, he will go first, and prepare the way for us, and then will accompany us in it, as our Guide and Protector. 2. T!i.ey who are unite.d in the servi.a of God have peculiar reason for expecting the presence of God. Judah and Simeon were united, and God aided them in their com- mon ta8k. God does not desert the solitary: e. g. Hagar (Gen. xvi. 13), Jacob (Gen. xxxiii. 16), Elijah (l Kings xix. 9). But we have a special right to expect his presence when we co-operate in brotherly sympathy. Christ i~ present where two or three are met together in his name. The Holy Ghost came on the day of Pentecost, when the whole Church was assembled together (Acts ii. 1). . II. THE PRESENCE OF Gon IS THE CHIEF SOURCE OF SUCCESS IN THE BATTLE OF LIFE. God was with Judah, therefore he obtained possession of the mountains. If God is with hiR people in their time of toil and difficulty, his presence is a security of active aid. He is with us not merely to approve, but to help. The victory comes from him. It is not all who have faith and spiritual insight to discern this truth. God does not come with a visible host and with " chariots of iron ; '• but his presence and aid are felt in the providential control of events ; in the inspiration of strength and courage ; in the enlightenment of Divine wisdom. The best human securities for success will not justify us in neglecting the help of God. Simeon and Judah were united, and were the stronger for their union ; yet it was not the human strength thus obtained, but God's presence, which brought victory. There is a danger lest we should trust too much to imposing human arrangements, large societies, elaborate organisations, &c. The most splendid Christian army will be miserably def~ated if it ventures to enter the field without the leadership of the "Captam of. salvation." III. THE PRESENCE OF Gon WILL NOT ALONE SECURE PERFECT AND IMMEDIATE SUCCESS. Though God was with Judah, still Judah could not drive out the inhabitants of the Ya]ley. 1. God's presence and aid do not dispense with human effort. It is Jud_ah, not God, who fails. We may fail on our side of the work while God is not wlllltmg on his. 2. Go<lspresence does not make us entirely independent of earthly circum-. stances. God did not annihilate the chariots of iron. We must not expect God to work such violent miracles as shall liberate us from all the inconveniences of life. 3. Human weakness may still linger about us after we have been blesse.d with the aid of Gocfs pre8ence. The IsraP-lites were too weak to overcome the inhabitants of the valley. Possibly they feared to face the chariots of iron. The mea~ure of help we have from God is not limited in itself, but it is limited by our faith. If we had perfect faith we should have perfect success. But when we look e.we.:y from God to the iron chariots of our foes, or, like Peter, from C~rist to.the threatenm~ waves, we may fail from fear and human weakness, and God s ahmghty power will not then eave ua from defeat.-A. CH, I, 21-36.] THE BOOK OF JUDGES. 15