The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 110

Habits of industry, punctual e.ttendance to duty, busvness-like habits, as they are called, ara required of every Christian by hiR profession. And it is remarkable that in no other saint of the Old Testament do we find that virtue so conspicuous as in the great captain, who alone among them was privileged to bear the Saviour's name. (2) This is also the case in the affairs of the soul. It is our duty to wait until the will of God is made known. So Samuel waited (1 Sam. xiii. 10), and Saul for his unwise haRte was censured. But when it is made known, there should be no hesitation, no delay. By such hesitation Moses provoked God's wrath /Exod. iv. 10-14). It is a question whether Gideon did well to prove the Lord re- peatedly (Judges vi. 36-40). Balaam was involved in the most grievous sin by not being content with God's decisive answer to his prayer (Num. xxii. 12). Many a good man makes shipwreck of his work, and some of their faith also, by hesitating to carry out a plain co=and of God, by waiting for some additional manifestation of His pleasure, or some opportunity to do that for which an oppor- tunity should be made. The time of waiting in Joshua's case was over. The spies had brought back their report ; the way was open ; the co=and clear. The very next morning, and that e/111'"/Jy, the preparations were made for the decisive step which committed Israel to the struggle which lay before them. So in the work which God has set us. When the path of duty is clear, we are bound to enter upon it at once. II. OBSERVE THE FAITH OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. They implicitly obeyed ·Joshua's co=and, though it seemed the very height of folly. Jordan was over- flowed ; the ordinary fords were impassable ; there was no way through the river. They had been told that II within three days they should cross Jordan, and there is neither murmuring nor disputing. So we ought to follow the directions of oar Joshua, even where success seems hopeless. It is want of faith alone which hinders us from performing like impossibilities now. The mountain of clifficulty will ever be removed by the purpose of faith. When a duty lies before us, we must set about performing it as far as our human strength goes. What lies beyoncl it, we must leave to God. And we shall find that the same power which rolled back the waves of the Jordan can arrest the overrunning flood of ungodliness, the headlong stream of the opposition of evil men. Where no way appears to human eyes, there can He make one when He pleases, 11 Whose way is in the sea, aml His path in the great waters.'' III. THE ARK OF THE COVENANT MUST GO BEFORE, i.e., the visible signs and sym- bols of God's presence. The ark contained the law of Goel and the manna-that is, God's Word, and His sacraments and ordinances. Over it was the mercy-seat, the token of the presence of Christ, in whom sin and pardon meet. We can but go in the path marked out for us by these. His Word is II a lantern to oar feet, and a light unto our paths." His earthly life has been lived as a pattern to us. His presence is II with us always, even unto the end of the world," to animate and to guide. The visible signs and tokens of His presence among us are to be reverenced and kept in view, lest the II remembrance of Him{ whi?h He or_dered to be kept up, should perish from off the earth. By thus keepmg Hrm ever m new, in public as well as in private, in the visible sanctuary as well as in the sanctuary of our own hearts, we shall pass through the II waves and storms of this trouble· some world," and attain to the eternal rest at last. IV. THERE MUST BE NO UNDUE FAMILIARITY WITH SACRED THINGS. A space !s kept between the people and the ark. So between His perfect example 11,nd om- imperfect obedience there is a gulf which cannot be passed over. We are ever pressing forward in the direction of it; we never thoroughly attain to it (Phil. iii. 13, 14). Again, we learn that reverence is the best means towards kno~ledge of spi.ritu0,l things. " Not to be wise above what is written" is good advice. The mysteries of the kingdom of God are hidden from the "wise..and pmcl~nt "in their own estimation and are II revealed unto babes" (cf. 1 Cor. 11,). This 1s tme, both in opinion and in action. Those who think that all the deepest questions that con- cern humanity are to be settled by argument and logic, rather than by teadiable- ness, experience, ancl prayer, are likely to end with a very moderate acquamtance 46 THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. loH. m.1-0.