The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 114

lake. _But there is mo~e importance in our marking the fact ancl its leRsons than in our hemg able to explam the mocle. Does Joshua believe Goel to be the living God? " According to his faith it is Him." And with all Divine energy of love He comes nigh to help them that trust in Him, laws of nature and forces of nature notwithstanding. Such faith never goes dishonoured ; and we ought to mark it for Olli' comfort in life. Goel is not deacl; He is living still, as fresh for working miracleA as when He divided Jorclan, ancl as sure to open up our way, ancl to lend supernatural aid to simple faith, as when Israel halted before Jordan. Our hope must not be limited within the sphere of what is obviously possible according to laws of nature. I should think God never in any miracle broke the usual laws, but only employed unusual forces. And He does the impossible still-making weak- ness strong, despair victorious; healing the sick, saving the lost, giving victory and suc.cess. The supernatural is not contranatural, but blends kindly with nature; and whenever in the crises of Olll' life there is the obedience which honours God and the faith that trusts Him, there is specifically supernatural help and grace making the grandest deliverance and achievements possible, Our lives might be perpetual miracles, and every day behold the impossible achieved, and the insurmountable surmounted with blessed ease. Is there some stem crisis on you now? Do not faint. There is crisis grace for all who have faith enough to admit and act on it. Let it in, ancl even though Jordan be at the flood you will pass over as on dry land.-G. Ver. 5.-Preparation for beholding displays of Divine power. With what long• ing eyes must the Israelites have looked upon the river which they were soon to cross. Hope had been defe1Ted for years. 'fhe promised land, fertile ancl beautiful, seemed to disappear from their sight, as did the fruit and water from the eager hands and parched lips of Tantalus. Coulcl it, then, be really true that on the morrow the boundary-line would separate them from their inheritance no more ? By the Jordan the Israelites were encamped, and the command of the text sounded in their ears, " Sanctify yourselves." This was to be THE PEOPLE'S PREPARATION Fon Goo·s WORK AMONGST THEM. Probably the injunction respected rather the hearts than the dress and bodies of the people. It invokell a seriousness of deport- ment befitting the solemn ceremony of the coming day, an examination of them- selves, a recalling of the facts of their past history, a mourning over their numerous transgressions, and a resolve henceforth to serve the Lord. We believe that in endeavouring to ascertain the reasons which dictated the advice of the text, we shall be meditating on truths profitable to our own souls. I. SANCTIFICATIO!f WOULD FIT THEM TO BEHOLD THE MANIFESTED PRESENCE OF Goo. Emblem, ritual, and precept were unceasingly employed to remind the Israelites of the holiness of God. They were to observe the sanitary regulations, because " the Lord thy Goel walketh in the midst of the camp." Before their offerings could be accepted they must purify themselves with ablutions. And, above all, they were excluded from the tabernacle where Gocl's dwelling was, and into the Holiest only the high priest could enter once a year. Now every prodigy was the special coming of Jehovah into the midst of Israel. Whilst really present in the nu ceasing operations of nature, nevertheless it was on the occasion of the miraculous that God seemed to put aside the veil and to clraw nigh in person. Hence the need that the Israelites should be sanctified. Holiness consumes impurity as light destroys da1·k- ness. The people must prepare themselves to sto.od in the glory of God's presence. So was it required at tho appeo.ro.nce of the Almighty on Sinai, and before the wondrous shower of quails, and so afterwn.rds for the battle of Ai ; otherwise would "the Lord break forth upon them.'' Whilst we a.re not uncler the terrors ~f. th~ law, yet reverence beseemeth us in our approach to the " Father of our_ sp111.ts. We woulcl not rush heedlessly to communion with Him, nor fall into levity wlule upon our knees. With us, too, there are times when we must sanctify ourselves for the special manifestation of the Divine. Sin o.moogst Christians is n. chief obsta.cla to the o.ccomplishment of signs o.ncl wonders in the nr1me of Jesus. II. SANCTIFICATION WOULD PRE:PARE THEM TO APPRECIATE THE GREATNESS OF TUI, J0SJ:!:UA, Ii. GO THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. [cH. m.1-6.