The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 137

Jericho. 'fhe first erection made by Israel in the promised la.ncl was this stone of remembrance. It was not casually or carelessly done. Goel enjoined it before they crossed, and men were tolcl off to gather the stones fit for such a purpose during the crossing over. The first religious act they did was this memorial act ; ancl tho first bH of Cana.an which they took possession of we.a hallowed as a memorial site. Is there anything analogous to this which we ought to clo? Ancl would there be any aclvantnge in our doing it? Let us see what this action would suggest as our proper course. I. WE SHOULD ALL TAKE SPECIAL MEASURES TO REMEMBER OUR ~IERCIES. For our own sakes memorial stones are not valueless. Our power of recollection is slight, and innumerable things make their claims upon it. Our misfortunes ask loudly to be remembered. The slights we receive, the injuries we endure, the dis- appointments we meet with are clamorous in their appeals to memory. "\-Vhile mercies of Goel, kindness of man, tranquil delights and satisfactions ask to be remembered with only a small still voice which is apt to be drowned in the vulgar din of the other turbulent recollections, there are some memories, aa John Foster phrased it, only rows of hooks to hang grudges on. And when memory so weakly yields to clamour, or so morbidly prefers the poorer subjects of remembrance, every recollection is a depressing burden. We owe it to ourselves to rememher all God's benefits, for the recollection of them is green pastures and still waters when we are weak. It is inspiration when we are depressed. H gives the joyous sense of being loved. It purifies the soul by gratitude. It binds us by the sweetest of all bonds to God's service. It brightens the future by the radiance which is at once most trustworthy and most sweet. It sends us on our way "thanking Goel ancl taking courage." And a wholesome, gracious memory being of such value, we should take pains to cherish it. We should deal with it as with a garden, not permitting any- thing to grow in it which intrudes itself; but we should constantly keep ilown the weeds, and plant, tend, and cherish the flowers of fragrance and of beauty. Keep your heart with all diligence, and esp·ecially this bit of it. And to this end special actions, stones of memory, vows of service, gifts, meditations should all be em- ployed. There is one great stone of memory which, in obedience to the i::iaviour, the Church has raised. The rite of the Lord's Supper was meant to proclaim to those ignorant of it, and to recall to those acquainted with it, the great delinrance wrought on Calvary, ancl the infinite love which permits us to participate in it. Use that memorial; open your heart to its influence. The less in the mood a Christian man is for partaking of that rite, the more does lrn need to do so. It was ordained to jog the indolent memory and to warm the coldness of the heart. Use this memorial, and make it bigger by adding your own contribution to its gracious testimonies. Each tribe laid its stone on the memorial her.p in Gilgal. Each man should c.dd his stone to the memorial everywhere and always rising to the greater clelivernnce Christ works for us. If we should take special measures to remember our mercies in general, so most of all should we do so to remember the infinite mercy of redemption. II. IT IS A DUTY TO REPORT TO OTHERS AS WELL, AS TO REMEMBER FOR OURSELVES, THE MERCIES OF Goo. These stones were a publication of God's dealings to all who subsequently should pass by thn.t way : set up "for the encouragement of pil- grims," as Bunyan would say. Experience may belong to us individually, 1ut the lessons of that experience belong to all who need them. The children of Israel must not "hide God's righteousness (i.e., mercy) within their henrts." They must tell it to the generations following. The story may be told in various ways-in a holiday like the passover, which they will keep; in n song, like l\Iiriam's, which will linger in people's lips and hearts; or in an outward memorial like these stones. Only, Israel must tell its mercies. In a world languishing for want of a he,wenly hope Israel must not be silent. So the memorial is reared-each stone _a tongue telling of God's love a.nd help. Wherever there has been mercy 1·ece1ved, the Saviour requires that that mercy should be recorded for the good of othel'S. lie may, as a temporary precept say, "_Tell no man,'.' to those ~v~~ wou_ltl lose its les- ::ons by proclaiming too eagerly their mercy. But 1f the prolub1t10n of go.rrulons ttml 72 THE HOOK OF JOSHUA. [ea. Iv. 1-24.