The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 180

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-Bin corrvmitted. By the narrative before us we are reminded of several characteristics of sin. I. IT DISOBEYS A COMMANDMENT. Only two precepts had been issued at the sacking of Jericho, one to spare Rahab and her family, another to "keep from the accursed thing," and the latter precept was broken. The command was distinct, unmistakable ; no difficulty in comprehending its import. Scripture defines sin as the "transgression of the law." "By the law is the knowledge of sin.'' A prohibition tests man's obedience perhaps even more than an injunction to perform some positive act. The tempter easily lays hold of it, keeps it before the eye, irritates man's self- will, and insinuates doubts respecting the reason of the prohibition. Christ endorsed the moral law of the old dispensation-nay, made it even more stifogent; but He alterll'd the principle of obedience, or, better still, increased the power of the motives to compliance. When we sin we still transgress a law, and sins of wilful commission are, in number, out of all proportion to sins of ignorance. II. SIN IS OFTEN THE EFFECT OF COVETOUS DESIREs.-Achan saw, coveted, and took (ver. 21). The seeing was innocent; the dwelling on the object of sight with desire was sinful. "Coveted" is the same word as used in Gen. iii. 6. "Saw . . . a tree to be deaired." "When lust (desire) bath conceived it bringeth forth sin." The outward object has no power to make us fall except as it corresponds to an inward affection. If the object be gazed upon long, the affection may be inordinately excited, and desire produce sinful action. Hence the counsel of the wise man regarding "the path of the wicked : " "Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away." It is not mixing in the world to perform our duties tl:iat is reprobated, nor even that amount of care which shall secure us an honourable position therein; but such an intent fixing of the eye upon ricl:ies, honow·, pleasure, as denotes a love of the world and the things that are in it. Our affection must be set on things above as the best preservation against the influence of unholy passions; for where the heart is occupied, there evil finds it hard to effect a lodgment. III. SIN ROBS GoD.-All the metals were to be brought to the treasury, to be dedicated to the use of Jehovah (eh. vi. 19). But Achan wished to appropriate a portion to his own ends, thus taking what belonged to God. He set up self in opposition to his God. Sin deprives God not only of gold, but of honour, love, obedience, and the use of those talents committed to men, that they may be faith- ful servants and stewards, not sordid proprietors. From the sinner's heart ascends no sweet incense of faith and love ; in the household of the worlding there is no family altar with its grateful offering of prayer ancl prnise ; the body of the unbeliever, instead of being a temple of God, is part of the kingdom of darkness. IV. SIN IMPLIES A DELIGHT IN WHAT GoD ABOMINATES, The possessions of the Canaanites were placed under the ban; they were denominated " the accursed thing." The Babylonish garment was to have been burnt, and the silver aml golcl could only be redeemed from the curse by being set apart for sacred uses. The very fact that the Almighty had condemned the property should have beeu l!llflicient to deter any one from seeking to seize it. And so with us ; regard for Olli' Father in heaven ought at once to make us shun what He hns declared hateful, ail(l look upon it with aversion ; and belief in His unerring discernment should cause us readily to acquiesce in His judgment, even if at first sight the places and practices condemned do not appear hideous or sinful. The grievous nature of sin is evinced in its betrayal of a hankering after what the laws of Go,1 denounce, and conse- quently its revelation of a character differing from that of God, loving what is unlovely in His sight. v. SIN IN GoD'S PEOPLE IS A VIOLATION OF A COVENANT. Achan ha,1 transgressed the" covenant" (vers. 11 nnd 16), or, as it is expressed in ver._ 1, luul "corumitt_ecl a trespass ''-i.e., a breach of trust-had acted f111thlessly. J er1cho, as the first city taken, was to be ma.de an example of, and therefore none of the spoil was to a::orue to the Israelites, but the plunder of other cities was to be allowe,l to enrich ne THE BOOI{ OF JOSHUA. (cH, VII, 1-/l,