The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 203

HOMILETICS. Yers. 30-35.-The Betting up the law. The provision for the due observance of God's law was one of the most remarkable features of the invasion of Canaan by Joshua. Twice was the command given in Deuteronomy by Moses (Deut. xi. 29, 36, and xXlii. 2-13), and the spot fixed on beforehand, no doubt because of its central position in Palestine. We have already observed, in the notes on eh. v., on the scrupulous care to faljil the provisions of the law with which the invasion of Canaan was co=enced. The present is an event of the same iharacter. Joshua forbears to press further his warlike operations in the land, until he has pushed his way to the central point, and anticipated the conquest he is about to make by setting up there the law which was to be obseived in it, when it had become the possession of the Israelites. The following considerations suggest themselves : I. JosHu.1:s FAI1'H. A£. in the case of the circumcision, so here, obedience is superior to all earthly considerations. From a worldly point of view this march from Ai to Gerizim while the nations of Cane.an are still unsubdued was a hazardous and foolish act. Modem philosophers would deride it ; modern public opinion would condemn it. But it is just here that modern opinion requires cor- rection by God's Word. When a thinker of the present day, not usually regarded as superstitious or fanatical, tells us we have "forgotten God,'' it may be worth while to ask whether He is still a factor in the problem of life with statesmen, generals, and politicians. No doubt there is a superstitious way of carrying out the principle here indicated. So there was, as has already been pointed out, among the Israelites, when they took the ark to battle with them, fancying it could act as a talisman which could secure them from the consequences of their own sins. Yet we ruo.y "l"enture to commend the scrupulous regard for God's commands shown by the Christian Indians in North America, who were willing voluntarily to forego the large take of fish-and they got their living by fishing-which offered itself to them on the Lord's day, rather than the conduct of the clergyman, who, seeing a glint of sunshine on a wet summer's day while he was preaching, led his flock into the harvest-field, though it was Sunday, because, as he said, it was wrong to allow God's good gifts to be wasted. There may be much to be said on both sides. Yet it were well at least to allow that faith is superior to sight, and obedience to expediency. We may be assured that in all cases a strict obedience to God's pre- cepts, and a sublime disregard of consequences when duty is involved, is the only path a sincere Christian can possibly follow. This is true whether (1) national, (2) commercial, or (3) private interests are involved. The nation which deliberately adopts a wrong policy, or refuses to carry out a right one, because it is its interest to do so, will moBt assuredly reap its reward. The commercial transaction which ill its efforts after profit neglects the plain co=and of God shall in the end bring more harm than good. The man who habitually sets aside God's commands for his own private ends shall" reap his reward, whosoever he be." II. CIRCUMCISION VERILY PBOFITETH IF THOU KEEP THE LAW, Joshua here  OIi, VIII, 80-85.J THE BOOK OF JOSHUA, 143