The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 206

some_ spot like _Shech~m ai:id distinctly realised their duty in connection with it-the blessmgs of diach11rgmg it, the curses of neglecting it ; and then low at God's altn:r had hallowe~ 1111. Our own is n_ot ours to do with as we please. Property has duties 11a well as ng!it_s; i:ind all mercies should be hallowed b_y cherishing a lively sense of the respons1bihtiea attendant on them. Have you gamed a footin.a0 in a.ny Canaan of your hopes? Build your altar and listen to God's law. III. Observe: JosHuA'a FIRST BUILDING IS AN ALTAR, NOT A FORTRESS. You would not have been surprised to find him taking Shechem and fortifying it, raising thus a central fortress in the land. But he builds not a fortress, but an altar; and raises not the storied monument of his victories, but a register of God's law. It is a striking and characteristic thing, this altar-rearing in such circumstances. And yet the altar, by its inspiration, contributes more to the power of the people than any fortress could by its security. The aoul ia the seat of power, in the individual, the army, the nation; and Joshua takes the directest means to increase and perpetuate the nation's strength when he builds an altar, and links at once the old land and the new people to God. No people will lack country, safety, freedom, that .rears altars to the living God. Let religion die out in any people and liberty will not very long survive. What we want for strength and joy in life is some great interest, a grave duty, a sublime hope. When Joshua raised this altar, and thereby quickened the religious life of the people, he was doing far more than if he had mised walls or gathered chariots. God is a nation's only fortress. To have Him in us is to be secure. IV. Lastly observe: THE WISE MAN SEEKS TO MAKE RELIGION INTELLlGENT. The priestly instinct would have been satisfied with the sacraments of Gilgal ; but Joshua adds instruction at Shechem. All the people, the aged, the children, warriors, and women, the true Israelite and the hangers-on, have the entire law read to them; and to increase the intelligent knowledge of Gocl's will, the law is painted like frescoes on tablets raised on the mountain. God wants intelligent service. Ignorance is the mother of superstition, not of devotion. "God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him not only in spirit "-that is-in sincerity; but in truth-that is, with intelligence, understanding Him-giving Him the sort of homage which is His due. To my judgment, there is a savour of sound Protestanism in this gathering at Shechem. The people taught, the law imparted to all This is a sort of preJude of the reign of the open Bible-a religion addressed to the minds and hearts and consciences of men, All true religion has its Slrnchem as well as its Gilgal, its teachings of truth and duty as well as its observance of the sacraments. We should all seek light; reverent, but still self-respectful; too serious to "make believe," too truthful to shut our eyes. The higher our reason, the heartier will be our religion. Joshua taught the people the law, and when printing was impossible, published it on the frescoes of Gerizim. We only do well when we do our best to make" all the congregation of Israel, with the women and the little ones, and the strangers that are conversant among them,'' familiar with the law and the gospel of the grace of God.-G. Vera. 30-3/i.-Sacrifice and law. This religious solemnity is a fulfimeut of the command given by Moses in Deut. xxvii. It is expressive of the fidelity of Joshua to the sacred traditions of the past, and his loyalty to the Divine order and the Divine authority. The time is appropriate for such public homage to be paid to the God of Israel. It is the " right hand of the Lord" that has done so valiantly in the recent victories ; to Him be all the glory. The land has been taken possession of in His name ; let it be consecrated henceforth to Him by this solemn act of worship. The solemnity consists of two parts-(1) the build- ing of an altar and offering of sacrifice, (2) the inscription and proclamation of the law. I. SACRIFIOE, This was at once an acknowledgment of the sovereignty of God, and a renewal of the covenant by which the people and their inheritance were devoted to Him. There were two kinds of sacrifice, "burnt offerings '' and " peace offerings." It is doubtful how far the distinction between these can, in this case, be JOSHUA, L  THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. [ CH. VIII, 80-1J5,