Vers. l--4.-Service and reward. I. THE SERVICE. This is characterised by the following points of merit : 1. Obedience to discipline. The two tribes and_ the half tribe are co=ended for obedience to their supreme commanders. Soldiers, servants, employes, all persons under authority, shoul~l recognise the_ cluty of lo~·al obedience from the heart, and perform it (a) conscient10usly-" not with eye-service as men-pleasers;" (b) diligently-working as laboriou~ly as if for their ow':' pleasme; and (c) cheerfully. 2. Bi·otherly-kindness. These tribes had not left_tbeir br~th_ren. They had been foremost in conquering Canaan for them. Humaruty,_patr10tism, and Christianity should lead us to la,bour unselfishly for the welfare ot the world, our country, a,nd fellow Christi1ms. 3. Faithfulness _to Go~; These tnbes hatl "kept the charge of the commandment of the Lord their <?od. _We have a charge from God to keep. Our duty is not confi1:1ed to our relat10ns mt~ men; we _have duties to God (Mai. i. 6). Even our duties to men should_ ~e chschar~ed with a supreme regard to the will of God (Col. iii. 22), and our religious devotion should guide and inspire us in human duties. . II. THE REWARD. This is marked by the followmg features: 1. It is delaye,l I ill 826 THE BOOR. OF JOSHP A, [en. XXII. 1-34.
f/,r s.-·,·,·irr i.• ro111plrfe. The Reubenites aud thei.i- associates were the earliest tribes to ha Ye an _iuherit,mce apportioned to them; but they were tile latest to enter lllt-0 possession of it,, Thus the first a,re last. ,Ye m1rnt not expect the rewards of faithfulness befo1·e our work is complete. It is wrong to desire to lrnsteu t-0 0111' heawuly reward at the neglect of earthly duty. The "rest which remaineth_" is secure, though the enjoyment of it is delayed. The force of Gocl'a prou11ses 1s not wea,keued by time. 2. It is so appointed as to satisfy the desire.• of tlwsr ,vl,o receive it. The two tribes and the half tribe preferred to settle on the east of ,T ordan, and they were permitted to do so. As they chose for themselveA they must ta,ke the consequences, whether for good or for ill. Goel allows us much liberty in shaping our own destinies. "lieu He does not give us what we desire, the_ refuse,! is not a1:bitrary but merciful. In the end He will give us our hea,rt's desu-e-e1ther the tlung we desire uow, or something else to which He will incline our hearts. so that we shall desire that. As there are Yarieties of dispositions among Christia,us, so there will be differences in the hea,veuly reward. 3. It takes the form of rest and peacef,il occupation. The army is disba,nded. Warfare was 11, t~mporary necessity ; it was not to be regarded a,s a const&ut occupation. Home- life 1s most natural and most blessed by God. '.rhe spiritua,l wa,rfare of Christians is only tempora1-y. It will be followed by (a) rest, (b) reunion, (c) the home-life of beaven.-W. F. A.
Yer. 5.-LoyaU11 to God in separation fro,;i the Olvurch. I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES. OF TRIAL. 1. Isolation. The Reubeuites and theil- associa,tes ha,d chosen a,n inheritance which would separate them from their brethren. There was da,nger lest the separation should injure their fidelity to God. The influence of Christia,n exa,mple and the sympathy of the Church are grea,t a,ids to devotion. When these_ are lost special care is needed to prevent devotion from growing·cold. This a,pplies (a) to those who go from their homes to business occupations which separa,te them- from old religiollB associa,tions, (b) to those who leave their country for the colonies:. &c. 2. Evil surrou-ndJings. These tribes were about to settle amongst a bea,theu population. In addition to the loss of the good exa,mple of theil- brethren's devotion, they would become liable to the injurious influence of ba,d associa,tes. If duty ca,lls us to fo·e a,mongst those whose lives are unchristian we need to be watch- ful against the fatal influence of their example. Lot was injured by living in Sodom, 3. The cost of religious ordinances. Though these tribes esta,blished worship for themselves, they must ha,ve missed the good of the tabema,cle services. They -who live beyond the rea,ch of such religious ordina,nces as they have found profitable in the past-as in lonely country places, or the backwoods of colonies-should be, on their guard ag&inst the spiritual deadness which may result unless _they are assiduous in priva,te devotion. The proximity of a suitable place of worship should be a first considera,tion in the choice of an a,bode. Convenience, society, health, beauty of situation are too often considered to the neglect of this important requisite. Heads of familie, should know how much this affects the character a,nd destinies of their children. I. THE DUTY OF LOYALTY. The duty is illustrated in various phra,ses tha,t it ma,y be made clear and be well insisted on. This is no small matter. It should euga,ge our chief attention. Severa,! points are here included, viz., 1. Devotion of heart. This is the root of true loyalty. It springs (a) from personal love to God, and cleav- ino- to Him; (b) from the service of inward desire-serving with the hea,rt; (c) from th~roughness-serving with the whole hea,rt. 2. Obedience in life. This ~s "to walk in all His ways." True loyalty does not confine itself to t\ie secre_t desJres of the heart. It comes out in the life. There it is not only seen m defimte a,cts but in the general comse of conduct. W' e a1·e not to be faithful only in supreme moments, but to walk obediently-to continue a consta,ut course of obedience. 3. Diligence in fulfilling God's commands. (a) These tribes were to take heed• . W_e need thought to consider what is God's will, and care to see that we are dorng it. (b) They were to keep God's comnna,ndments. The details of ,;luty must be observed after we ha.vr cultiva,ted the generaJ.}ipirit of (levotion.-W. F. A. CH. XXII. 1-84. 1 THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. 327