The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 413

Yers. 14-16.-The grand. choice. Joshua's words derive added force from the historic nssociations of the place in which he utter~d them. Shechem_ was not only ~ scene of great natura) beauty, but one arou1;1d winch lingered memones peculiarly m harmony with the cmmmstances of the trme. Here Abl'ltham first pitched his tent and raised an altar,consecrating that spot to the living God-a witness against the heathen abominations of the Canaanites who dwelt in the land. Here, probably under the same oak, _Jacob_ buried the "strange gods "-the teraphim and the amulets that some of his family had brought from Padano.ram-in token of his resolute renunciation of these sinful idrlatries. What more fitting place could be found for a solemn appeal like this to the tribes to remain true to the God of their fathers? Besides which, J o~hua's v_enerable. age, the blameless integrity of Ins character, and the renown of Ins exploits as their leader, gave such weight to his appeal that they would well deserve the threatened penalties if they failed to profit by it. Certain important principles of religious life are illustrated in this appeal- I. THE SER1"ICE OF GOD IS A MATTER OF FREE PERSONAL CHOICE. " Choose you this day," &c. The simple alternative they were called on to decide was, either the service of the Lord Jehovah, or the service of the false gods of Egypt and of ihe Amorites. Ko middle course was open to them. There could be no compromise. It must be one thing or the other-let them choose. And substantially the same altern:1tive is before every man in every age. There is something to which he pays supreme homage, and it is either to the great invisible King, the only living and true God, or else to the idols, more or less base, of his own self-will or of the vain world around him. (1) It is the glory of our nature that we can make such a choice. God has so constituted us that this self-determining power is. one of our most essential prerogatives. And in His dealings with us he always respects the nature He has given. He never violates the law of its freedom. That were to destroy it. No man is compelled to serve Him, nor yet forbidden Ly any imperious necessity of his being or hfe to do so. Human nature knows nothing either of necessary eru or irresistible grace. (2) This freedom of choice gvves worth to every religious "~t. There would be no moral worth in anything we do without it. The basis of all personal responsibility, it is also the condition of all moral goodness and acceptable service. God would have nothing at our hands that is not -..oluntarily rendered. If we would serve Him at all, His service must be our free unfettered choice. II. IT IS A CHOICE DETERMINED BY RATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS. .. If it seem evil," &c. Joshua sets the alternative with perfect fairness before them that they may weigh the conflicting claims and judge accordingly. If these gods of the heathen are really nobler, better, more worthy of their gratitude and trust than the Lord J eho-..ah, then by all means let them follow them I But if the Lord be indeed God, if they owe to Him all that gives sanctity to their national character, and glory to their national history, then let them put these "strange gods" utterly and for ever from them, and cleave to Him with an undivided heart. It is a deliberate judgment between contrary and wholly irreconcilable paths to which they are called. Religion is our "reasonable service " (Rom. vii. 1). It is no blind act of self-surrender. It involves the consent of all onr powers-the mind embracing divinely discovered truth, the heart yielding to gracious heavenly influence, the conscience recognising a supreme obligation, the will bowing to that higher will which is "holy and just and good." No man is called to declare for God without sufficient reason. Ill. IT IS A CHOICE WRICH CERTAIN CRITICAL OCCASIONS MAKE TO BE SPECIALLY IMPERATIVE. "Choose you this day," &c. "This day" above all other days- because the motives to it a.re stronger to-day than ever; because the matter is one that it is neither right nor safe to defer to another day. While self-consecration to the service of God is a perpetual obligation, there are seasons of life in which it is peculiarly urgent, when many voices combine with unwonted emphasis to say, '' now is the accepted time," &c. (1) Youth, (2) times of adversity, (3) times of special religious privilege or awakening, (4) times when new social relations are ueing formed, and new paths of life e.re opening. CID, XXIV, 1-28.) THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. 365