IV. IT 18 A CDOIOE ENCOURAGED BY NOBLE PERSONAL EXAMPLES. "As for me and my house," &c. Here is an example (1) of manly resolution, (2) of the strength that ca,n dare to stand a,lone, (8) of family piety directed by paternal authority and influence. 8~ch an exa,mple has an inspiring effect above that of mere persuasive words. It qmckens and strengthens every germ of better thou<>ht and feelin" in the brea,sts of men. There iB no stronger incentive to religions life than the obnser- va,tion of the exemplary forms it assumes in others (1 Cor. iv. 15, 16; Phil. iii. 17). V. IT IS A CHOICE THAT MUST LEAD TO APPROPRIATE PRACTICAL CONCLuSIONS, "Nov.: ther~f?re put away," &c. (~er. 28). The honesty of their purpose, the reality of their dec1B1on, could be shown m no other way. They only have living faith in God who are" careful to maintain good works" (Titus iii. 8; James ii. 18).-W. Ver. 15.-0hoice and decillion. After exhorting the people to fear and serve the Lord, J oshull, calls to them t~ consider the alternative of rejecting Him, and to make a decisive choice. It is well to be brought to a practical decision in full view of all the issues which face us. These may be clea.rly seen. Truth does not shua the light. Christianity can well bear comparison with all other systems of worship and modes of life. I. THE CALL TO CHOOSE. (1) We rtre/ree to choose. Joshua is the leader of the people, yet he does not command submission to God, and forcibly compel it. He exhorts, but he leaves the choice open. God has left our wills free to choose or to reject Him. This liberty is essential to voluntary service-the only ser.ice which is true and spiritua.l. God would not value forced devotion. The worth of de.-otion depends on its free willingness. Yet the freedom God accords is not relea~e from obligation, but only exemption from compulsion. It is still our duty to serve God. (2) We cannot serve God without voluntarily choosing Him for our Master. This is a consequence of our liberty. We shall never come to be truly Christian by accident, or by the unconscious influence of a Christian atmosphere. Religion depends on a decisive action of the will. This need not be so sudden and pro- nounced as to ta.ke the dramatic form it assumes in the narrative before us, and in some cases of sudden conversion. But the fact must be proved by a consequent decisive course of life. (3) Indecision is e. fatal error. We may not choose the evil, yet we practically abandon ourselves to it while we refrain from choosing the good. In ordinary life indecision is a sure co.use of failure ; so it is in religion. Though we may doubt many points of doctrine, if only we know enough for choice we must not hesita.te in the region of practice. (4) There is no reason for delay. Joshua. ca.lled for immediate decision. This is most safe, most easy, and secures the longest life of service (Heh. iii. 7). II. THE ALTERNATIVES OF CHOICE. (1) Joshua a.nticipated the position of those to whom it might "seem evil to serve the Lord." This might arise (a) from mis- understa.nding the character of God's service, (b) from fea.r of the inevitable sacrifices and toils which it involves, or (c) from lingering affection for the evil things which must be abandoned on entering upon it. (2) J oshue. che.llenged the people to choose whom they would serve if they rejected the Lord. It is well not only to defend the truth, but to show the difficulties which must be faced if this is rejected. We should look at our prospect all round. It is not fair to object to the difficulties of Christianity until we ha.-e weighed well the consequence of a.ny other course of life. We must have some God. lsra.el must choose-if not for Jehovah, then for the gods of their fathers or the gods of their neighbours. There is irony in Joshua's way of setting out the alternatives. Either the people must go back to the past, deliverance from which they are now rejoicing at, or they must accept the worship of those gods whom they have defied and defea.ted in the o..-erthrow of their enemies. If we have not God we must follow the world, Sa.ta.n-our evil pa.st, or the worsi foes of our present welfare. III. THE EXA.MPLE OF DECISION FOR Gon. Joshua chooses independently of the popular choice. He is not swa.y_ed by the opinion of the mul~itude. Rather he would guide it by exa.mple. It 1s weak to refuse to choose till we see how the world will choose. Truth and right are not affected by numbers. Every ma.n l\66 THE BOOK OF JO SHU A. [CH. XXIV. 1-28,
mnst make the great choice for himself. (1) Joshua first chose for hiinsclj. We must be decided before we oau influence others aright. Yet let us beware lest in ~nnng ot,hers we om·sekes become ca~taways (1 Cor. ix. 27). (2) Joshua nlso chose for /11~ ho!'-Sc. ·we should eeek to b~'.lng stran~ers to the right way, but our first dnty 1s with our own household. It 1s a good sign when a man is able to speak for the decision of his house.-W. F. A.