The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 35

Vers. 6-9.-A summons to advance. Moses begins··by reminding the Israelites bow God bad formerly summoned them to march upon Canaan. The summons came to them at Horeb, after_ a sojourn of eleven months. The verses may be applied to illustrate- !. 'l'HE Cmrncn's DANGER-to abide at the mount, to settle down into a state of apathy or simple receptivity. This is met by the call to action-" Ye have dwelt Joni; enough in this mount: turn you, and take your journey" (vers. 6, 7). Notice : 1. Israel's stay at the mount was good while it lasted. There the nation enjoyed a sea.son of rest, ratified its covenant with God, received the Law, constructed a sanctuary, and was otherwise equipped and organized. There must be times of getting, of learning, of consulting for one's own edification, else it will go bard with us in the work and battle of life. But 2, There was a danger that Israel's stay at the mount might last too long. So is it with the Church, when she concentrates her attention too exclusi vcly on her own spiritual improvement, and forgets her mission to the world. Vve have to remember that we get and learn only that we may apply and act. There is the peril of religion becoming a species of enjoyment. We luxuriate in retired communion, in restful fellow- ship with God, in converse with fellow-believers, in Church ordinances; and we think how sweet it would be if this could always last. But we are wrong. It would not be good for us always to be in this state of simple receiving. Religion, divorced from active employment, must soon lose its robustness, and degenerate into a sickly religiosity. There are many, many Christians who have been long enough, and far too long, in the mouut, and it would be well for themselves if they could hear this voice summoning them to go forward. • II. 'l'HE CHURCH'S DESTINY-to possess the land. The type was the land of Canaan; the antitype, so far as it lies in time, is the world, which it is the Church's calling to conquer for Christ, and for her ow·n possession. St. Paul gives this interpretation in Rom. iv.13. Taking the passage in this light, and reading the wider truth into it, we ~et the idea of a land which is: 1. Known to God (ver. 7). Known thoroughly, in all its parts, peoples, districts, conformation, accessibilities, and inaccessibilities. Iu advancing to take possession of the world for Christ, we have the encouragement of thinking that he knows precisely to what kind of work he is sending us, and yet promises success, India, China, Africa, etc.,-he knows them all, yet he says, "Go in and P?Ssess." 2. Gifted by God (ver. 8). It is long since the oracle declared that God h~d given Christ the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession (Ps. ii, 8). 'l'he Church, as one with Christ, shares in his kingdom, and s~all Jet inherit the whole earth. 3. The conquest of which is comrnanded by God. Not, indeed, by carnal weapons, as the Israel_ites were commanded to conquer Canaan, nor yet by the destruction of those against whom we war; but by the nobler weapons of t~e truth, and by seeking men's salvation. This is a benigner method of conquest, ~nd 1t will prove successful if we advance with faith and courage. '!'hose who persist lil hardening themselves must indeed be destroyed; but not by us. The Lord puts no weapon of a kind to injure any into our hands; but bids us leave vengeance with him- self. Our means are the preaching of the gospel, prayer, holy living, organized and be_ne~cent activity to reach the lost sheep of our great communities, and multiplied m1ss1onary agencies in foreign lands.  H THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [on. 1. 1-18,