The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 46

I. 'l'mll FAOT OF TUJB WILDERNESS DISCIPLINE. We need not exaggerate. \Ve admit nil thnt crm be snid of the world ns a fair and delightful residence, in which we havo much to mako us happy. Dut it cannot be denied that the picture has a darker side. '!'ho man who has drunk deepest of the world's pleasures is he who can tell best how unsntisrying it is ns a portion for the spirit. There are more sad and weary hearts in this samo world than n glnnco nt the surface of society would lead us to suspect. '!'here arc numbers to whom lifo is one hard, dreary, terrible, hopeless stmggle with adverse conditions. 'fhc joy of n life is often blighted by a solitary stroke; and in how many cnses docs some secret grief embitter what seems from the outside a prosperous exist- ence I The believer is no moro exempt than others from these ordinary griers of life- from poverty, trial, pain, bereavement. But he has thoughts and feelings of his own, which add to the pain of his situation. He is a Christian, and contact with the world's evil tries and grieves him as it will not do a worldly man. His hope is beyond, and this makes earth, with its imperfect conditions, its broken ideals, its unsatisfied yearnings, seem drearier to him. Like his Master, his ear is quicker to catch the strain of human woe-" the still sad music of humanity "-than the strain of noisier mirth. All this compels him to look at life prevailingly under an aspect of privation, discipline, and trial, and it is in no unreal sense th.tt' he speaks of it as the "wilderness." When troubles crowd on him, it is literally, as to others, "waste and howling," a. "great and terrible " desert. II. THE ENDS OF THIS WILDERNESS DISOIPLINE. These are numerous. 1. In part the discipline is inevitable-bound up with the conditions of existence in a world "made subject to vanity." Dut: 2. The discipline is useful. (1) It tries and proves the heart (eh. viii. 2). (2) It inures to hardship. (3) It develops the nobler qualities of character -faith, patience, resignation, etc. (Rom. v. 3). (4) It makes the rest sweeter when it comes (Rev. vii. 14; xiv. 13).-J. 0. Ver. 21.-Courage. "Fear not, neither be discouraged" (cf. Josh. i. 7, 9). I. Goo's WORK NEEDS COURAGE. 1. The enemies are many. 2. The enemies are strong. 3. Humanly speaking, we are feeble in comparison with them. Distinguishing between real and nominal Christianity, it might be plausibly held that there is to-day greater talent, intellectual power, wealth, rank, and social influence enlisted on the side of unbelief than on the side of faith. But the true citadel of unbelief is the evil heart; and what powers of our own are sufficient to storm ihat? II. IN Goo's WORK THERE rs EVERY REASON FOR COURAGE. 1. God is with us. Our cause is his cause. 2. He has promised victory, and he is able to keep his promise. 3. The past should encourage us. The Church can never come through greater conflicts than those in which she has already proved herself victorious.-J. 0. Vers. 22-32.-The mission of the spies. We see from two instances in this chapter how God's plans leave wide room for the independent action of the humau mind. Moses got the su.!!gestion of appointing judges from Jethro; the idea of sending spies to reconnoitre the Holy Land originated with the people. The source from which it came made the motive of it doubtful, but as in itself a measure of prudence, Moses was well pleased \l"ith it, and, with God's permission, adopted it. We have here- I. A POLICY OF OAUTION. Caution is in itself a virtue. It is never wise to rush into undertakings without well-planned measures. The more knowledge we have to guide us in entering upon difficult duty the better. The sending out of these spies was fittetl to procure for the Israelites valuable information as to the nature of the land, the best mode of attack, the state of feeling among the inhabitants, etc. The Church would do well to improve upon the hint thus given, and have men out on the field, to keep a sharp wakh on the fortifications and movements of the enemy,and bring back intelligence which may encourage, guide, or otherwiso help those whose time and thought cue devoted to the actual warfare. II. AN UNEXPECTED RESULT OF THAT POLICY. The spies, with two exceptions, brought back a most disheartening and ill-advised report. We see here the danger of a policy of caution, when that springs from over-fearfulness or an original indisposition t_o advance. When caution is divorced from courage, and gets the upper hand, its natural tendency is to neutralize enthusiasm, to concentrate atteution on difficulties, to 21-l 'l'HE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [cu. t. lD-4.6.