,crs. 2G-3i.-Tlie conquest of Sihon. Sihon, though an .Amorite, was not to be. unconditionally destroyed. He had, like Pharaoh, an opportunity given him of avert- ing ruin by acceding to a most courteous and reasonable request·; but, liko Pharaoh in this respect also, be hardened his heart, and took the course which made his destruc- tion ine\-itable. We are led to consider- !. SrnoN's OPPORTUNITY. (Vers. 2G-30.) It was not given him in the hope that be would avail himself of it; for it was foreseen that he would refuse it and be hardened by it. But the sinner's hardness of heart is not a reason why the opportunity of securing bis salvation should be withheld from him, or why every gracious means should not be employed to overcome bis hardness. It is, indeed, necessary. that this should be done, in order that the responsibility or his ruin may rest entirely on him- self. It lay in the counsel of God that this king's territory should be given to the Israelites, but only on condition of his refusal of the request made to him. It was otherwise with the gift of Canaan, which was absolute, and permitted of no overtures of 1:ieac;; being made to the inhabitants. Their day of grace was past: to Sihon there still remained this last momentous and decisive opportunity. The last opportunity will come some day to all who harden themselves in sin (cf. Matt. xxiv. 37, 38; Luke xix. 42). This message of Moses to Sihon was: 1. Peaceable (ver. 26), Peaceful means should be exhausted in a cause before resorting to force. 'fbey should be exhausted even with those who are not likely to be influenced by them. This is due to the cause, due to ourselves, and due to the person approached. Men must at least have the oppor- tunity given them of acting reasonably and generously. 2. Courteous (vers. 27, ~8). No rucssage could have been couched in more modest or conciliatory terms. A courteous tone is to be adopted towards men, even when we foresee that they will not reciprucatt. it. 3. Perfectly sincere. 'l'his was proved by the justness of Moses' dealings with Edom and Moab, to which he makes reference (ver. 29). 4. Justified b!J necessity. Only thus could they reach the land which God had giveu them (ver. 29). cm. u, 1-37.) THE DOOK OF DEUTERONOMY, 41
II. SmoN'B ODSTINA0Y. "The Lord thy God hardened his spirit, and made his )icr1rt obstinate" (vcr. 30); not, indeed, by any evil influence exerted on his soul, but by giving him up to his naturally obdurate disposition, and by placing him in circum- 8 tanrcs which he knew would have a hardening effect, though in themselves of a character fitted rather to soften, 1. 'l'he hardening of the heart, so far as it is a result of evil course~, is a worlc of God operating in the laws of our mental and moral r,ature. Sin naturally operates to blind the mind, sear the conscience, destroy the generous nfTcctions, etc. Dut these effects arc as truly a judicial operation of God in the soul, of a punitive nature, as 1:Yas the _Flood, the de~tyuction of_ the cities of the plain, orany other outward express10n of his wrath. 2. I he harden mg of the heart, so far as 1t is the result of acts of providence, is a work of God operating in the moral governrnent r/ the world. Doth mercies and judgments have a hardening effect on those who refuse to be taught by them. This result, foreseen by God, may be also willed, as a jnst punishment for voluntary transgression (Isa. vi. 9, 10); while, as a forese'cln fact, ,i sinner's hardness of heart may be taken up as a link in the further development of God's purposes. 3. The hardening of the heart, as flowing from influences which ouaht rather to have melted and subdued it, is a result for which the sinner himself is ju;tly held responsible. God wills not the death of any. '.!.'he mingled goodness ancl severity of his dealings with men are meant to lead them to repentance. But the very things which are designed to produce a softening and converting effect on souls, are those which frequently harden and sear them-the discipline of sorrow, the preaching of the gospel, warnings and expostulations, etc. Hardness induced by such causes is the most invincible of all, and brands the obdurate transgressor as ripe for God's ju<lg- ments (Prov. xxix. 1). III. SrnoN's DESTRUCTION, (Vers. 32-37.) 1. It was self-sought. "Then Sihon came out," etc. (ver. 32). The sinner's destruction is of his own seeking. 2. It was achieved by Divine aid. "The Lord our God delivered him before us" (ver. 33). So arc all spiritual victories. It is the Church's comfort in her conflicts to know that she has this power to depend on. 3. It was total. "Utterly destroyed" (ver. 3-!). A type of the utter destruction awaiting all who resist and oppose the Divine will; said of the Church, "The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish" (Isa. Ix. 12) ; of Christ, "Every soul which will not hear that .prophet shall be destroyed from among the people" (Acts iii. 23; cf. 2 Thess. i. 9, 10).-J. 0.