Yers. 1-17.-The destruction of Og, King of Baslian. We have here an account of nnothcr conquest, for which the victory over Sihon, King of the Amoritcs, prepared the 1,eu1,le. Dasban was "called the land of the giants" (ver. 13), and Og, the king, was rna11ifc~tly the greatest of the giants-hence the particulars about his bedstead, ns being nine cuLits long and four broad (ver. 11). In a rude age and country,/orce was ~he rccognize:<l ruler, and the biggest man in consequence was chosen chief. It was livrng auJ reigning Ly Bmse and Bi9ltt-thc world's regular way. IIere, then, let us observe thaL- c)ll, 111, 1-20,) TIIE DOOK OF DEU'rtnONOMY.
I. T,m VICTORY OVEn SrnoN, KING OF TJIE AMOnITES, WAS A NEEDFUL PTIEPARATf0',' FOIi TJIE MOllE BEUIOUS ENTEI\PnISE OF THE CONQUEST OF BASIJAN. Th'} Lord leads !,is people, even in war, "from strengt? to strength." T?ey try their sword~ upon tlie Amorites successfully before attemptmg to subdue the giants. They get a taste nf successful war before they nre asked to undertake the greater and more serious task of exterminating the giants of Ilashan. And so it is in fighting the good fight of faith. One little victory over an easily bcsettin"0 sin gives nerve for a greater task. The muscles of the soul grow strong through cxcrcise, and greater victorirs are gained. Faithfulness in the little conducts to faithfulness in thnt which is much (Luke xvi. 10). II. 'flfE GIANTS DY TJIEIR UNWALLED TOWNS PnOVED TJIEIR DITENBE FEELIN(} OJI' sECUnITY. They hnd their strongholds, no doubt, as "the giant cities of Ilashan" still attest. But they had "unwalled towns a great many" (ver. 5). It is evident from this that their sense of personal security was intense. They confided in their size and powors. They imagined no one would have the temerity to attack them. It was tho contrast to" assurance of faith "-what we might call "the assurance of sense." And this characterizes the enemies of God's people more or less a.I ways. Self- confidence is the source of their power and of their misfortune in the end. It is an easy victory eventually which the Lord's people, who have learned to have " no confidence in the flesh" (Phil. iii. 3), obtain over their self-confident foes. Ill. 'fHE VICTORY OVER THE GIANTS WAS COMPLETE, AMOONT~G TO A:-r EXTER- MINATIO!S", "And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sibon, King of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city" (ver. fi). This was absolutely necessary, as well as by the giants deserved. Had such foes been spared in the rear of the invasion, the Israelites would have had no sense of security. lt was impossible to "mask these fortresses," as great armies can sometimes afford to do in modern warfare. It was better to exterminate these foes. They did so as the servants of God: His command was their warrant, and made their act defensible on moral as well as strategic grounds. And the victory God gives his people over their sins and foes is at last complete. IV. THE ALLOTMENT OF BASHAN AND THE LANDS ON THIS SIDE JoUD.!.N GAVE TIIE INVADEns OF CANAAN AN IMPORTANT DASE OF OPERATIONS. No longer would they be, like Sherman in his advance through Savannah, marching on without a base. God gave them in Bashan the leverage they needed. Here they quartered the non- combatants till the land over Jordan was won. And so is it in the spiritual life. Out of one conquest future conquests are or~:rnized. We go forward in God's guidance along a safo path to perfect victory.-R. M. E.
Vers. 18-20.-The pioneers of the invasion of Palestine. Here the Rcubenites, Gadites, and Manassites nro directed to" intern" their wives, little ones, and cattle in the cities of Bashan, which were uow literally free from the race of the giants, and then to go armed across the Jordan before their fello,~s, the van of the invading host. These pioneers become thus the least encumbered of the invaders. Their non- combatants are safe in the cities of Ilashan, their cattle are in good pastures, they may go with easy minds and light hearts to the war. Their purpose in the invasion is not selfish, but perfectly disinterested. They go to fight for their brethren, and to carve out homes for them beyond the river. We have here a Divine law, as it seems to us, of very practical application. To sketch this let us notice- I. Gon GIVES REST AND INJIERITANCE TO INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY MA.Y INTEREST ;'IIEM_SELVES IN SECURING SIMILAR DLESSINGS FOR OTHERS. Begiuning with the lowest Inhentancc, we would'observe that, when God gives individuals riches, it is not that they may be excused from public work, but enabled for it. A servant of God who finds himself wealthy is not superannuated, but supported for public ends. He is bound to no all he can with and by his means. Ilut this law has a still happier spiritual side. When God blesses us with assurance of sulv~tion, it is that his way may be known on earth, and his saving health among al) I1at1ons (Ps. lxvii. 1, 2). He makes us peaceful and happy in Christ that ',t"C may, with unburdened spirits, seok the sal va.tion of those around W!. 56 '!'HE noott OF DEUTERONOMY, [on. ut, 1.~20
II. A~sURANCE OF SALVATION SHOULD THEREFORE BE BOUGHT DY EACII OF UB ON PUnLIC (lROlTNDS. It is not a personal matter only, but a public interest ns well. 'l'ho w0rl<l will be less benefited by us if we are constantly in doubt nbo11t personal s11lvntion. "'e are in such a case marching without a base. It is a risky kind of wnrfaro. Let us seek from God, on public grounds, the priceless blessing of assurance, and then we shall be able to lose sight of self in seeking the common wenl. III. DISINTERESTEDNESS IS TilE SECRET OF SUCCESSFUL WARFARE, The Reubenit.es and their fellows in the van must have commanded the respect not only of those behind them, hut of the Canaanites with whom they had to contend. It wns the first time, since Abraham's rescue of Lot, that warriors had appeared from purely disinterested motives in the field of battle. And in matters spiritual it is the same. 'fhe ministry of Christ is, speaking generally, an ill-paid profession. There is the less chance, then, of men entering this service for a piece of bread. Disinterestedness is more likely to be the rule. With other Christinns it is the same. \Vhen people are compelled to recognize disinteres.tedness, the chief pnrt of the battle is won. IV. 'l'HE THOUGHT OF RAVING HELPED OTHERS TO REST IN THE LORD ENHANCES OliR OWN REST IN RIM. The Reubenites, etc., must hnve come back to their homes in Bashan with great satisfaction. They felt that they had done a good, unselfish work in the campaign. They were not fighting for their own hand, but for the welfare of others. So in the spiritual warfare, when we become instruments in God's hand in leading others to rest in him, we find our rest deepened and made more glorious, May it be the joy of many !-R. M. E.