Vers. 11-26.-Canaan gradually won. The winning of the whole land seemed a "rcat task-too great for sense and sight. But the Divine programmes, though com- prehensive, are taken in detail. 'l'he Israelites are to win: the country little by little, and remove the people gradually. In this patient work they may expect the co-operation of God. I. 'l'HE WORK DEFORE us SEEMS OF OVERPOWERmG DIMENSIONS. Must we win a victory over all the evil within us? and then contemplate a victory over all the evil around us? Both problems are vnst. The more we know our own hearts, the greater seems the extent to be won. 'fhe more wo know of the world around us, the morn appalling seems the proposal of God. It is a great work we are asked to do certainly. II. IlUT DY-PAST DELIVERANCES OF GOD ARE INTE'."IDED TO Il.EDIFORCE OUR FAITfl. J u~t as the mighty deliverance from Egypt was set before the Israelites to encourage them in their invasion, so our individual conversion should reinforce our faith in the power of God. The God who can conquer such hearts as ours can surely help us in further conquests. We hope for victory because of victory already won. III. VICTORY IN DETAIL IS BETTER THAN VICTORY WHOLESALE. We imagine that victory at once over all internal and external enemies would be better than victory covering long years and entering into v,1st details. But, if Israel had been able to smite all the Ca.naanites dead at a blow, the beasts of the :field would have so overrun the land that it would have been reduced to wilderness, instead of being a land of promise.· It is better, therefore, to overcome the Canaanites gradually. They will protect the inheritance from the wild beasts till the heirs arrive. Jn like manner, it is better- I. To beat our sins in detail. We are better acquainted with our own nature and God's grace when we have to deal with our sins in detail. We get gradually better and purer and more humble. This is better than a leap into perfection out of sin. 2. It is better to win the world in detail. God is not going to give the earth to bis people some fine morning, anu save us the trouble of winning it. It is better for us to plod on, 11'inning country after country, and individual after individual, and the whole world at last. 3. The piomised land is to be made a holy land. The Israelites were to remove the Canaanites and their abominable modes of life and worship, to make of Palestine a holy land. Jerusalem--,-Elkoods-the holy city, is to be the expression of the Divine idea. Let us c-onform our hopes to God's magnificent designs, believing that the gradual is generally ~he best, the microscopic work the most beautiful in the end.-R. M. E.
EXPOSITION. good. He humbled them that he might CHAPTER VIII. test the state of their heaxt and affections FURTHER EXHORTATION TO ODEDIENCE, EN• towards him. using the distress aud privn- FORCED BY A REVIEW OF Goo's DEALINGS tions to which they were subjected as menus WITH ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS. of bringing out what Willi in them, e.nd of Vers.1-6.-Thnt they might be induced leading them to feel their en tire clependeuc" the more faithfully to observe 1111 the com- on him for help, sustenauce, aud guidance. mandments which h11d been enjoined upon Not only by commands difficult to be obeyed them so as to go on 11nd prosper, they are laid on men, an,I by mighty works done in c11\\cd to remember the experiences of the their view, doos God prove men (cf. Gen. forty yc11rs iu tho wilderness, wh~n God xxii. 1, etc.; Exocl. xv. 25; x:i:. 20); but als'l guide,! them and clis,,iplinecl them for their by afflictions an:\ c1\lomities (JuJ.g. ii. 22; 152 TUE IlOOK OF DEU1'E IWNOl\tY. [Cil. Vilt. 1--20.