The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 347

of action prescribed and the consequence promised cannot possibly bo regarded ea cause and effect. 'l'he marching round the city, the blowing of rams' horns and the uttering of great shouts, cannot by any stretch of imagination be looked upo~ even as meR~s for !evelling strong city walls to the ground. Sn?h p_roceedings have no necessary rel_ation w_11.~ such a result, If related at all, the relation 1s altogether arbitrary. The thmgs enJomed upon the Israelites were simply conditions with which they were to com1_1ly-tes1s of faith ancl obedience; and the Lord guaranteed. a certain result upon the fl~lfilrnent of t~e conditions. .And without raising any objections or proposing any questions they believed his word. "Theire not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why." Aild if we are assured of his will in any matter, we should follow it irrespective of appearances and of probabilities as they present themselves to our minds. When he commands, it is ours to obey. When he promises, it is ours to accept the promise leaving the method of its fulfilment to him. ' III. FAITH MANIFESTED IN PRACTICAL OBEDIENCE. The Israelites proved the reality of their faith in the Divine communication by complying with its requirements. "It came to pass, ,vhen Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests," etc. (Josh. vi. 8-20). Genuine faith always leads to a course of conduct in harmony with its own character (cf. Jas. ii. 14-26). IV. FAITH LEADING TO PERSEVEilING OBEDIENCE EVEN WHEN NO APPARENT EFFECT WAS rnoDUCED BY THEIR ACTION. The Israelites went round the city as they were directed, "but not a brick of the walls fell ; and they went round a second time, and a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth time, and still all the bricks were there, firmly cemented, and the walls stood. '!'he defenders of Jericho would look on those wonderful walkers, and one can imagine them saying, 'It is a new mode of assault you are adopting. "\Vo wonder how long you will have to walk before the walls fall ; ,T ericho will stand for a long time if it is to be taken by walking.' Nevertheless, the Israelites beld in thejr bands the promise, and they felt it in their hearts," and they persevered in their obedience notwithstanding the utter absence of any sign of success. They completed the prescribed process, and then their obedience was rewarded with success. And in our case, faith and obedience must be persistent, though our discouragements ho great. We are called to be" imita 1ors of them who through faith and patienc~ inherit. the promises." "Ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye ruay receive the promise'' (cf. Matt. x. 22; Rom. ii. 7; Rev. ii. 10). V. FAITH COMPLETELY VINDICATED BY GoD, "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down." When the Israelites had completely carried out the directions which the Lord had given them, "the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city." Thus the result fully justified their confidence and their conduct. And no one ever trusted God in vain. Faith, resting upon God's word or character, honours him and gratifies him; and ho will not, he cannot, fail the soul that trusts him. If we honour him with our hearty confidence, he will honour us with his glorious salvation.-W. J. Ver. 31.-Thefaith of a heathen woman. "By faith the harlot Raha.b perished not," etc. What did Rahab believe? What does the Bible teach us concerning her faith? She exercised: 1. Faith in Jehovah as t!te true and supreme God. She believed in him not simply as a superior and powerful local or national deity, but as supreme over all beings universally. This is her confession, "Jehovah your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath" (Jose. ii. 11). 2. Faieh in the fidelity and power of Jehovah to fulfil his purposes in relation to his people, "She said unto the men, I kuow that Jehovah hath given you the land" (Josh. ii. 9); and therefore she was confident that they would actually come into possession of it. 3. Faith in the fidelity of the worshippers of Jehovah. She showed kindness to the spies, entered int.o an important agreement with them, and fulfilled her part of the agreement, evidently expecting them to fulfil their part (Jo;;h, ii. 12, 13, 21). Three aspects of the faith of Rahah are suggested by our text. I. F.uw ll'I AN UNL!KlsP PE11soN. l. [lahab wa6 an idolatr014J Oanaaniee. She OU. XI. 1-40,] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 339