that have I 3. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, th 1 given unto you, it, as I said spake unto Mō'ses. 2 4. From the wilderness, and this Lěb'a-non, even unto the great river, the river Eu-phra'tēs, all the land of the Hit'tites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border. 5 coast. 6 5. 3 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life as I was with Mō'ses, so I will be with thee: "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 1 Deut. 11: 24; Josh. 14: 9. 2 Gen. 15: 18; Ex. 23: 31. 4 Ex. 3: 12. 5 Vs. 9, 17; Deut. 31: 8; Josh. 3: 7. the moral governor of the world to administer against a people laden with iniquity. Gen. 15: 13-16 proves this clearly.' Kitto. 3. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon. “That is, every place within the limits specified in the ensuing verse. The expression also intimates the condition upon which the land was to be given to the Israelites: their feet must tread it as conquerors."— Keil. "As the old Chinese proverb puts it, What will you have? says God. Pay for it, and take it.'" E. S. Atwood in Monday Club Sermons. unto Moses, Deut. II: 24, where the words are recorded almost word for word. As I said 4. From the wilderness. The desert of Arabia, where the Israelites wandered so long. This was the southern boundary. And this Lebanon. Called "this" because visible from the region where the Israelites were encamped. Lebanon signifies white mountain, from its snow-clad summits. This was the northern boundary. Unto the great river, the river Euphrates. Their northeastern boundary. All the land of the Hittites. Descendants of Heth, the second son of Canaan (Gen. 10: 15). They inhabited the country between the Lebanon and the Euphrates. Monumental remains in sculptures and inscriptions have within a few years been discovered in this region, as far south as Hamath, and in Asia Minor. See The Hittites, by Professor Sayce; and The Empire of the Hittites, by Prof. W. Wright. Unto the great sea. The Mediterranean, the western boundary of the Israelites. Shall be your coast, or borders. These were the boundaries of the land promised to the Israelites, so far as they were willing to take and keep possession. These were practically the boundaries of the kingdom under David and Solomon. PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS. 1. The Christian's promised land is God's kingdom both on earth and in heaven, both for himself and for others. It is very large and broad and fertile, a land "flowing with milk and honey," with its "grapes of Eshcol," and every good, satisfying every want, occupying every faculty, rich in every blessing. 2. "Though the promises of God may be slow in fulfilling, yet the accomplishment will come at last; not one jot or tittle shall fail."- Bush. 3. We can enjoy only so much of this good land as we conquer and take possession of. Prosperity, the enjoyments of civilization, usefulness, goodness, the higher joys of the spirit, can be possessed only in the same way. ILLUSTRATIONS. A man gives his son an education, but the son receives only so much as he acquires by study. We possess only so much of a book or a library as we make our own by reading and thought. A person may own thousands of books, and acquire possession of none of them. ILLUSTRATION. Every invention and discovery of our latest civilization — the power of electricity and steam, of printing, of chemistry, of light- were given to man from the beginning. They all lay sleeping in earth and air and sky from the Garden of Eden down the ages, a part of the Promised Land of the race, waiting for man to discover and use. But they have received only so much as they have actually taken possession of. Only what they conquer can they have, and we have but just begun to acquire our inheritance in this world. The same is true of God's spiritual blessings, of the Gospel, of missions, of a holy life, of heaven upon earth. III. The Encouragements. Vs. 5, 6. THE PROMISE OF GOD'S PRESENCE. 5. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee, as an enemy in battle, successfully. "The promise made to the whole nation, in Deut. 11: 25, is here made to Joshua as the leader of the nation. It was literally fulfilled; for not once in the lifetime of Joshua did the Israelites suffer a permanent defeat. Thus is it still: God's people, marching 1 land thou thou shalt cause this people to inherit the give them. that thou mayest observe to do to 6. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to 7. Only be strong and very courageous, according to all the law, 2 which Mo'ses my servant commanded thee: 3 turn not from it to the right hand, or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. success I Deut. 31: 7. 2 Num. 27: 23; Deut. 31: 7; Josh. 11: 15. mayest have good 3 Deut. 5: 32. under the banner of their Captain, are called to fight, but they are not defeated." Johnson. As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. Joshua had the experience of Moses' whole lifetime as an encouragement to his faith. Moses had many a trying time, many a hard duty, many a danger and difficulty; and the God who had brought him safely and successfully through would not fail nor forsake the new leader. In every new difficulty before Joshua, and they were many and great, he could look back upon a greater one from which God had delivered Moses. But all his strength, as is all ours, was in God. The work was impossible to him without God's presence. With God he could do all things. THE PROMISE OF SUCCESS. 6. Be strong and of a good courage. "Be strong and firm, or vigorous. Michaelis remarks that the Hebrew verb 'to be strong' denotes strength of hand and arm to lay hold of and retain anything; while 'to be firm' denotes rather firmness in the knees, and ability to maintain one's position against the attack of foes. The expression occurs with increasing emphasis four times in this chapter." — Rev. Dr. Steele. Courage not so much physical courage as moral courage is greatly needed in our day to stand by what is right at all costs; to conquer besetting sins; to resist the tides of fashionable wrong; to carry on God's work and uphold God's truth. Courage doubles the power of every effort, of every weapon; inspires the body and the spirit with strength. The source of courage is 1. God's promises of help, and of his presence. 2. The assurance that we are doing God's work, that we are on the side of right and truth. 3. The consciousness that we have strength and fitness for the work. 4. The experience of the past. What God has done, he will do again. 5. Perfect obedience, willingness, and desire to do God's will. Shalt thou divide for an inheritance. That is, you shall conquer the country, and be able to distribute it among the tribes. It was an inheritance, because it came to them from God. IV. The Conditions, ― Courage, Study of the Revealed Will of God, and Obedience. - Vs. 7-9. COURAGE. 7. Be thou strong and very courageous. Great strength, firmness of will, patience, and courage would be required to observe to do according to all the law. Because the temptations to worldliness and idolatry were very great. The people were but partially trained, and sometimes resisted authority, and rebelled against the restraints of the law. There would be a great pressure to turn from the right, because expedience or policy seemed to demand it. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left. The path of duty is like a direct road to success, and moving from it in either direction leads to disaster and defeat. "Note the terms righteousness, rectitude, uprightness, and, in matters of opinion, orthodox, while the word 'wrong' is etymologically akin to 'wrung,' twisted.” D. Steele. Compare Bunyan's Christian going out of the narrow path, and soon finding himself a prisoner in Doubting Castle. The "The rendering of the common version, to the right hand or to the left, does not present the exact picture of the original, which is not that of a traveler pursuing steadily a wrong path, either to the right or the left of the proper way, but that of a traveler who dallies and wanders out of the road first on one side and then on another, as he is allured by various novel scenes and objects." — F. Johnson. That thou mayest prosper. original word rendered " prosper may mean to act wisely; and then as the result "to prosper," to have good success. "Real prosperity and success in the affairs of life are the result of a wise, discreet, and prudent course of conduct, and inseparable from it, and it is vain to look for it from any other source. Those only can reasonably expect the blessing of God upon their temporal affairs who make his word their rule, and conscientiously walk by it in all circumstances; and this is the way of true wisdom.” — -Bush. 1 8. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but 2 thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt a have good success. 3 9. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; 4 be not afraid, affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God with thee whithersoever thou goest. 10. Then Josh'u-a commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11. Pass through the Prepare you victuals; for to go in to possess the possess it. 1 Deut. 17: 18, 19. 2 Psa. I: 2. host, midst of the camp, 5 and command the people, saying, within three days ye shall are to pass over this Jor'dan, land, which the LORD your God giveth you to STUDY OF THE DIVINE LAW. 8. This book of the law. This has been usually regarded as the five books of the Pentateuch. Modern criticism, however, regards much of the Pentateuch as written later, but there was then a book of the law, the basis of the Pentateuch, containing its essential principles, just as the United States had a written constitution in 1788, however much it has grown since by later enactments. With this Bible Joshua was to do three things: (1) Shall not depart out of thy mouth. He must talk about it and teach it. He must make it the theme of his conversation. It must be a familiar book. All his teachings must be Biblical. (2) Thou shalt meditate therein day and night. He must study his Bible; let it be continually in his thoughts. No careless reading would do, but earnest, long-continued study, so that he might penetrate into its real and deepest meaning. It must be practically committed to memory, bound "for a sign upon thy hand," and "as frontlets between thine eyes,' ," written " upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates " (Deut. 6: 7-9; comp. Psa. I: 2). OBEDIENCE TO THE DIVINE LAW. (3) The third thing Joshua was to do with the law was to obey it. The purpose of the study was to learn his duty. It was to be his rule of life, his chart on the voyage to success, a guide board on his way, a book of instructions. ILLUSTRATION. "I visited Mr. Prang's chromo establishment in Boston, and saw the process of printing a picture of some public man. The first stone made hardly an impression on the paper. The second stone showed no sign of change. The third, no sign. The fifth and sixth showed only outlines of a man's head. The tenth, the man's face, chin, nose, and forehead appeared. The fifteenth and twentieth looked like a dim picture. The twenty-eighth impression stood forth as natural as life. It looked as though it would speak to you. So, carefully and prayerfully read the Word of God-read the same chapter again and again and the twenty-eighth time Christ Jesus will shine forth." Dwight L. Moody. THE RESULT will be, as stated before and here repeated for emphasis, that thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9. Have not I commanded thee? Emphasize the I. He who has authority, and infinite wisdom and power, who is able to carry thee through all difficulties and dangers, and whom thou art bound implicitly to obey. So in the Christian warfare, it is the God of heaven whose battles we fight and in whose service we are engaged. For the Lord thy God is with thee. "Take hold of the promise, and KEEP that hold. Nothing so demoralizes the forces of the soul as fear. Nothing fosters fear like solitude. Only as we recognize the presence of the Lord, does fear give place to faith. Such simple, childlike faith in God has made more heroic souls upon this earth than the stoic could ever dream." - Miss Sarah Smiley. ILLUSTRATION. Cesar was once being ferried over a dangerous stream in a storm. The rower began to be afraid. "Keep on," said the emperor. "Remember, Cesarem (it is Cesar you are carrying). vehis" V. Preparations for the Great Work. - Vs. 10, II, and the rest of this chapter, and all of Josh. 2. 1. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PLAN TO THE PEOPLE. II. Pass through the host. The officers were detailed to make known the plan, and bid them prepare to start within three days. Pass over this Jordan. The Jordan was at flood-tide and seemed an impassable barrier. The command was a test of faith, courage, and obedience. To aid them several motives were presented: (1) the possession of the land of promise, the goal of their journeyings, their future home. (2) The assurance that the LORD your God giveth you to possess it. (3) The warning that every one who refused should be put to death (v. 18). They would better die gloriously fighting than as cowards and traitors. 2. INVESTIGATION OF THE FACTS (Josh. 2). Two explorers were sent across the river, to investigate and report. Their story is told in Josh. 2. They reported that terror had fallen on all the inhabitants of the land, their courage had melted away, and their hearts were faint; for they had heard what the Lord had done for the Israelites in Egypt, and against their neighbors across the river, Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan. This report, of course, gave courage and faith to Israel. NEW TESTAMENT LIGHT ON OLD TESTAMENT THEMES. The propriety of using these histories as types and examples (1 Cor. 10: 11). Our Promised Land (Heb. 11: 13-16; Matt. 6: 33; John 1: 12; 3: 16; Rom. 8: 28; 1 Cor. 2: 9; 1 Tim. 4: 8). What keeps men from entering it (Heb. 3: 10, 11). A warning to us (Heb. 4: 1). The duty of studying God's Word (John 17: 17; Acts 17: 11; 2 Tim. 3: 15; 2 Pet. 1: 18, 19), CROSSING THE JORDAN. — Joshua 3 : 9-17. Study Josh. 3: 9-4: 7. GOLDEN TEXT. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.—ISA. 43: 2. On the extermination of the Canaanites, see See account of crossing the Danube in I. The General Situation. - FIRST. THE POSITION OF ISRAEL. The children of Israel were encamped on a broad fertile plain on the eastern or Moabite side of the Jordan, about one hundred and fifty feet above the usual level of the Jordan, with the mountains of Moab behind them and the flooded river before them, with Jericho six or seven miles distant from the river on the other side. The plain where they were encamped was from five to seven miles wide. SECOND. THEIR NUMBER. According to the last census (Num. 26: 51) there were 601,730 men from 20 years old and upward, implying a total population of over two million. That the numbers were large is certain from the fears they awakened in the inhabitants, who would not have been so troubled by a small band. son 66 ... THIRD. THE ATTRACTION OF THE PROMISED LAND. The great depression of this region, more than a thousand feet below the level of the Mediterranean, and shut in by mountains, gave it a tropical climate and exuberant fertility. Gardens were numerous and palm trees flourished. - G. A. Smith's Historical Geography. During the winter seathe climate is as lovely as could be desired. The air is soft and mild, and green fields are on every hand. . . . I suppose the Israelites came down from the mountains of Moab to enjoy the winter on the Shittim plain, covered, as it then was, with a rank growth of tropical vegetation. The abundance of fresh water at their command, the grass and flowers, the mild air, must have filled them with delight after their rough experience in the desert." – Hon. Selah Merrill, LL.D., Consul at Jerusalem. The people were eagerly looking forward to possessing a land flowing with milk and honey, ""an exceedingly good land." "The records of Rameses II. show the condition of Palestine and the adjacent countries in the age of Moses itself. The Egyptian king brought back from them, he tells us, gold, glass, gums, cattle, slaves, ivory, ebony, boats, horses, chariots inlaid with gold and silver, or painted, iron, steel, dates, oil, wine, asses, cedar, suits of armor, fragrant wood, war galleys, incense, gold dishes with handles, ornaments of lapis lazuli, silver dishes, precious stones, honey, lead, spears of brass, colors,- - the plunder, in fact, of a rich and civilized country. The meadows of Palestine, its fortresses, its groves, and its orchards, are mentioned, showing that prosperity of every kind abounded." Geikie. 66 1 - Lepsius in FOURTH. THE VALUE OF THE LAND AS A TRAINING SCHOOL FOR THE NATION. It would have been difficult anywhere to have found a land more perfectly adapted for the purpose of training a nation in the true religion than was Palestine. (1) It was small, so that there could be no little unity with diversity. (2) It was defended and sheltered by the Jordan on the east, and further to the east by a great desert, by mountains on the north, by the Mediterranean on the west, and by deserts on the south. Moreover, it was situated on a highway between the two great nations of the world, neither of which would want the other to possess it. Thus shut in there would be an opportunity to train and discipline the nation, till the great truths it stood for could be wrought indelibly into their nature. (3) Yet there was sufficient intercourse with other nations to keep them in touch with the world, and they were so centrally situated that the true religion could be made known. Compare the advantages of situation in the case of Italy, Greece, England, Spain, and the United States. FIFTH. TWO OBSTACLES. The first one was the Jordan River, rapid and deep, with overflowing banks, impassable by any large number. The other obstacle was the inhabitants in their walled cities, and some of them seemed to the spies (Num. 13) to be giants in whose presence they seemed like grasshoppers. |