Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-07-04
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. j. o. SHERBURN.

upOu lub tilue cuihO oue "
Egypt because of their perverseness, i
was time for them to renew their covenan
relations with Jehovah. 1t appears tha
during their wanderings they had no
continued the observance of the passover
even. Much less had they kept th'
command to circumcise their childrer
hence generation had arisen who were
not in literal sense Gods people, they
had never received the rite by which
then men were admitted to covenant
relations with God. Admitted to the
church, we say.
As soon as the people had passed into
the land promised to them. they began
again to observe the ceremonies and ser
vices God had enjoined upon them. They
kept the passover on the appointed day al
evening, their own flocks doubtless fur
nisning lambs for the feast. Then on the
day following they began to cat of the
products Of the new land upon which
they had entered. Critics declare that we
are misled by the rendering "old corn"
They say that nothing in the original
word has any Reference to the crop of the
former year; but rather that the Indication
is that on the day after the passover,
according TO the command in Lev. 23 10
IL, they offered the first fruits of the
current harvest to the Lord, and on the
next day they began to eat the same.
The fourteenth day at even, we should
say the night of the fourteenth, was
considered with them a part of the
fifteenth day. Then on the 10th day they
began 20 eat of the products of the land
which had been abandoned by the fright
ened natives II will be remembered that
the Jewish year began with the passover
month, Exodus 1872. so it is said that
they did eat of the fruit of the land of
Canaan that year. AS was only natural,
the supply Of mamma ceased when they
began to find a supply from the soil of the
lard given them. Though God is free
with his bounties, he does not waste
anything needlessly. ne had fed his
people with the corn of Heaven, and as
he was now supplying them with the
fruits Of the earth the su| ply from above
is withheld.
Bat Israel are now in the land to
conquer it, and God would have them
ready for their arduous work. 1t is
necessary that their leader, Joshua should
b. Just as thoroughly fitted for his work,
and made just as courageous in it as may
BE-. So, as the narrative would indicate,
while lie was in the plains of Jericho,
probably making plans for the attack of
that strongly fortified town, there appeared
suddenly before him in the way q man
with drawn sword. Joshua, seeing the
warlike llabiliments of the stranger
approached him with the question Cart
thou Ger us or for our adversariesp" The
question was only Il natural one for a
practical soldier. He saw Il man in armor,
and wished 10 know whether he was friend
or foe. The answer, may" Was calcula' ed
a check upon the earthward thoughts
Of Joshua, and preparation for the
disclosure which his vi>iant was to make.
The answer virtually was, 81 am neither
friend or foe as you understand the matter,
rot man at all, but captain of the host of
the Lord" At this announcement Joshua
+, II adoringly before the heavenly dignita.
ry, and in the spirit of ready obedience
asked: What saith my Lord unto his
SERVANT"
Ii is interesting to notice the similarity
of disposition manifested by Joshua in
this early time, and by Saul on his way to
Damascus; both make the same eager
inquiries TO the way of duty, and both
reverently acknowledge the authority of
the heavenly presence which addressed
them. More than this, there can be little
doubt that both these men were met by
the same divine person. To Paul it was
particularly declared Il am Jesus whom
theu persecutest - and we find in this case
that Joshua worshipped this Captain of
the host of the Lord, and that worship was
accepted without remonstrance. Again
we find in this immediate connection that
the Lord Is speaking to Joshua, and that
wihou. any intimation that there has
been change of person upon the scene.
Beyond all these considerations it is to be
noticed that the same mark of reverence
is demanded Of Joshua on this occasion as
was demanded Of Moses when God
appeared to him in the burning bush. To
both it WAS said, "uut off thy shoes from
thy feet" From these considerations we
conclude that this Captain was none other
than he who is now termed the Captain of
our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ. He
it was who WAS with his people in the
wilderness, and now he comes to give
encouragement to his people, nay more to
assume III 'ir leadership in person. Since
then Canaan is not to be conquered by
human proves or stratagcm, we may
look for some plans such as man would
not maxi.
The iuha5tanls of the country about
Jericho, hearing Of the wonders wrought
at Jordan. (Many of them doubtless
seeing the same) were filled with fear and
sought refuge in the city which was well
walled. But the enemies of God are no
safer within walls than without them. 1t
is Gods power that gives coherency and
strength to stone and masonry, and when
he chooses to relax that power they fall to
pieces IN moment Now while God |
assumes leadership of his people, while he
plans and executes, he would have their
obcdient cooperation. So he gives orders
to Joshua as TO the part the people are to
take in the siege. He gives them only so
much TO do as will prove their obedience.
while he pledges TO secure the victory for
them if they obey. Better to accept the
divine leadership, though his methods
seem strange, than TO 90 anv warfare ot