Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-07-18
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. j. o. SHERBURN.


July 20 The reading of the Law-Joshua s: $685.
After the punishment of Achan's sir
the children of Israel made easy conques
of Al, and at the close of the accour
of their victory the incidents OF ou
present lesson are given. 1t ha
been thought by many that this account i
inserted out of the order of time in whicl
it occurred. Some have even declared i
was after the conquest of the entire land
or some fourteen years after they ente red
Josephus considers it five years after. The
most natural readir G of the history, how.
ever, would put these events Immediately
after he victory at All, or as soon as The
people had secured a real foothold in the
country. This view accords with the
plain command which Moses gave them.
and which they kept in the solemn services
mentioned in this lesson. This command,
recorded in Deut. 27:2, makes it the first
dvty of Joshua on reaching Canaan to set
up stones and coat them with plaster and
write upon them all the words of the law.
lie appeared to have fulfilled the COM
mand Just as soon as the exigences of the
case would allow, and il he needs any
defence for not doing SO on the very first
day of his arrival, it is furnished in
the fact that the capture Of Jericho and All
were onjoined by specific commands of
Jehovah. Gods order takes the prece-
dencc of everything. 1t seems hardly a
natural thing to stop in the midst of a
prosperous military campaign to build an
altar, and hold prolracted religious SER
vices. but it would doubtless have been an
advantage in many campaigns if the lead
ers and the people had reverently remem-
bercd God, and sought his blessing upon
their undertakings. The location of this
altar was also a matter which was before
fixed. In Deut. II: 30 and also in 27! 5 the
exact locality is designated. The altar
was to be built of unhewn stone, that the
whole service might be simple as possible,
and that the idea of "wholeness." or com.
pleteness of giving unto God, might be
kept prominent. Their offerings upon
this altar were to be Of two kinds, the
burnt, offering and the peace-offering; the
first Indicative of conservation to God, and
the second of communion with him.
Upon walls Of stone, it is probable near
this altar, Joshua wrote all the words of
the law in the presence of the people;
this was either done by painted characters
upon smooth plastered wall, or else the
words were engraved upon such wall
with a sharp pointed stylus. All the
words of the law can hardly mean the
whole Pentateuch, and it is probable that
it meant moro than the ten command
ments, as these would not need to be
again written out. since they were every
where carried before the people in the
ark. 1t has been conectured that the
repetition of the law with its penalties
and awards, as it was rehearsed before the
people by Moses near his death. is the
mater which was inscribed upon these
memorial walls. Here in the presence of
God, and with his law plainly and perma-
entity written before their eyes, and amid
inspiring natural scenery, occurred one of
the grandest open air services that history
records. Here upon the slopes of two
adjacent hills in plain sight of the ark of
God, surrounded by its priests in the
robes of their Office, this vast company of
people, old and young. assembled. The
number we do not know but it must have
been AS many as three and half or four
millions.
Over 600 900 soldiers are mentioned and
the tribe of Levi was exempted from
bearing arms; hence it would be natural
that the whole people should be as numer
GUS as above indicated. The whole com
pany was divided, six tribes upon the
slopes at the right of the ark, and six on
the left. Then occurred the grand litur-
gical service which had been before
commanded, see Deut. 9th and 28th. On
the left hand the vast multitudes respond
ed amen, as the Levites with a loud voice
pronounced such curses as these: "Cursed
be he that setteth light by his father or
his mother" "Cursed be he that smiteth
his neighbour secretly" Cursed be he
that taketh reward to slay an innocent
person." On the right hand vast multi
tude shouted in response to the blessings
which were pronounced upon the obedent
and tine faithful: "Blessed shall be thy
basket and thy store," BLESSED shalt thou
be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt
thou be when thou goest out" 1.-The Lord
shall establish thee holy people unto
himself" 1t could not be but that pro.
found impression would be made upon all
the people by this service and particularly
so upon the children who we're all present
in the assembage.
Here, for once, we have picture of
religious services specially under divine
direction, ie., the form of service diviney
prescribed 1t is to be noticed that the
service was "bible reading" and all
people took part and the selections were
not such as might be most pleasing to de-
PRAYED religious taste, but were the whole
some words Of God-nothng omitted. |
The curse sure 10 follow transgression
was plainly announced and the blessing
sure to follow obedience was put Just
alongside the curse. God has evidently
no coniidence.in that plan Of dealing with
men which seeks to allure them to himself |
by hopes of reward, while no penalty is
put upon gong away from him. Some of
oar modern preaching needs TO be revised |
in the light Of this lesson. We need to
pul into it mpre of the word of God, and |
the whole word of God.
Lyndon literary institute is to be opened |