The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-10-04
J0SHUA'S COMMISSION.
LESSON |, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, OCT. 2.

LES0ON y rOUh = JUARfER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, OCT. n.
Text of the Lesson, Josh I. 1-19-Commit
Verses g, 0-Golden Tert. Eph. vi, ID.
Commentary by Rev. ID. II. stearns.
condensed from Lesson Helper Quarterly. by
permissoD of Il. S. Hoffman, Philadelphia,
publisher
The boo; e Joshua tells us Of the entrance
of the nGlba Of Israel into the promised
land, the overthrow Of the nations then in
the land, IDS 81 usequent division among tho
tribes ana tho appointing of cities of refuge.
The boo; cicsag with "a nccoant of the fare
wei address Of Jcshua and his death, at tho
ogo OF 10 years, also the death of Eleazar,
the son Of Aaron, c..d the burial of the body
of Joseph, which they had brought with
them from Egypt and carried all through
their wilderness wanderings.
"Aftcr the death of Mosesn Dead as
far as any further connection with Israel at
that time was concerned, but personally he
was gloriously alive. What deliverance to
be free from the burden of ruling and guiding
that rebellious and unbelieving host; what a
gain to be ever in the immediate presence of
Him who had appeared to him at the bush,
and on the mount and in the tabernacle, and
to have personal fellowship with Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, Enoch and Noah and the |
myriads of the redeemed in glory.
q "Arlse, go over this Jordan Joshua
might have asked how they were to cross
that river, but he had passed through tho
Red sea forty years before and he knew that
the Lord was able to make a way, and when
God gave a command he had only to obey
8. Every place that the sole of your foot
shall tread on" Thus He had said to Moses
Oeut. xi, 24), and now He confirms it to
Joshua And yet when Joshua was old and
stricken in years there remained very much
land to DO possessed (xiii, y; and he had to
say to the people. GLOW long are ye slack to
go to possess the land which the Lord God of
your fathers hath given your xviii, 81 1t
was all theirs; they had only to go up and
possess it, for tho Lord would fight for them
against their enemies and subdue them; but
it was necessary for them to set their foot on
the land
4. "Unto the great river Euphrates.n This
was the eastern boundary of the land given
TO Abraham, but, with the exception Of
short period in the days of Solomon, it was
never possessed nor enjoyed. Gen. XIV, IS;
III Chron. tx, 26) 1t shall all be made good,
however, after the first resurrection, when q
greater than Solomon, the true Son of David,
shall sit on David's throne and reign over the
house Of jacob, and Abraham shall be proved
TO be heir of the world Nukei, 32, 80;
Rom. iy, l3)
S. 81 win be with thee; will not fail thee
nor foi'sake thee" 1t was not question of
the power or skill of Joshua, but of Him who
sent Joshua. When Moses asked, "Who am
that should go unto Pharaohq' the Lords
answer was, Certainly, will be with thee;"
T
not man Of words (margin), but ! am slow
of speech and of a slow tongue,n the Lord
said INTO him: ''Who hath made mans
MOUTH Have not l, the Lordf Now there
fore go, and | will be with thy mouth and
teach thee what thou shalt say" (Ex. iii, II,
IL; iv, l0-12) So in our Christian life it is
never a question of what we are or what we
can do, but of what He is and what He can
do, FOR it is God who worketh in us both to
viii and to Goof His good pleasure. 1t seems
to me that the greatest promise in the Biblo
for this present life is this one of the pres
cnce oi tho Lord with us and that He will
never fail rs nor forsake US. That which
was tie strength of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David
and tho prophets, and the last comfort of the
risen Christ to His apostles, may and ought
to be our daily joy and strength, and will be
if we appropriate tho promise in simple and
sincere faita, thank Him for His presence
and 50 ior~;-rd relying on Him.
O. ''GuGstong and of "a good courage" Tho
presence Of the Lord was reason enough why
he should be strong and courageous tho ne
cessity of his being so is seen from the fact
that three times in this exhortaton it is urged
upon him US 30 The strength was not to
be his bat tho Lords, who perfectS His
strength in our weakness and enables us to
Say "Ghen am weak then am ! strong"
''l'hul shalt cause this people to inherit
the lsnd' Gnarginl. Jesus is the true Joshua,
who causes all His redeemed to inherit in due
time the Kingdom. Moses seems to repre-
sent Jesus under tho law and dying for the
sins OF the people, whilo Joshua represents
Jesus in resurrection leading his people to
rest end victory.
T. ''OlServo to do according to all the
law This is the only way of true wisdom
and prosperity There was no law given
them to keep in the land of Egypt; not till
after IIo by His own power redeemed and de-
livered them did He give them His laws and
statutes to keep and do God does not ask
the sinner to keep His laws, but to receive
salvation as o free gift in order that he may
then keep his commandments and do thoin
and tAus have fellowship with Him. There
is too much turning to the right hand OF
the left on the part of those who pro-
fess to be Christians, and too little Of
the following fully" seen in Caleb
ard Joshua; little stepping aside to
the neglect of one command or transgressing
in reference to another; a saying in reference
to such precepts as "Be ye holy" or
t'Whether 70 eat or drink or whatsoever ye
do, do all to the glory of God;" that is what
no one does nor can do, and it is no use to
try, thus setting aside tho command Of God
;lrd making the Inconsistencies of Christians
q reason for increased disobe6ience. Moth
ing will do but a cheerful obedience to every
command and whole hearted surrender Of
spirit, soul and body to Him who is ready to
possess US and live in us His own life over
again.
s. Mediate therein day and night, that
thou nlayes6 observe to don They were to
so5 their hearts upon the words of the law,
talS OF them i'll the house and by tho way,
and teach them to their children, that thus
their days might be as tho days of heaven
upon earth. Deut. vi, 40; xi, 1S-2L) II
this was the command for the people, how
much moro for their leadera He as their guido
was to delight III the law of the Lord and
meditato therein day and night" (Ps i, 81
David could say. "Oh, how love Thy law;
it is my meditation all the day" ''The law
of Thy mouth is better unto me than thou
sands of gold and silver" and our Iard Jeaus
said: ~ delight TO do Thy will, o my Gcd,
yea Thy law is within my heart" Cps. cxix,
az, %: u, 81 If Jesus lives in US, possessing
us fully He in us win still delight to do tho
will of God and rejoice more in the word ol
God than in all riches, for He is Jesus Christ
the same yesterday, today and forever.
0. "Haye not commanded thees" For q
soldier it is enough that be has been com
manded; it is not his to ask or reason why,
but only 10 obey. How much more should i
he enough for the soldier of the Lord Jesus
Such ON one should know no fear nor dismay
but ever be strong and of good courage, be
lowing that the Lord his God is with hin
wbithcrsoev0' hs goeth.