The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-09-04
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
SEPTEMBER 8.
Lesson Text: "Caleb's Reward"
Joshua xiv, 5-14 Golden
Text: Joshua xiv. IL
commentary.

5. GAS the Lord commanded Moses. 50 the
children Of Israel did, and they divided tho
land" Moses and Joshua were faithful ser
wants OF Jehovah and implicitly obeyed His
commands. They left nothing undone that
He commanded. Joshua took the whole
land and divided 1t among the tribes and
the land rested from war (ehapter XII. Is, 23).
But although the land was wholly given tG
Israel they did not possess 1t fully (chapter
xiii. Il, and they allowed the Jebusites and
Canaanitesto dwell among them tchapter
xv.. 63; xvi, 10: xviii. 12l. This disobedi-
ence on the part OF the peoDle afterward n
brought trouble upon them (Judge H.. 1. q.
Every true believer in Jesus is now "blessed
with all sniritual blessings in the heavenlies
in Christ" Eph. l.. 81. Yet but few enjoy
full possession. Many prefer to tolerate a
few Canaanites and Jebustes and rather en-
JOY their ways.
6. "Thou knowest. the thing that the
Lord said unto Moses, the man OF God, con.
cerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea.
These are the words OF Caleb to his old
friend and companion. Joshua. Caleb was
of the tribe Of Judah, and Joshua was OF
Ephraim (Num. xiii, 6.S). Only they two
of all the spies believed Col and urged the
people to 90 right up and take the land In
the name Of the Lord. The Lord said that
only they two of all that generation should
enter the land Mum. xiv, 30) and that the
rest would die in the wilderness because OF
their unbeief. They, too, would have to
wait forty years because OF the unbalief OF
others, but they waited with God. for He
also waited and was hindered by the unbe-
lief of the neople. Hear His words. Chow
long will it be ere they believe Me2" sob.
that My people had hearkened unto Me-
Mum. XIV. IL; Ps. lxxXi., 13).
7. "Forty years old was when Moses: the
servant OF the Lord. sent me from kadesh-
barnea to espy out the land, and 1 brought
him word again as 1t was in mine heart. y
His heart WIS right with God. He believed
God and feared to grieve Him. Therefore
he spake what was in his heart rs in the sight
of God and sought not to please the people.
For this falthfulness he AMI Joshua were
threatened with stones (Num. xiv. 10l. but
the Lord stood by them. Consider David,
with not human being to stand by him.
threatened with stones bv his own friends,
and observe what he did (I Sam. XXX, g..
8. "My brethren that went up with me
made the heart of the people melt. but I
wholly followed the Lord my Cod The
ten spies had to confess that the land was
good land. but they made so much OF the
giants and walled cities; seemed so utterly
to forget the power Of God In Egypt and at
the Red Sea, and to lose sight Of God alto
gether that they file | the people with fear
and discouragement and with murmurings
against God. Many such to-day are seeing
themselves and their circumstances, and by
unhelief and murmurings are dishonor1ng
God and making infldels.
8. "And Moses sware on that day, saying,
Surely the land whereon thy feet have trod-
den shall be thine inheritance" How Caleb
had lived on the word OF the Lori all those
years! They had been his life, his meat and
drink. Perhaps every day he had called
to them to mind and been strengthened. by
them. He may, like David. have pleaded
them in prayer, saying, "Remember the
word unto Thy servant. upon which Thou
hast caused me to hope (Ps. cxix.. 49). The
word of the Lord is q sure foundation on
which we may firmly rest. It endureth for
ever, is true from the beginning and is for
ever settled in heaven lisa. xl., s. Ps. cxlx.,
160, 89).
10. "And now behold the Lord hath kept
me alive rs He said these forty and five
years" It always has been and always will
be "As He said.' The nobleman of Caper-
naum believed the word that Jesus had
spoken" John iv., 5o). Paul said in the
storm at sea, Il believe God that it shall 6s
even rs it was told me" (Acts xvii, 25):
had promised He was able to perform (Rom.
iv., 21). "The Lord of Hosts hath sworn
saying, Surely as have thought. so shall ii
come to pass, and as I have purposed, SO
shall it stand" Elsa. xiv, 24). Blessed are
all who believe, for there shall be perfor
nance of the things told them by tie LORD
Guke l., 45).
II. "As vet I am as strong this day as
was in the day that Moses sent me-" As
strong and hearty at the age OF eighty-fve
as when he was forty. Like Moses. at the
age of 120, his eye was not dim nor his nat
ural force abated (Deut. xxxiv., y. "Ihey
that wait upon the Lord shall renew theil
strength, they shall mount up with wings as
eagles. d" youth is renewed like the eagles
Elsa. xI., 81; P5. ciii., s.. Take as living IL
lustrations of the same grace to-day George
Muller in his ninetieth year, iourneying and
witnessing for Jesus Christ; DR.. David
Brown, of Aberdeen. the great commentator
who wrote me November 5, 1894, that
though in his ninety-second year, he was In
perfect health. Ha said, 81 have no aches
nor pains, am not tired OF life, but would
like to do little work for my Master be-
fore I 60 or He comes" Jesus Christ Is still
the very same Jesus.
12. "If so be the Lord will be with me.
then shall be able to drive them out, as the
Lord said." He seemed to covet the Difficult
ties that he might see the great power OF
God. Being not weak In faith, he gave
glory to God. He counted not on his ability.
but that God was able. Like Paul he could
say, 'T can do all things through Clrist, who
strengtheneth me-" "For when am weak,
then am strong" CPhil. w., 13; II Cor. XII; :,
10Y. "God with u.s. is the secret OF all
strength in His service. See Jer. l., 8, 49,
Hag. H., 4; Math. xviii. 1920.
13. "And Joshua blessed him, and gave
unto Caleb the son OF Jephunneh Hebron
for an inheritance" 1: was at Hebron tina!
Abraham built an altar unto the Lord and
dwet, after Lot separated himself from him:
There he welcomed and entertained the Lord
Himself, and there the Lord communed with
him (Gen. xiii, 1s; xviii, l.. 35). Hebron
is suggestive Of fellowship or communion
and when we have the spirit OF Abraham
and Caleb we shall know what fellowship
with God means U John l., 81.
Il. "Hebron therefore became the inner
itance of Caleb, because that he wholly fol
lowed the Lord God Of Israel This follow
ing fully Is the secret OF fellowship" fol
there can be none with half hearted FOL
lowing. The next verse says that the olc
name of Hebron was Kirjath-arba- ArDs
being a great man among the Anak1ms
But "arba" is also the Hebrew word FOL
Urour" so that IL might be the city OF four