Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-11-06
THE SABBATH SCHOOL,
international Lesson Comments fOi
November 9.
Subject: Joshua's Parting Advice, Josh. xiv.
A'z5-Golden Text, Josh, xiv, Is
Memory Verses, IA, l5-Commen.
tary on the Days Lesson.

II. "Now therefore In view of the
fact that Jehovah has brought YOU forth
with such mighty hand. Fear the
Lord" Reverence the Lord and walk
carefully before Him. Think of His males
ty and respect His authority, and remem'
her that His eye is ever upon you. Always
make Him the object of all your worship
"Serve Him. Perform His will; obey His
truth" Without hypocrisy. The Latin
word from which out sincerity, come.
denotes "honey without wax unmiNed
purity. The Greek word is considered by
some to be founded on the idea of some.
thing held up in the rays Of the sun, and
proved to be without speck or flaw. Put
away the gods" 1t would seem from these
words that there were some among them
who privately kept the images or gods
which had belonged to their, toretathers.
The gods which their forefathers wor
SHIPPED were On the gods of the Chaldeans.
They worshiped fire, light and the sun, and
made gods to them. (2) The images wor'
SHIPPED by the Egyptians which were the
ape, serpents, vegetables, etc. The lnhab
itants OF Canaan also worshiped idols.
which would become a snare to Israel I'M
less they put away all heather worship
Joshua saw that they could not be sincere
in divine. worship and use idols. on ne
other side of the flood Beyond the
river" r. V. That is, beyond the Eu.
pirates, in Mesopotama and i'll Ur, whence
Abraham came
Is. 'If it seem evil" If it seem unwisc
or inexpedient. Choose you" etc. Like
Elijah on Carmel Il Kings IS: 2D, Joshua
calls upon the people to at once decide as
to whom they would serve. They had been
harboring idols ~. 23) and worshiping
them in secret, while openly protesting to
serve God. 1t was high time for this to
cease. The whole hope of the nation de.
pended upon a whole hearted service OF Je.
hovah. There was no good reason tor
them to defer the matter a single moment
"As for me and my house. Joshua Is out
spoken His decision was made many
years before this. He also resolves for his
family. his children and servants and such
IA were under his care and influence ana
protection.
IS. "The people answered" All the PEG.
nile responded to his call by loud and
hearty declarations of their determined
faithfulness to their covenant with Je ho'
yah" Whatever had been their sins they
were not ready TO forsake the service OF
God They reply with trmness, leaving no
room for doubt Joshua did everything
possible to confirm thai: decision and to
render it enduring. He caused them to re-
peat it three times iva. 10, y, pa each
time in stronger terms and in clearer light.
Nor was il in vain, for it lasted tor whole
generation, az long as the people lived who
made this choice. V. 81; Jud. .: I.
Il, Is. For the Lord our God, ctc'
The people ground their promises OF hdel:.
ity for the future on the dealings of God
with them in the past: |. Their. deliver
ancc from Egypt. . The great signs
wrought in that land. g.. Their preseerva'
tons in the wilderness. !. The expulsion,
of the Amoritcs. :" Therefore will we $50,
Joshua would not be permitted to stand 1
alone in his choice, for they were OF the
same mind, and would claim the same God
with him.
10. I'VE cannot serve the Lord" Ic
cqnnot in your own strength. while still
clinging to your idolatry and with hearts
unreeencrated. "An holy God" He is
holy in His character, and will not allow
His people to be deiiled by any, impure
worship "IIe is a jealous Cod He is al.
together unlike the god; of the nations
,r.pund, and if they would serve Him they
must make Him the highest object of their
love and devotion. "Will not forgive--your
SINS" Rather, will not pass by your SINS az
if taking no notice of them. He will not
tolerate sin. The explanation is that while
God is forgiving to the truly penitent. lie
vigorously Furnishes all incorrgble sinners.
20. Then He will turn God is unal'
terably fixed in His attitude toward sin, to-
ward the repentant sinner and toward the
righteous. He never changes, but as we
change He assumes different attitudes to-
ward u.s. as we put ourselves in different
relations to Him See Jer. IS: 40. DO
you hurt" etc They could not deny Gods
goodness to them, but He made a law and
if they transgresscd the wrath OF GOD
would certainly fall upon them. They
fixed their own punishment
u. I'VE will serve the Lord They un'
lerstood Joshua's meaning, and declare
Ihev will not cause God to turn and do
hem hurt. Whatever He requires at their
band they pledge themselves to be obe-
dent. They promise to put from among
them ANYTHING that binders God from hav-
ing their best affections. >,
-. Witnesses against yourselves.
Thev had decided and publicly promised
% obey, accepting the conditions of bless
ings for obedience and punishment, Tor DIS
obedience. Their conscience Will be their
witness, Judge and executioner. Another
witness was the written word ". 26), and
a third WAS great stone set up as monu'
ment ". 20, which would constantly re-
mind them of their promise.
%. "Put away" etc. Prove your inten-
tions at once. Begin the work of reforma'
ton before your hearts harden against
your promise Let the heart incline, to-
ward God and the acts of the life will har'
monte with the divine will. :, m
"a. "Will we serve and obey" The
thought of prompt action did not, change
them, but only settled their minds more
fully. The better they understood the
more determined we're they to obey:
%. Joshua made covenant, A cove.
nant had been concluded by God on Sinai
with Israel and soemnly ratified. Elk. 10:
90 This covenant Moses had renewed in
the field of Moab. Deut 29 l. Joshua
who had been present at the ratification
of both the previous covenants, renews it
now. and doubtless with august ceremonies.