Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-11-07
The SABBATH SCHOOL.
International Lesson Comments 10,
November 9.
Subject: Joshua's Parting Advice. Josh. XIV
l4.1S-GoIden Text, Josh, XIV, Is
Memory Verses, IA, l5-Commen'
tary on the Days Lesson.

Il "Now therefore" In view Of the
fact that Jehovah has brought you lo IN
with such a mighty hand. rear c4 Il.
lord" Reverence the Lord ana Walh
carefully before Him. Think OF his maIes'
tv and respect His authority, ana remein,
Der that His eye is ever upon YOU ALMaS'
make Him the object OF all your worship.
''cprye Him." Perform His will; obey his
Observation-Disclosures Gg,uo an sincerity and in
truth" Without hypocrisy. The LATIN
word from which out sincerity comes
denotes "honev without wax" unmlxed
nuritv, The Greek word is considered by
some TO be founded on the idea OF some,
thing held up in the rays OF the sun, anu
proyed to be without speck or flaw. fuo
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 foreiathers.
The gods which their forefathers wor-
shipped were Q) the gods of the Chaldeans;
They worshiped fire, light and the sun, ana
made gods to them (2) The images Wor-
SHIPPED by the Egyptians which r, were the
ape, serpents, vegetables, etc. Inc lnhap-
itants of Canaan also worshiped ZOOS
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 the
other side of the food" Beyond the
river" R. V. That is, beyond the Eu-
pirates, in Mesopotamia and in Ur, whence
Abraham came.
Is. "Tf it seem evil" If it seem unwise
or inexpedient. "Choose YOU" etc. Like
Elijah on Carmel Il Kings 49, Ply, Joshua
calls upon the psople 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 single moment.
Gas 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
as were under his care and influence and
protection.
10. '"The people answered" All the PEG.
ple responded to his call by loud and
hearty declarations of their determined
faithfulness to their covenant with Jeho-
YAH" Whatever had been their sins they
were not ready to forsake the service OF
God They reply with frmness, leaving no
room for doubt. Joshua did everything
possible to confirm their decision and to
render it enduring. He caused them to re-
peat it three times Tvs. 10, q, 24) each
time in stronger terms and in clearer light.
Nor was it in vain, for it lasted for whole
generation. as long as the people lived who
made this choice V. 81; Jud. 2: 7.
II, IS. For the Lord our God" etc.
The people ground their promises of fidei,,
ity for the future on the dealings Of God
with them in the past: l.: Their deliver
ance from Egypt. 2. The great signs
wrought in that land. 8. Their preserva-
tions in the wilderness. q. The expulsion
of the Amorites Therefore will we also,
Joshua would not be permitted to stand
alone in his choice, for they were of the
same mind, and would claim the same God
with him.
10. eye cannot serve the Lord" le
cannot in your own strength, while still
clinging to your idolatry and with hearts
nnregenerated can holy Cod" He is
holy in His character. and will not allow
His people to be defled by any impure
worship. "He is a jealous Cod" He is al
together unlike the gods Of the nations
around, and if they would serve Him they
must make Him the highest object of their
love and devotion. "Will not fcrgive--your
sins" Rather, will not pass by your sins as
if taking no notice Of them. He. will not
tolerate sin. The explanation is that while
God is forgiving to the truly penitent, he
vigorously Furnishes all incorrigible sslnnerss.
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 rs we
change He assumes different ATTITUDES TO.
ward us, as we put ourselves in different
relations to Him See Jer. ID: 40. DO
YOU hurt" etc. They could not deny Gods
goodness to them, but He made law and
# they transgressed the wrath of God
would certainly fall upon them. They
fixed their own punishment.
81. eve will serve the Lord" They UNI
derstood Joshua's meaning, and declare
they will not cause God to turn and do
them hurt Whatever He requires at their
hand they pledge themselves to be ODE
dent. They promise to put from among
them anything that hinders God from hav-
ing their best affections.
%. "Witnesses against yourselves.
They had decided and publicly promised
to obey, accepting the conditions OF bless
ings for obedience and punishment for dis
obedience. Their conscience vii! be their
witness, judge and executioner. Another
witness was the written word ". 26), and
a d
ment ". 27), which would constantly re-
mind them of their promise.
%. 'Put away" etc. Prove your inten-
lions 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.
81. "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 were they to obey:
%. "Joshua made a covenant" A cove.
nant had been concluded by God on Sinai
with Israel and solemnly ratified. Ex. 10:
90 This covenant Moses had renewed in
the field Of Moab. Deut. 20: l. Joshua
who had been present at the ratification
of both the previous covenants, renews 1t
lo,,l+1oe, with ou0uet cernunOIpe-