Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-10-03
THE SABBATH SCHOOL,
International Lesson Comments for
October 5.
Subject Joshua Encouraged, Josh. l., I'LL
Golden Text: Josh. L., 9-Memory
Verses, 8, documentary on
the Days Lesson.

the Days Lesson.
/. "Now." This indicates q close con.
nection with what precedes. 1t is quite
probable that the book of Joshua originally
begun with the last chapter of Deuteron.
omy, after the death" After the thirty
days moruning were over. 1.-The servant
of the Lord" This was the official title
of Moses, as invested with special mis-:
sion to make known the will Of God, and
Lord spake." The Lord did not speak
with Joshua face to face as He did with
Moses, but probably through the high
priest. Mum. 81: 1922. Joshua" His
name was originally Hoshea, Salvation, or
Help. To this was added afterwards the
prefix "Jeh," Jehovah, and his name be-.
came Jehoshua, shortened into Joshua
Salvation from Jehovah. This name in
the Greek is Jesus, and in Acts 7: As and
Heb. A. Joshua is called Jesus. Moses
the '1awgiver" led Israel to the border,
Joshua the prototype of Jesus brought
them over. Joshua was born in the land
of Goshen, Egypt. He was descendant
of Joseph, through Ephriam. At this time
he was about eighty-four years of age. He
was distinguished for his courage, faith and
piety. "Son of Num-" Nothing is known
Of Nun only that he was of the tribe Of
Ephriam. Moses minister" 1t was
customary for great prophets to be thus
attended by ministers or servants. Thus
had Joshua been trained in the best pos.
sible school, Moses was the servant Of
Jehovah and Joshua the minister of Moses.
A servant is less honorable than minis
ter, but it is unspeakably greater to be
Jehovah's servant than the prime minister
of the greatest earthly potentate.
2. "This Jordan" Called the "des-
Gender" because of it's rapid descent of a
thousand feet between the sea of Galilee
and the Dead Sea. 1t is one of the most
peculiar rivers in the world. 1t has many
turnings and windings so that although
the distance between the two seas is
only sixty miles, yet the river traverses
distance of at least two hundred miles,
and during that distance there are twenty
seven large cataracts, besides great many
smaller ones; thus on it goes foaming
torrent plunging down into the "Sea of
Salt" where its waters are lost in "briny
seething caldron." 1t is sometimes deep
and at other times shallow enough to be
forded "All this people" According to
the second census (Num. 26: 81 the war.
riors, men over twenty years of age, mum.
justifes an estimate of not less than 2,000,.
900 people altogether.
8. "Your foot shall tread" The entire
land was before them, and it depended
upon their courage and faith how much OF
it they possessed.
4. From the wilderness" The bound
aries of the land are here defined. "This
Lebanon" A double range of mountains
which formed the northern boundary.
"Euphrates." The eastern boundary. This
was the largest, the longest and the most
important of the rivers of western Asia.
Utilities" A tribe of Canaanites living in
the southern part of the promised land.
They were the most powerful tribe in Ca
naan and the especial terror of the ten
spies. Gen. Is: l6. This was an important
promise, Ye shall possess the land Of even
the dreaded Hittites. "Great sea-" The
Mediterranean. Called great" in COM
parison with the seas of Canaan. 1t Is
$500 miles long and 1900 miles in its
greatest width, and has an average depth
of over half mile. "Going down"
Meaning that this is the western boundary.
Your coast" This was larger territory
than the Hebrews ever possessed, except
for short time during the reigns of David
and Solomon.
5. mot any man." etc. What promise
is this! He was to have victory in every
conflict. But the divine promise implies
a condition. See VS.. 10. II will be with
thee" Joshua needed no other allies,
but he needed these great promises. A
crisis had arrived in the history of the
nation, and he knew that Jehovah alone
could bring them into their promised in
heritance. "Not fail thee" i. Gods pres
ence gives constant victory. ANY man
may conquer who fights with the Lord on
His side. 2. Gods presence is given IT.
respective of ability or social condition.
God walks with all who fear Him-the
poor, the needy, the prosecuted, the down.
trodden. 3. Gods presence once given
will remain with us forever, unless we dis
obey Him.
g. "Be strong" etc. Better, "be strong
and firm" 1t denotes strength of hand
and arm to lay hold of and retain anything
within ones grasp; and firmness in the
knees, and ability to maintain ones posi-
ton against the attack of foes. The ex-
preston occurs with increasing emphasis
four times in this chapter, and is rather a
command than an -exhortation. "Shalt
Joshua that che is the last link in the
chain which unites prophecy and fulfill
ment," that "all the glorious possibilities
of his nation hinge upon his own personal
valor and fidelity" Joshua was to use all
his military skill, and avail himself to the
utmost of all the means, natural and provi-
dental, placed within his reach. God will
not help them who refuse to help them
selves.
7. "All the law" All the moral, cere-
monial and political precepts given from
Jehovah to the hand of Moses. Joshua
is admonished that the law must be strictly
and carefully observed, if the great work
to which he has been called was to be
successfully accomplished. Hewas to carry
right. :. or. :. left" Perfect. obedience is
of sin by crooked way. "Mayest pros
per-" There is no real or lasting pros.
perity outside of g. perfect obedience to all
g., Book of the law" Moses had al
ready written the law, and they were to
diligently study it and mediate upon it,
and their lives were to be governed accord
ing to its precepts.
9. "Thy God is with thee" As the SOL
dier's valor is stimulated by the eye of
his captain, so vivid realization of the
presence of God is a safeguard against
fearfulness and encouragement.
10. "Officers of the people" These were
the leaders of the army whose offices en-
braced various duties. 1t seems to have
been part of their work to act as heralds,
and to prepare the tribes for action.
ii. Prepare your victuals." The word
denotes food obtained in hunting. AL.
though the mama did not cease until
several days after this, yet the superna-