The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-08
THE sUNDAY-sCHOoL LEssOf,
Nov. o, 19O2-JOshua's Parting Arvics
-JOshua xiv, 14-ZD.

Joshua xiv, 1870.
Joshua is one of the worlds everything seroes
He bursts into Hebrew history as the SUCCESSFUL
commander of Israefs hosts at RephidinS His
career, henceforth. is as stainless as BRILLIANT.
Like Him whose name he was the first m stai to
wear, mo fault was found in him." Ne ex-
slave from Pharaoh's brickyard had primeSoppor-
tunities to have enriched himself when tho parti-
ton of Canaan was made under his ownfsuper-
vision He prefers no claim ground of siistin-
guished services. He attempts no sequ sterfng
of fat vineyard or lordy manor He ass only
modest portion in the barren mountsns OF
Ephriam. Such disinterested patriotisR has
never been surpassed.
Now, after more than half a century 4 serv-
ices military and executive. to his counsymen.
by infa,lible tokens he knows that bis departure
is at hand. He will fain. after the exa sple OF
Noses his noble chief. project his infiuef &c be-
yond his mortal life. He summons his pcfers of
body. mind and spirit and pours them ors in an
historic resume, in discriminating analysis OF
cause OF national prosperity, and an appyal and
exhortaton worthy of Moses or Elijah. !
The local environment made frame worthy
OF this picture, at pathetic and = blime.
The place was Sheehem, where. four sundred
years before, Abraham had tent and Cssd had
altar. There stood that ancient and sreeading
oak, under which Jacob buried the kenates
brought from beyond the Euphrates. These were
Ebal and Gerizm, mountains Of the Cu1se and
the Beatitude, their hinty sides craven with the
prohibitions and injunctions of the layT The
ark of God may have been brought frons Shiloh
to grace and give security 10 the scene. !
In a scene like this stood the tribes oa Israel.
il not bodily present at least present in yle per-
son of their legal representatives. The c3mpany
was alert to hear the parting words OF The old
hero. to whom. humanIy speaking. they 1ere In
debted for their goodly inheritance.
Joshua held up one by one the golden inks In
the chain of a Divine Providence which sSetched
from Haran beyond the Euphrates. through Ca
naan. Egypt. the wilderness. and then4 back
to Canaan. He estops pride by remindifys them
that their victories achieved supernt turally
mot with their swords and bows. !
Turning to the future, the warrior says'naught
CT war. His speech takes on a millennkI cast.
Swords are already beaten into plo, shares.
spears into pruning hooks. He speaks y moral
qualities of obedience, of holiness. He vTu fore
warn his people of a peril He will }join a
duty.
The Hebrews had an hereditary tent7ncy to
idolatry. Their fathers served other godS beyond
the flood. They suffered for four hundrt years
the debasing influence of Egyptian polss :heism.
Unhappily they had allowed the dregss of the
grossest idolairy to remain in the conqu3ed ter
ritory. Joshua recognized the incidentS OF the
golden calf only the Eruption OF the ig latrous
spirit and practice which was secretly main
tanned. Like the kings evil. this vice S Smed in
the blood. The vision of the centenar~in
not too much dimmed to the Had 81 woes
impending
Jushua sets up a standard. Decided hiitself. he
calls for decision on the part of the peo4e Once
for all. let 1t be determined who is God, sand let
Him he served. II they think the ufsy little
images surrepttiousiy brought from HXan are
gods; IL they prefer the filthy deitiesA Of the
Amorites to the Jehovah OF Abraham. I.Sac and
Jacob-to the wonder-worker OF the RedsNea. the
wilderness and Sinai--then let them turn4lo idols.
But like high clarion blast that has Aept the
air pulsing since. comes Joshua's tersonal
decision; las for me and my house. sSe will
serve the Lord!'
The place, with it's hallowed associat.s ns; the
speaker. venerable and venerated; the address.
at once modest and sublime. had ovttwhelm-
ing effect upon the distinguished auditorA with
Oriental profuseness they deprecated any fcfsak-
ing of Jehovah. and protested their desermina-
ton to Him. Joshua sits them lik3 wheat
He discloses the character of Jehovah. sfirmng
his holiness his unwillingness to acceN a ci-
vided affection. and the ierceness of his*ountive
wrath. Such God cannot be served exSpt with
sincerity and Wilderness OF heart. TheS protest
that such shall be their service. ''Ysur con-
science shall be witness, Judge and exsz utioner
IL you are unfaithful to this covenant Joshua
cried. so let IL bev' answered the people So
Jushua recorded the covenant and set 10 a per-
petual reminder OF II in the form Of a lsllar un-
der the sacred terebinth And the assembly was
prolonged.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN;
Joshua's influence phenomenal Sde held
Israel to the Lords service while he l,ted and
projected his controlling power upon she sue
ceeding generation. I'VE search the ssSred his
tory in vain, from the exodus to the Captivity.
for another generation that was so whoSy faith
ful to Jehovah"
The secret Of Joshuas influence wat not so
much in heroice deed or eloquent word IS In his
character. II was not much what he lad done
or said that rsace him potent. 1t wast himself.
his stainless reputation his modestg piety.
faith, constancy. heroism and patrotfm. He
was in himself the best argument. the ftrongest
appeal for fidelity 10 God His characty backed
UP his exhortation.
Half-hearted service is as impossible f'-day
In Jushua's time. Jesus dictum needs ssteration.
''Ye cannot serve God and mammon.t IL we
would institute a search for idols vsiuld find
them in the safety deposit box. the stick and
span turnout. tho Worth gown. NoAthe rich
alone or even chiefly have their idoiss but the
middle class the poor well.
A rustic preacher. called upon In aspinch 10
make the invocation at session of 4he Ohio
senate. prayed that n the senators had any little