The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1902-10-30
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER 9.

Subject: Joshua's Parting Advice. Josh.
XIV, 14-25--Goiden Text, Josh. XIV.
15-Memory Verses. II, 15-Commen-
tary on the Days Lesson.
H. "Now therefore" In view of the
fact that Jehovah has brought you forth
with such a mighty hand. Fear the
Lord" Reverence the Lord and walk
carefully before Him. Think of His majes-
ty and respect His authority, and remem-
Der that His eye is ever upon you. Always
"Serve Him." Perform His will; obey His
commandments. "In sincerity and in
truth" Without hypocrisy The Latin
word from which out sincerity" comes
denotes "honey without wax" unmixed
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 forefathers.
The gods which their forefathers wor-
SHIPPED were % 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 nhab-
which would become 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. ION the
other side of the flood" Beyond the
river" r. V. That is, beyond the Eu-
pirates, in Mesopotamia and in Ur, whence
Abraham came.
Is. "If it seem evil" If it seem unwise
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. It 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 for
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
as, were under his care and influence and
protection
l6. 'The people answered" All the peo-
pie 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 frInness, leaving no
room for doubt. Joshua did verifying
possible to confirm their decision and to
render it enduring. He caused them to re-
peat it three times Tvs. l6, 81, 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; .lud 2: l.
II, Is. For the Lord our God" etc.
The people ground their promises of fdel-
itv for the future on the dealings of God
with them in the past: j. Their deliver
ance from Egypt. .. The great signs
wrought in that land. 8. Their preserva-
tons in the wilderness. 4. The expulsion
OF the Amorites. Therefore viii we also.''
Joshua would not be permitted to stand
alone in MS choice, for they were of the
same mind, and would claim the same God
with him.
10. eye cannot serve the Lord" Ye
cannot in your own strength, while still
clinging to your idolatry and with hearts
unreeenerated. can holy God" He is
holy IN His character, and will not allow
His people to be defled by any impure
together unlike the gods Of the nations
around, aud if they would serve Him they
must make Him the highest object OF their
love and devotion. "Wiil not forgive-your
sins" Rather, will not pass by your sins as
if taking no noEice of them. He will not
tolerate sin. The exclamation is that while
God is forgiving to the truly penitent, He
vigorously Furnishes all incorrigib,e sinners.
20. Then He will turn" God is unal
terably fixed in His attitude toward sin, to-
warl the repentant sinner and toward the
righteous. He never changes, but as we
change He assumes different attitudes to-
ward us, as we put ourselves in different
relations to Him. See Jer. Is: 7-l0. "Do
you hurt etc. They could not deny Gods
goodness to them, but He made law and
if they transsressed the wrath Of God
would certainly fall upon them. They
fixed their own punishment.
q. eve will serve the Lord" They I'M
Gerstood Joshua's meaning, and declare
they will not cause Gcd to turn and do
them hurt. Whatever He requires at their
hand they pledge themselves to be ODE
dent. They promise tn put from among
them anything that binders 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 will be their
witness, judge and executioner. Another
witness was the written word (v. 26), and
a third was great stone set up as monu-
ment ". 81. which would constantly re-
mind them Of their promise.
III away, cue. IIOfe your luSSL-
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-
monize with the divine will
"a. ssWill 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
% ',tOShua made q covenant - cove.
nant had been concluded by God on Sinai
with Israel and solemnly ratified. Elk. 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 it
now, and doubtless with august ceremonies.