Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1913-12-04


had passed over the Jordan One is
let: to be overwhelmed by the river.
the other is erected in Gilgal They
mark the distinctit.L between
Christs death under judgment in the
believers place. and the believers
perfect deliverance from judgment.
See Ps. 42:7 and SS:7: Josh. 12:31-33.
The stones in the Jordan stand typic
ally for Ps %: lis.
In chapter five is the record of the
repr6ach Of unbelief. rolled away"
(v. - the cessation OF thc mamma ".
12) and the appearance of the cap
tain of the Lords host" wv. 13-l5)
unto Joshua as he was making a re
connaissance before Jericho.
|. God's Orders. ~. 1-5 The fame
of the gsraelites had preceded them
(ch. 2:9 and that this was added
too by the miraculous deliverancc at
the Jordan is suggested in verse one.
Verse two suggests that again they
must proceed upon the bare word of
Jehovah. and humanity speaking. how
utterly absurd appear the divine or
ders.
JehoVah's Word Followed
". Joshua's instructions. w. 6-8.
\ reading Of this section reveals the
tact that Joshua diligently followed
out the word or .TeHovah Preceding
the people was the ark and we need
to remember What it contained and
that il is 4 type oC Christ. Following
the armed men aHd the priests came
the "sHcnt host ". 100. No other
sound than that OF the trumpet ".
13)
The walls OF Jericho are not to fall
by the use OF the ordinary imple-
ments Of war. see Cor 1894. AMI
the resultant victory was in no way
to give opportunity for human boast
ing, Eph. 90; l Cor. 1:2629. Joshua
did not set forth Il more reasonable
method" he did not alter Gods or
ders; thu; he had no right to DO. nor
have we. Rev. 22:1S. 19; John 80;
Matt. 1876. The implements and tho
methods were foolish to those in
Jericho and to all unbelievers. see |
Cor. 1:2125. 1t was the priests who
led with the Jubilee truplpets." typi.
cal OF. the gospel which Paul tells is
the power Of God" Rom. 1:16.
III. The Obedient People. w. 9-16.
One great act of distrust and dis.
obedience led to those years of aim
less wandering accompanied by dis
comfort and resulting in death to all
(save two. Caleb and Joshua) who
crossed the Red Sea with Moses.
Here we have the contrast. Seven
days OF patient, obedient marching,
Aipc tn II
lowed by victory and possession.
What n strange sight this cavalcade
must have made The trumpet blow
ing priests; the ark. symbolic of Je-
hovah's presence and typical of
Christ; the silent multitude Verify
this new generation is being tested
ere they enter into their promised in
heritance. On the seventh day they
arose earlier and were subjected to a
seven-fold test. Our fiercest testing
is generally just before the moment
of our greatest victory.
Saved by Faith.
Faith used means ordered of COD,
foolish to man, and wrought n great
victory. Faithful obedience is here
wonderfully contrasted with former
unfaithfulness. Joshua directs the
spies to search out Rahab and she
and her household are saved accord
ing to promise. Wv. 1925. She also
was saved by faith. Heb. 1871, and
became one of the line from which
Christ came. Matt 1:5. The only
part of the wall that remained stand
ing was that where Rahab's house
e.ta .Ia
The teaching is very plain. AS the
Israelites depended wholly upon God.
were obedient to his orders. accepted
his discipline. held back all passion
and covetousness, they entered into
the fruits of victory that made easy
many subsequent ones. Their acts of
faith were a more severe test than
those more visible and carnal means
of fighting battles
AS these people OF God had crossed
the Jordan. submitted to the rite OF
circumcision, took their first march
in this land of promise and captured
this walled city which stood in the
way OF their progress. the unbelief OF
forty years was rebuked This was Il
day of vindcation for Caleb and
Joshua. a day of proving that God
was able to give victory to the people
In whom he delighted
The Golden Text illustrates what
1t is to believe, when we recall the
story from which il is taken-obedi-
ent faith in spite of appearances. No
one can deny the absurdity OF peo-
pie walking around the walls OF q
city blowing rams horns and expect
ing to possess it. Faith in both OF
these incidents depended upon the
word OF God and did the apparently
foolish thing. thereby demonstrating
its wisdom. and his power
Faith is revealed also as the power
to wait and to persist. Faith is co
operation with God In the accomplish