Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-11-26

GOLDEN TEXT-"Fear thou not for I
am with thse."-lsa. iiiO
The spies sent out by Joshua (eh.
| 81 we're animated by quite a different
motive than that which governed
\ those who first visited Canaan, and
they brought back much different
report mum. oh. 1S). The story OF
| their experience in Jericho with RAJ
hab, their escape from her house and
the incident OF the scarlet thread
will prove an interesting introduction
| for today's lesson. There are two
suggestions 10 the preparation for the
crossing OF the Jordan mentioned in
the first seven verses OF this chapter:
~ II was 10 be an orderly advance
". a.: no disorderly crowding about
those who led. This was also to be a
sure path, though they had not passed
that way before, for God was leading.
90 Il was to be a prayerful advance
". 81. Literally, they were to 'un-
dertake great things for God and to
expect great things from God"
Jesus Must Lead.
|. The Leader, w. 7, 8. The cir
cumstances surrounding this episode
are far different from those at the
crossing of the Red sea. Moses en-
counter with Pharaoh had stamped
him as the one who should save the
nation. True, in the battles and in
his association with Moses Joshua
had occupied a position Of leadership,
but now he is to deliver Israel from
the death OF the wilderness into the
life and possessions of Canaan, hence
the words, Il will magnify thee in
the sight Of all Israel" II is notice
able, however, that Joshua did not
lead this forward march, but rather
the priests. The ark which they bore
is a type OF Christ and he must al
ways lead. Jehovah magnified Joshua
because Joshua had magnifled Jeho-
yah, see !. Sam. $3.50, John 17:4, 8.
II. Those Led, w. e-13. Joshua at
once communicates Jehovah's order
for a forward march to the people Il.
Thess. 2:13). But God graciousiy ac-
companies his word by a visible mani
festation OF his presence ", 10, ~
CT l. John Ii, Col 2:9. It was the
word and presence Of the living
God" ". 10) that was to work this
miracle, and to accomplish the victo-
rious possession of the land In &C.
cordance with HIS own sure promise.
This lesson is a great lesson Of
Nha IaoAtnur ~
} his priests bearing the ark Ia type Of
Christi, leads man from the failures
! Of his wilderness experience, through
} death (the gordan), into newness Of
life (CanaanJ, Rom. GA. 3. Previous
ly the mention OF the names Of these
enemies w. 10) had so frightened
Israel that they turned aside in a
panic, but Israel had been learning
in the bitter school OF discipline and
: failure. THE Lord Of all the earth
". III is to lead, why then fear?
, There was, however, to be a test, viz,
} the path was not to open until their
r feet we're in the waters. There was
no such test at the Red sea, for they
did not then have sufficient faith,
. Cor. 1913, i. Peter III
t IsraePs One Way.
III. The Dry Ground, w. 14-17. Or
until the moment they stepped into
, the water, priest and people alike re
l lied upon the bare word of Jehovah
' l. Sam. 1922. We, too, will surely
3 find a way of escape II we yield him
3 implicit obedience, Isa 1872; !. Cor
t 1913. AS if to heighten this miracle
we need to remember it was the sea
8 son of food tide w. 15). The river
' Jordan is great type of the judg
!. ment passed upon sin. Verse sixteer
g tells us that the waters we're backed
e up beyond the city of Adam" Oul
/ Joshua delivers not only us from al
+ sin but his deliverance Is also suffi
l. cient for the whole human race, Heb
9:28, l. John 1T, Our deliverance Il
complete, let us praise him. TIT
Jordan would not, however, hav,
opened had those bearing the arl
paused upon the bank. The people
could not have been delivered excep
as the ark remained in the river bed
! Jesus went into the waters for us,
5 Cor 5:21; Gal. 3:1S. He has con
g demned sin for us, Rom. SO H
alone has opened pathway for ou
:, deiiverance. There was no other wa,
: whereby Israel could be delivered ant
d further they we're delivered "righ
Z against Jericho" ". 16) viz, befor
t their next big task and "a1 the ma
!. ton we're passed clean over Jordan
g ", ~, John 1912.
Representatives OF each tribe (ch
l. a carried from the river twelv
i stones for the building of an altar 6,
II that the history of that deliveranc,
might be perpetuated.
w. The Lesson. In this lesson W
are brought. in company with Israel
II into the land at last Abraham saw
n and believed. Jacob and his son
II left it when threatened with mora
Il contamination and physical death
al Much has happened since that time
V but Gods purposes, have gone on UT
changed. Nor has Jehovah ever bee
defeated. Israel Is delivered because
in the language of Ps. HAP, "Judal
" became his sanctuary. Israel his dc
n. minion." Note how Ps. 114:3 unite
"a forty years OF history. The sea say
Y 1t and fed; Jordan was driven back.
r This is the history Of a God-possesse
people. Judah. the tribe from whieI
Messiah is to spring. is his sanctuaK
and this is the nation through whor
ID he will accomplish his larger pul
NJ poses In the world.