Evening star., 1919-03-22
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
ISRAEL WARNED AGAINST
COMPROMISE.
Joshua, o3.1-3i2S.
Golden teXt-Evil communica-
tions corrupt good manners.
! Corinthians. 1888.
ny REV. HUGH T.. STEVENSON.


BY REV. HUGH T.. STEVENSON.
Joshua realized that his life was
drawing rapidly to a close and that
the days of his leadership were num-
bered: He could not go the way of
all the earth into eternity without
preparing the nation for the coming
change in leadership. He followed
the example of Moses by delivering
to the elders and nation a farewell
message or better, two parting ad-
dresses, both of which have been as
signed for this weeks study. The
first message was addressed to the
leaders of the nation at Shiloh, the
first national capital in the conquered
land. He delivered his farewell to
he people beneath the old conse-
Grated oak of Abra ham and Jacob. of
which the memory still fingers in a
secluded corner of the valley. under
the northeas. flank of Gerizim."
where he erected pillar that long
marked the historic place.
Joshua. with the wisdom of years
was able to detect the danger that
threatened Israel was a spiritual one
He saw that with their eagernesS TO
possess the riches of the country that
they We're apt to forget God and
compromise with the evildoers found
among the old inhabitants that they
had not driven from the land. His
experience as a soldier in the contests
fought. both in the wilderness and in
the promised land, had taught him
the value of preparation, so he sought
in his farewell messages which pos
sess such unity that many have
considered them to be one. to pre-
pare the nation for the new era In
his review of their past history
Joshua sought to make clear to them
the source of their power.
In single word. the aged warrior
and statesman revealed the secret of
IsraePS strength to be God. The
Lord of Hosts had through His chams
pioning the. cause of Israel enabled
them to triumph in battles, conquer
the land, drive out and destroy the
tribes that had tried to prevent their
securing possession of the land. He
had given them Il place in the sun
and peace with all nations. They
won the possession of the promised
land through their faith in the power
OF Jehovah. 1t gave them the cour-
age they needed tG attempt the ford
ing of the Jordan and the capture
of the walled city of Jericho. The
one hope of developing a nation and
through the chosen people winning
all the nations of the earth to the
worship of Jehovah. as the one and
only God, depended upon their per-
petua ting the faith that had been de-
veIoped in them in the trials of the
past.
Prosperity threatened to endanger
their devotion and fidelity to God.
Israel had been blessed with grea
prosperity far beyond anything that
they had every belief would come to
them. They had developed the re-
nf ia
success that has since marked their
career as a dominant and resourceful
people throughout all of their his
tory from the time they mastered the
promised land and it was divided
among the tribes. Joshua realized the
Israel in the period of reconstruction
when he, under the leadership of
Jehovah. had esta blished them in the
land. He with the zeal of a patriot
points out the nations peril.
He also warned them of another
danger. due to the success of their
( eonquests over foreign foe. some
of whom still dweIt in the land. The
acid test of their faith and religion
was being applied through their daily
associations with the heather tribes.
They were in danger of lowering their
spiritual standards and ideals in life
to those Of the people whom they had
conquered. One can fall down the
moral path easier than one can elm b
up it's lofty heights. Our government
has realized this danger in the
American expeditionary forces. 1t
and recreation together with educa-
! tion ands entertainment to preserve
| the high ideals of the nation among
| the men in the Army "over there"
! If it were not for the fact that our
people have been moved not by a
ri of hr,f of haI Ind IN
| the danger would be still greater to
| the nation and our men. Joshua tried
| to preserve Israers spiritual life and
/ ideals by not only sounding the note
of warning, but also by pointing out
| that the success of the past being due
| to God demanded that they should be
loyal to Jehovah, as the path to per-
! petual power.
! Fidelity to principles of religion
and duty was a national obiiga ton
that Israel owed to Jehovah because
of the success with which He had
crowned their efforts. Confidence and
courage had controlled the labors of
Joshua. 1t is natural that he should
insist that the nation prove their 10y
atty by taking a bold stand for their
faith. He called upon them to stand
up for the principles of Moses and be
They were to keep themselves fit for
Gods service by living a consecrated
life among men that would testify to
the power of their faith. They were
to have the spirit of Daniel to stand
up alone if necessary for the teach
inas of Moses. Friendship with the
foreigner might pull them downward
through the indecency. immortality
and idolatry of their heather life. If
Israel was to survive she must. keep
her national life free from the stain
of sin either in fellowship or mar
riage. Loyalty to God would insure
them future prosperity and power to
overcome all opposition.
1t required lofty spiritual life and
courage to warn Israel of the dan
Joshua dared to called upon them not
only; to remove all the remains of
idolatry that might still exist from
the influence of Mesopotamia or
Egypt upon their life. but also to
warn them of the peril of their even
Righteousness. He sought to prevent
the nation making the first false
step because he knew that it would
lead to failure. Jehovah would be
compelled to punish them. using the
tickle and false friendships of heather
alliances as His instruments. Com
promise with evil clogs spiritual
power. In this dangerous hour of re-
construction let all Americans and
Christians see to it that they ALLOW
no compromise of their lofty ideals
of unseifish service for God and hu-
manity to draw them away from the
path of power .- -
History proved the truthfulness of
Joshua's prediction. Israel compro-
missed her faith by sharing in the
idolatrous practices of the Canaanites.
who remained in the land. Captivity
and exile followed their failure to
heed the advice of Joshua. The Ca
naaniteS were not only a Scourye and
thorn to Israel. but the nation failed