patriarchs and prophets-第135章
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possessed a considerable portion of the land promised to Israel； and Joshua
exhorted his people not to settle down at ease and forget the Lord's command
to utterly dispossess these idolatrous nations。
The people in general were slow to complete the work of driving out the
heathen。 The tribes had dispersed to their possessions； the army had
disbanded； and it was looked upon as a difficult and doubtful undertaking to
renew the war。 But Joshua declared： 〃The Lord your God； He shall expel them
from before you； and drive them from out of your sight； and ye shall possess
their land； as the Lord your God hath promised unto you。 Be ye therefore
very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law
of Moses； that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the
left。〃
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Joshua appealed to the people themselves as witnesses that； so far as they
had complied with the conditions； God had faithfully fulfilled His promises
to them。 〃Ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls；〃 he said； 〃that
not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God
spake concerning you； all are come to pass unto you； and not one thing hath
failed thereof。〃 He declared to them that as the Lord had fulfilled His
promises； so He would fulfill His threatenings。 〃It shall come to pass； that
as all good things are come upon you； which the Lord your God promised you；
so shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things。 。 。 。 When ye have
transgressed the covenant of the Lord； 。 。 。 then shall the anger of the
Lord be kindled against you； and ye shall perish quickly from off the good
land which He hath given unto you。〃
Satan deceives many with the plausible theory that God's love for His people
is so great that He will excuse sin in them； he represents that while the
threatenings of God's word are to serve a certain purpose in His moral
government； they are never to be literally fulfilled。 But in all His
dealings with his creatures God has maintained the principles of
righteousness by revealing sin in its true characterby demonstrating that
its sure result is misery and death。 The unconditional pardon of sin never
has been； and never will be。 Such pardon would show the abandonment of the
principles of righteousness； which are the very foundation of the government
of God。 It would fill the unfallen universe with consternation。 God has
faithfully pointed out the results of sin； and if these warnings were not
true； how could we be sure that His promises would be fulfilled？ That
so…called benevolence which would set aside justice is not benevolence but
weakness。
God is the life…giver。 From the beginning all His laws were ordained to
life。 But sin broke in upon the order that God had established； and discord
followed。 So long as sin exists； suffering and death are inevitable。 It is
only because the Redeemer has borne the curse of sin in our behalf that man
can hope to escape； in his own person； its dire results。
Before the death of Joshua the heads and representatives of the tribes；
obedient to his summons； again assembled at Shechem。 No spot in all the land
possessed so many sacred associations； carrying their minds back to God's
covenant with Abraham and Jacob； and recalling also their own solemn vows
upon their
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entrance into Canaan。 Here were the mountains Ebal and Gerizim； the silent
witnesses of those vows which now； in the presence of their dying leader；
they had assembled to renew。 On every side were evidences of what God had
wrought for them； how He had given them a land for which they did not labor；
and cities which they built not； vineyards and oliveyards which they planted
not。 Joshua reviewed once more the history of Israel； recounting the
wonderful works of God； that all might have a sense of His love and mercy
and might serve Him 〃in sincerity and in truth。〃
By Joshua's direction the ark had been brought from Shiloh。 The occasion was
one of great solemnity； and this symbol of God's presence would deepen the
impression he wished to make upon the people。 After presenting the goodness
of God toward Israel； he called upon them； in the name of Jehovah； to choose
whom they would serve。 The worship of idols was still to some extent
secretly practiced； and Joshua endeavored now to bring them to a decision
that should banish this sin from Israel。 〃If it seem evil unto you to serve
Jehovah；〃 he said； 〃choose you this day whom ye will serve。〃 Joshua desired
to lead them to serve God； not by compulsion； but willingly。 Love to God is
the very foundation of religion。 To engage in His service merely from hope
of reward or fear of punishment would avail nothing。 Open apostasy would not
be more offensive to God than hypocrisy and mere formal worship。
The aged leader urged the people to consider； in all its bearings； what he
had set before them； and to decide if they really desired to live as did the
degraded idolatrous nations around them。 If it seemed evil to them to serve
Jehovah； the source of power； the fountain of blessing； let them that day
choose whom they would serve〃the gods which your fathers served；〃 from
whom Abraham was called out； 〃or the gods of the Amorites； in whose land ye
dwell。〃 These last words were a keen rebuke to Israel。 The gods of the
Amorites had not been able to protect their worshipers。 Because of their
abominable and debasing sins； that wicked nation had been destroyed； and the
good land which they once possessed had been given to God's people。 What
folly for Israel to choose the deities for whose worship the Amorites had
been destroyed！ 〃As for me and my house；〃 said Joshua； 〃we will serve
Jehovah。〃 The same holy zeal that inspired the leader's heart was
communicated to the people。 His appeals
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called forth the unhesitating response； 〃God forbid that we should forsake
Jehovah； to serve other gods。〃
〃Ye cannot serve the Lord；〃 said Joshua： 〃for He is a holy God； 。 。 。 He
will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins。〃 Before there could be
any permanent reformation the people must be led to feel their utter
inability in themselves to render obedience to God。 They had broken His law；
it condemned them as transgressors； and it provided no way of escape。 While
they trusted in their own strength and righteousness； it was impossible for
them to secure the pardon of their sins； they could not meet the claims of
God's perfect law； and it was in vain that they pledged themselves to serve
God。 It was only by faith in Christ that they could secure pardon of sin and
receive strength to obey God's law。 They must cease to rely upon their own
efforts for salvation； they must trust wholly in the merits of the promised
Saviour； if they would be accepted of God。
Joshua endeavored to lead his hearers to weigh well their words； and refrain
from vows which they would be unprepared to fulfill。 With deep earnestness
they repeated the declaration： 〃Nay； but we will serve the Lord。〃 Solemnly
consenting to the witness against themselves that they had chosen Jehovah；
they once more reiterated their pledge of loyalty： 〃The Lord our God will we
serve； and His voice will we obey。
〃So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day； and set them a statute
and an ordinance in Shechem。〃 Having written an account of this solemn
transaction； he placed it； with the book of the law； in the side of the ark。
And he set up a pillar as a memorial； saying； 〃Behold； this stone shall be a
witness unto us； for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which He spake
unto us； it shall be therefore a witness unto you； lest ye deny your God。 So
Joshua let the people depart； every man unto his inheritance。〃
Joshua's work for Israel was done。 He had 〃wholly followed the Lord；〃 and in
the book of God he is written； 〃The servant of Jehovah。〃 The noblest
testimony to his character as a public leader is the history of the
generation that had enjoyed his labors： 〃Israel served the Lord all the days
of Joshua； and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua。〃
