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wish, not then but after (Matt. 17:4), and shall hereafter. 4. Getting Ready. Deuteronomy shows Moses, thus “faithful in all his house” (Heb. 3 :5), setting his house in order, that his work might be perfected and his suc cessor find all in good shape. So all wise men will do. 5. His Successor Appointed. Meek, gen erous and patriotic he had trained a suc cessor (Joshua 1:1), and now charged and encouraged him (Deut. 31:7, 8), that the flock might not be without a shepherd (Num. 27:17; Matt. 9:36; 2 Tim. 2:2). Jehovah was behind it (Num. 27:15-23; Deut. 31:14), Who always has a man ready so that “the worker dies, but the work goes on.” Joshua (G'reek, “Jesus”) in name and office like the greater Jesus succeeds Moses, to give rest (Heb. 4:8, compare A. R. V.). Wonderful prophecy and theology in history! * 6. His Prospect of the Land (34:1-4). From Pisgah, a hilltop on the uplands of Moab 4000 feet above Jordan’s level, the Grand Old Man beheld “the pleasant land” (Dan. 8:9). The panorama lay at his feet in all its beauty and promise. Jehovah was kind to Ijim. Like a fond parent, chastis ing, then comforting. We should not wish to ------“stan d w here Moses did And view th e landscape o 'er.” Canaan typed the victories and rest of faith, the heavenly places “where we already are’’ (Eph. 1:3), where Moses (representing law) could not come, grace brings us in (Heb. 4:3, 10). Yet we, too, have our
Pisgah—whence, with undimmed eyes- of faith and hope, we may see invisible things (Col. 3:1, 2) to which in the transfigura tion we shall attain (Luke 9:29, 30; Rom. 8 :23, and “Could we b u t stan d a s Moses stood And view that landscape o’er, N ot Jo rd an ’s wave, nor d eath ’s cold flood, Could frig h t u s from th e shore.” 7. His Death and Burial (vs. 5, 6). “So Moses the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, according to the word, Hebrew, “upon the mouth,” the Rabbis say, “By the kiss of the Lord.” So He who “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Gen. 2:7), breathed it back again, lip to lip; and since it was the breath of God, he lives forever! 8. His Indecrepitude (v. 7). Though so old his “eye was not dimmed, nor his natural force abated,” he died in the har ness, in full vigor, his work finished, his vigor undiminished. Magnificent! We would not mind being such a “Last Leaf.” But it is a mystery, and seemingly a ruin ous loss, when our hale- old men, full of knowledge, wisdom and experience, are taken from us, and they as eager as they are able to serve.*
9. His Unique Place Among the Prophets. “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.” Moses is the seed-plot of all prophecy. Later prophets only sowed from his supply. But, now, another like him (18:1-8) hap arisen (Luke 7:16), greater than he (Heb. 3:3). “Hear ye him” (Matt. 17:5). LESSON VIII.—November 23.—J oshua the N ew L eader .— Joshua G olden T ext : Be strong and of a good courage. —Joshua 1:9. I. T h e N ew B ook ,—J o sh u a .
2. Spiritually jt is the book of Jesus, Corresponding to Ephesians, in which the Captain of our salvation leads us into “heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3, 4) to “wres tle” victoriously “against spiritualities, against powers” (6:12), until the redemp tion of the “purchased possession” (1:14). *See Whittier’s lines—page 552
1. Historically it recounts the occupa tion of the land through God-given vic tories under Joshua, whose death ends the book. Its time is 25 years. Its divisions: (1) Spoiling principalities and powers (chs. 1-12) ; (2) Dividing the spoils (chs. 13-22) ; (3) How to retain possession (chs. 23, 24).
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