THE KING’S BUSINESS
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(6) Who befriend Israel shall be befriended. (8') Christ was not only born in her, but born of her (Matt. 1:5). III. C rossing t h e J ordan (3: 1-17). 1. The Barrier. The river at that point and season was absolutely impassable to the multitude. Almighty power alone could accomplish it, faith in that power alone would venture it. To cross was to go through death (death to the world, to self, with Christ) into life. 2. Preparation for the Passage. (1) An early start. Joshua believed that now is the accepted time (Num. 13:30; 14:6; Joshua 6:12; 7:16; 8:10). This holds good in consecration as in salvation. 3. The Sign for Moving. They must move with “the ark of the covenant” (Exod. 25:10-21): (1) The symbol and seat of the God of the covenant (Exod. 25:22); (2) stained with the blood of. the covenant (Exod. 24:8; Lev. 16:14); (3) containing the tables of the covenant (2 Chron. 6:11) ; (4) to appear again to lead Israel over in their final and true baptism in Jordan at the consummation of the covenant (Rev. 11:15-19). The Lord was with the ark and Israel could sing, 4. The Sanctification (v. 5). Without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). Israel was to see, if not His person, His power. There is that in the demonstration of His presence that dis covers sin and uncleanness in men (Exod. 19:10; 20:18, 19; Isa. 6:5; Luke 5:8), a significant'and warning fact (Rev. 6:16, 17). This sanctification or consecration of themselves, was (1) setting themselves apart as His, and (2) a repudiation of all defilement because His, and (3) a necessary prelude, or accompaniment of baptism with Him into “newness” of life. 5. The Order of March. (1) The priests with the ark passed on 3000 feet in ad vance of the people (v. 6). So the vast multitude up and down the shore could “W here H e leads me X will follow.” “W here H e leads m e I can follow.”
see its direction: For they had not passed that way before (v. 4). True of our each day’s march. Keep your eyes "on the Leader. (2) They moved on into the water (v. 15). What transcenclent and obedient faith! “N othing before, and n othing behind; The steps of fa ith P all on th e seem ing void, and find T he rock b en eath .” (3) Jordan dared but touch the feet of faith, and then “What ailed thee . . . thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? (Ps. 114:6). Dammed by the will of God, it was cut off. There are two almighties. With God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37), and "All things are possible to him that believethi’ (Mark 9:23). IV. T h e M emorial S tones (4:1-9, 20-24). Facts of Faith. Our faith is founded on and expounded by facts. God has been pleased to rear monuments to quicken mem ory and awaken inquiry (vs. 21-24), for the instruction of all mankind. The Bible, the Lord’s day, baptism, the Lord’s supper and the visible Church are such memorials. He points us to no “new thought,” or “modern” theories, but to old facts with the old significance. Note the stress laid on re membrance (Mark 8:18; 1 Cor. 15:1, 2; 2 Peter 3:1; 1:12-15; Ps. 106:13); Men say today that miracles do not count.' God differs from them (v. 23, 24). V. J o shua M agnified (3:7). 1. Men like Joshua the king delights to honor (Esther 6:9). 2. By this He testified to the people that Joshua was the authorized successor to Moses. So by crossing the Jordan (the death and resurrection) Jesus was witness ed as the new Leader (John 1:17; Acts 17:31). 3. Joshua’s view of it would be that of Jesus (John 17:1), to glorify God. 4. For the same reason only we should wish to be honored. Have you crossed the Jordan, or only the sea?
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