King's Business - 1913-11

THE KING’S BUSINESS 529 LESSON X.—December 7.— T he F all of J ericho . —Joshua 5 :10—6:27. G olden T ext : All things are possible to him that believeth ,—Mark 9 :23.

of God, and fell short of their expectation. This gave ground for Egypt’s mocking re­ proaches. The first step was to “get right with God,” to claim tbe'coyenant by receiv­ ing its mark, submitting; to its pain,. and to the risk of attack (5:8), by faith. True circumcision is spiritual (Rom. 2:29; Phil. 3:3). It involves “putting off; the body oi the sins of the flesh.” This is “the re­ proach of Egypt” for which the world mocks us Christians, and for which we fail of conquest and rest. . This belies our faith, that-we’shrink fromJthe 4gharp:knift” th at’ would put away sin, that would crucify self. ■ First circumcision, then conquest. III. " T h e P assover ( v . 10)./ 1. Its Negteci. Commanded to keep the feast annually, Israel had not celebrated it in all the yehrs of wandering. The un- circumsized could not keep it (Exod. 12: 48). The uncircumsized in heart have no relish for the festivals and assemblies of the Lord, nor, worse, any sense of the cleansing of the Blood. 2. Its Significance. (1) The Passover blood on that night in Egypt saved them from wrath (Exod. 12; Rom. 5:9).' (2) . The:same-Wood at Sinai (Num. 9:5) shield­ ed them from the imperfectly kept law, and should have continued as setting forth 1 John 1:7. (3) The same blood was now necessary for the conquests before them (Rev. 12:11). IV. T h e C aptain of t h e H ost (5:13; 6: 2-5). 1. Awaiting Orders. “Jericho was straightly shut up. “It was the key to the country. Strongly fortified; strategically situated; it must be taken. But how? Joshua was “by Jericho,” reconnoitering, measuring its strength; meditating meth­ ods; waiting jfor/orders.. The Lord will not keep the ready and willing long in waiting. 2. The Theophany. Joshua beheld a “man with a drawn sword,” , “strong and of a good courage,” he challenged him. “Art

I. N ature and P urpose op t h is R ecord . 1. - Nature. It has been said that the course as well as the record of this his­ tory is inspired. That is, that God so ordered events that they might be, .forever, types and prophecies. Types of spiritual experience, and prophecies of Israel’s fu­ ture career. It is not consecutive and. com­ plete story, but selective,, to; fulfill its pur­ pose (John 20:30). It is history that has repeated and will repeat itself. 2. Its Purpose. It is written (1) for our instruction (1 Cor. 10:6, 11; Rom. 15:4, 5) : (2) to witness to its own truth (John 20:30, 31). No other history is written after this fashion, and with such spiritual power. II. R olling A way t h e R eproach (5:1-9). 1. Surrendered and■ Consecrated. Bear in mind that Israel in crossing the Jordan had wholly committed itself to the Lord. Jordan again “flowed over all his banks, as before” (4:9)/ Their ships were burned 'behind them. They had no more thought of returning to Egypt (Num. 14:4); no more fear of “giants,” or dread of cities “walled up to heaven.” They stood in the enemy’s country, just where the believer finds himself when resolved to wrestle with spiritualities and powers (Eph. 4:12), and cleanse the heavenly places (his heritage) of their presence, he panoplys himself with the “whole (non-carnal) armor of God” (Eph. 6:10; 2 Cor. 10:4-6). 2. The Circumcision. Jehovah command­ ed Joshua to circumcise the host. “Jesus,” as he was in name and type, it was fit that he' should circumcise them with the “circumcision” of Christ in type. The gen­ eration that left Egypt were circumcised (v. 4), those' born on the way were not (v. 5). Circumcision, was the “sign” of the covenant and the “seal” pf faith (Rom. 4:11; Gen. 17:9-14). Neglectful of the sign they were without the seal, and to human appearance not in covenant relationship, since (as v. 6 shows) they seemed forsaken

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