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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
April 1924
over the city and tell him how strong it was, came back with the news that it would take only a few thousand men, for it was so small. Joshua sent about very worried about it. He, and some of the elders, put dust upon their heads, and prayed earnestly to God, seeking to know the reason for the defeat. God told Joshua that disobedience was among them, be cause God had said everything in Jericho was to be de stroyed, and nothing saved. Some had taken of the spoils, hiding it among their own stuff, so disobeying God. Until the thieves were found and punished, they could not'hope for victory. In the morning it was found that Achan was the guilty one, so He owned up to his sin telling where the stolen things were hid. The punishment was great, for the sin was great. No one can disobey God without suf fering for it. (Read the account carefully.) After the sin was wiped out God promised Joshua just as great a victory over Ai as He had given them oyer Jericho. (Read chapter 8 carefully and describe the vic tory God gave them that day.) The great lesson to be learned is the need of obeying .God completely. Impress upon the class that no halfway obedience will answer with God. Many think that if they go to Church and Sunday School, regularly, they will go to heaven when they die. Make it clear that this won’t save them. Church and Sun day School are good, but they will not save a soul. God says, “My son, give me thy heart.” God wants our heart and whole life given to Him, through His Son Jesus Christ. God loves us and wants every one to be saved, so He gave Jesus as our Saviour. Sin is such an awful thing in God’s sight that a great Sav iour is needed. God gave us the greatest Saviour He had, when He gave Jesus to die in our place. When He said, “Son give me thy heart,” He meant not only boys and girls, but men and women, as well. We have great enemies to fight every day in the shape of the many sins tempting us, these sins are as great enemies to us as were Jericho and Ai to the Jews. Just as they needed God to help them, we need Christ to help us. But if we have given our hearts to Him, we need not fear, for He will help us fight every sin that tempts us. Don’t you remember how Jesus helped Peter to fight his sin, and become a great soldier of the cross? So He will help us. Memory Verse: Phil. 4:13. APRIL 27, 1924 SUBJECTION AND DIVISION OF THE LAND Judges, Chapters 9-24 Golden Text: “There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass” Josh. 21:45. Outline: (1) The Craft of the Gibeonites and Its Consequences, Ch. 9. (2) The Conquest of Cannan, Chs. 10, 11 (3) The Conquered King, Ch. 12. 3000 men to take it, and they were sorely beaten. Joshua was
After the fall of Jericho, Joshua, leaving their families at Gilgal, sent part of his army, about 3,000 men, up one o f the routes leading northwest through a gorge in the hills, by an ancient open road, to a broad plateau in the center of the country. The first city COMMENTS on this plateau, 15 or 20 miles from FROM THE Gilgal, was Ai, a small town about 2 COMMENTARIES miles southeast of Bethel. Its popula- V. V. Morgan tion was about 12,000. This army met a vcrushing defeat. It was totally un expected and unaccountable. The elders of Israel bowed in humiliation and prayer. V. 5. This was not cowardice, but awe. Why should God’s promise fail them? For what unknown reason had God forsaken them? The whole hope of conquest vanished, with themselves at the mercy of their enemies.— Peloubet. Vs. 10-15. The divine interpretation of the situation is of the deepest interest to every generation of God’s people. Israel had sinned, transgressed the covenant concerning Jericho, and dissembled besides by hiding the stolen ar ticles. The whole nation had not done so, but the sin of a part was that of the whole. (James 2 :10 ).—Gray. V. 12. No nation can prosper which is lax in punishing its criminals. Whatever crime is left unpunished will mul tiply, and eat out the life of the nation. Strict justice to the few is mercy to the many,-—Peloubet. V. 19. To Achan himself the previous night must have been one of utter wretchedness; and it is surprising that he did not go at once and throw himself at the feet of Joshua, and make confession of his crime. Had he done so, who can tell but that there might have been some miti gation of his punishment? But he was probably still de ceived by the hope that he might perchance escape de tection; and thus blinded by the god of this world, he ven tured to await the approaching ordeal.— Thomley Smith. V. 21. He had been willing to be a traitor to his nation and to his God, to risk his life and that of his family, for a goodly Babylonish garment, “a long robe beautifully dyed, and richly embroidered with gold and silk, such as was worn by kings on state occasions;” a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight ($485 ); and two hundred shekels of silver ($130 ).—Peloubet. V. 25. The guilty one was removed in such a way as to leave a deep impression on Israel, that disobedience was ruin. It also removed the danger of over-confidence in themselves, instead of faith in God. Hence they went on conquering by the wise use of means, and faithfulness to their mission. The lesson of Achan needs to be deeply im pressed upon us today.— Selected. V. 26. The retribution seems severe, but not in the light of the offense if we judge of it as God did, and who is wise if he set up another standard? Observe that it is not said positively that Achan’s sons and daughters were stoned, although c. 22:20 witnesses that he did not perish alone. They may have been brought out only as Vitnesses to his punishment, but if it also fell on them then they must in some way have been partakers of his sin. (read Deut. 24:16) “The valley of Achor” means “the valley of troubling.”—Gray.
ELEMENTARY Kate H. Haus
After the Jews had conquered Jericho so wonderfully, through God’s help, the next city to be conquered was Ai. This was a small city. The men sent by Joshua to look
(4) The Confines of the Land, Chs.. 13-22. (6) The Charge of Joshua, Chs. 23,24.
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