April 1st, Deut. 24; April 15th, Joshua 4; April 30th, Joshua 19; May 15th, Judges 10.

COMMENTS

As already noted, Deut. 20-26 give instruction concerning various relationships and responsibilities, God-ward and manward. First, the mode of government by which such duties are regulated, including in an anticipative way the establishment of a king. Then, duties toward those who are the ministers of the Lord – priest, Levite and prophet. This is followed by responsibilities as to life and conduct in many varied connections. In chap. 26 we get the worship of God's people hi possession of the land; confessing it as all God's gift.

Chaps. 27-30 give the curse and the blessing connected with the covenant. The closing portion (chaps. 31-34) is largely prophetic, and also gives an introduction to the new leader – Joshua. Here are set out before us the ways of God, in grace, mercy, power, and holiness, for the manifestation of Himself and the blessing of His people – the full realization of which waits upon the completion of the present work of forming the Body of Christ, whereupon God will take up His unfinished plans as to Israel, the nations, and the earth, completing them in the coming and kingdom of the Son of Man.

Commencing Joshua, we pass out of the wilderness into the land, where war must be carried on to practically secure and enjoy the inheritance given them according to Jehovah's promise.

The first eleven chapters bring us through various conflicts to rest from war. This does not mean, however, that there is not continued need for vigilance, that the watch-tower can be abandoned, and ease and laxity rule. No;'it is a question of keeping in subjection defeated enemies, of being persevering, diligent, watchful, obedient to and dependent upon God, else the enemy will soon rise up again. This is just what happened because Israel failed in these things, as to which Moses had so earnestly exhorted them before his departure. This sad failure of Israel brought in the conditions which the book of Judges so graphically describes. These things are written for warning and instruction to us.

First, the crossing of Jordan is typical of 'the cross on the one hand, and on the other of the Christian's identification through it with Christ, as accepted in Him according to the truth of resurrection-place and power. The knowledge of this, ministered by the Spirit, is the entering of our spiritual Canaan; our possession of which is opposed by powers of spiritual wickedness.

Canaan, then, is not a type of bur future entrance into heaven as a result of resurrection at the Lord's coming; but it is a type of our spiritual portion in Christ, of which we are now to take possession. It speaks of entering through faith the spiritual conflict according to Ephesians 6. It is really what engages us until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Then with the enemy cast out we shall hear of war no more. Till then we (like Israel), under the Holy Spirit's leadership (Joshua), and as obedient to the Word (the book of the law), are to be warriors and conquerors.

Note that Gilgal is the base of operations. There, the reproach of Egypt was rolled away-the world in its Egyptian aspect and the flesh ever in alliance with it, judged and set aside. Then Jericho falls, another type of the world, but in a different aspect from Egypt. It is a picture of the world in its power, pride, and seeming pleasantness, which our great spiritual foes, "the universal lords of this darkness," would use to bind us hand and foot, spiritually speaking – would destroy separation to God in holiness and obedience through "artifices of the devil," causing our spiritual portion to lie unpossessed. Ecclesiastes exposes Jericho, and this aspect of the world is largely what John's first epistle has in view. Egypt is different, though found after all to be a close companion to Jericho; it is rather the world in its moral debasement slavery to sin, under the sinister influence and control of Satan. Egypt is more the "filthiness" of flesh, while Jericho is that of the spirit (2 Cor. 7:1); Yet, though giving different aspects, they are linked together and under one control.

Joshua has been referred to as typical of the Spirit of Christ in us, in connection with the new place He has entered in glory; thus Eleazar, associated with Joshua in the leadership of the people, suggests the priesthood of Christ as exercised in resurrection-power and place.

The remaining chapters of Joshua treat first of the land's allotment to the tribes (12-21); then instructions and warnings occupy chaps. 22-24.

The division of the "land among the tribes is full of spiritual instruction. Its great detail calls for patient, careful study.

A thought or two may serve as suggestions. We have already mentioned what the land typifies. The tribes may be considered as pointing to the character and relation pertaining to God's people, individually and collectively. Thus Judah ("praise") suggests the worshiped, the one who rejoices in the Lord. Simeon ("hearing") speaks of the consecrated ear, opened to God's word, to which obedience is rendered, for true hearing involves doing. Naphtali ("wrestling") points to the warrior character; we are to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Then the different directions-north, east, etc.-suggest aspects of the world and its influences. The cities in their various groupings and the meaning of their names give lessons of experience which link with the former two lines of thought.

There is a foreshadow of failure in Joshua's closing messages to the people, and the beginning of Judges shows this to have quickly developed after his death, and that of the elders who outlived him.