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Numbers Chapter
Thirteen
Numbers 13
Chapter Contents
Twelve men sent to search the land of Canaan
Their
instructions. (1-20) Their proceedings. (21-25) Their account of the land.
(26-33)
Commentary on Numbers 13:1-20
A memorable and melancholy history is related in this and
the following chapter
of the turning back of Israel from the borders of
Canaan
and the sentencing them to wander and perish in the wilderness
for
their unbelief and murmuring. It appears
Deuteronomy 1:22
that the motion to search out
the land came from the people. They had a better opinion of their own policy
than of God's wisdom. Thus we ruin ourselves by believing the reports and
representations of sense rather than Divine revelation. We walk by sight not by
faith. Moses gave the spies this charge
Be of good courage. It was not only a
great undertaking they were put upon
which required good management and
resolution; but a great trust was reposed in them
which required that they
should be faithful. Courage in such circumstances can only spring from strong
faith
which Caleb and Joshua alone possessed.
Commentary on Numbers 13:21-25
The searchers of the land brought a bunch of grapes with
them
and other fruits
as proofs of the goodness of the country; which was to
Israel both the earnest and the specimen of all the fruits of Canaan. Such are
the present comforts we have in communion with God
foretastes of the fulness
of joy we expect in the heavenly Canaan. We may see by them what heaven is.
Commentary on Numbers 13:26-33
We may wonder that the people of Israel staid forty days
for the return of their spies
when they were ready to enter Canaan
under all
the assurances of success they could have from the Divine power
and the
miracles that had hitherto attended them. But they distrusted God's power and
promise. How much we stand in our own light by our unbelief! At length the
messengers returned; but the greater part discouraged the people from going
forward to Canaan. Justly are the Israelites left to this temptation
for
putting confidence in the judgment of men
when they had the word of God to
trust in. Though they had found the land as good as God had said
yet they
would not believe it to be as sure as he had said
but despaired of having it
though Eternal Truth had engaged it to them. This was the representation of the
evil spies. Caleb
however
encouraged them to go forward
though seconded by
Joshua only. He does not say
Let us go up and conquer it; but
Let us go and
possess it. Difficulties that are in the way of salvation
dwindle and vanish
before a lively
active faith in the power and promise of God. All things are
possible
if they are promised
to him that believes; but carnal sense and
carnal professors are not to be trusted. Unbelief overlooks the promises and
power of God
magnifies every danger and difficulty
and fills the heart with
discouragement. May the Lord help us to believe! we shall then find all things
possible.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on
Numbers》
Numbers 13
Verse 1
[1] And
the LORD spake unto Moses
saying
Speak unto Moses — In
answer to the peoples petition about it
as is evident from Deuteronomy 1:22. And it is probable
the people
desired it out of diffidence of God's promise.
Verse 2
[2] Send thou men
that they may search the land of Canaan
which I give unto
the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man
every one a ruler among them.
A ruler — A
person of wisdom and authority.
Verse 8
[8] Of
the tribe of Ephraim
Oshea the son of Nun.
Oshea —
Called also Joshua
Numbers 13:16.
Verse 11
[11] Of
the tribe of Joseph
namely
of the tribe of Manasseh
Gaddi the son of Susi.
Of Joseph —
The name of Joseph is elsewhere appropriated to Ephraim
here to Manasseh;
possibly to aggravate the sin of the ruler of this tribe
who did so basely
degenerate from his noble ancestor.
Verse 16
[16] These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses
called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
Jehoshua —
Oshea notes a desire of salvation
signifying
Save we pray thee; but Jehoshua
or Joshua
includes a promise of salvation
He will save. So this was a
prophecy of his succession to Moses in the government
and of the success of
his arms. Joshua is the same name with Jesus
of whom Joshua was a type. He was
the Saviour of God's people from the powers of Canaan
Christ from the powers
of hell.
Verse 17
[17] And
Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan
and said unto them
Get you up
this way southward
and go up into the mountain:
Southward —
Into the southern part of Canaan
which was the nearest part
and the worst
too
being dry and desert
and therefore fit for them to enter and pass through
with less observation.
Into the mountain —
Into the mountainous country
and thence into the valleys
and so take a survey
of the whole land.
Verse 18
[18] And
see the land
what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein
whether they be
strong or weak
few or many;
What it is —
Both for largeness
and for nature and quality.
Verse 19
[19] And
what the land is that they dwell in
whether it be good or bad; and what cities
they be that they dwell in
whether in tents
or in strong holds;
In tents — As
the Arabians did; or in unwalled villages
which
like tents
are exposed to an
enemy.
Verse 20
[20] And
what the land is
whether it be fat or lean
whether there be wood therein
or
not. And be ye of good courage
and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the
time was the time of the firstripe grapes.
Fat —
Rich and fertile.
Verse 21
[21] So
they went up
and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob
as
men come to Hamath.
Zin — In
the south of Canaan
differing from the wilderness of Sin
which was nigh unto
Egypt.
To Hamath —
From the south they passed through the whole land to the northern parts of it;
Rehob was a city in the north-west part
Hamath
a city in the north-east.
Verse 22
[22] And
they ascended by the south
and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman
Sheshai
and
Talmai
the children of Anak
were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before
Zoan in Egypt.)
By the south —
Moses having described their progress from south to north
more particularly
relates some memorable places and passages.
They came —
Heb. He came
namely
Caleb
as appears from Joshua 14:9
12
14. For the spies distributed
their work among them
and went either severally
or by pairs; and it seems the
survey of this part was left to Caleb.
Anak — A
famous giant
whole children these are called
either more generally
as all
giants sometimes were
or rather more specially because Arbah
from whom Hebron
was called Kiriath-arbah
was the father of Anak
Joshua 15:13. And this circumstance is mentioned
as an evidence of the goodness of that land
because the giants chose it for
their habitation.
Before Zoan —
This seems to be noted to confront the Egyptians
who vainly boasted of the
antiquity of their city Zoan above all places.
Verse 23
[23] And
they came unto the brook of Eshcol
and cut down from thence a branch with one
cluster of grapes
and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought
of the pomegranates
and of the figs.
Upon a staff —
Either for the weight of it
considering the
length of the way they were to
carry it
or for the preservation of it whole and entire. In those eastern and
southern countries there are vines and grapes of an extraordinary bigness as
Strabo and Pliny affirm.
Verse 24
[24] The
place was called the brook Eshcol
because of the cluster of grapes which the
children of Israel cut down from thence.
Eschol —
That is
a cluster of grapes.
Verse 25
[25] And
they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
They returned after forty days — 'Tis a wonder the people had patience to stay forty days
when they were
just ready to enter Canaan
under all the assurances of success they could have
from the Divine power
proved by a constant series of miracles
that had
hitherto attended them. But they distrusted God
and chose to be held in
suspence by their own counsels
rather than to rest upon God's promise! How
much do we stand in our own light by unbelief?
Verse 26
[26] And
they went and came to Moses
and to Aaron
and to all the congregation of the
children of Israel
unto the wilderness of Paran
to Kadesh; and brought back
word unto them
and unto all the congregation
and shewed them the fruit of the
land.
Kadesh —
Kadesh-barnea
which some confound with Kadesh in the wilderness of Sin
into
which they came not 'till the fortieth year after their coming out of Egypt
as
appears from Numbers 33:37
38
whereas they were in this
Kadesh in the second year
and before they received the sentence of their forty
years abode in the wilderness.
Verse 27
[27] And
they told him
and said
We came unto the land whither thou sentest us
and
surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
They told him — In
the audience of the people.
Verse 29
[29] The
Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites
and the Jebusites
and the Amorites
dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea
and by the coast of Jordan.
The Amalekites in the south — Where we are to enter the land
and they who were so fierce against us
that they came into the wilderness to fight with us
will
without doubt
oppose us when we come close by their land
the rather
to revenge themselves
for their former loss. Therefore they mention them
though they were not
Canaanites.
In the mountains — In
the mountainous country
in the south-east part of the land
so that you cannot
enter there without great difficulty
both because of the noted strength and
valour of those people
and because of the advantage they have from the
mountains.
By the sea —
Not the mid-land sea
which is commonly understood by that expression
but the
salt or dead sea
as appears
1. Because it is that sea which is next to
Jordan
2. Because the Canaanites dwelt principally in those parts
and not
near the mid-land sea. So these guard the entrance on the east-side
as the
others do on the south.
Verse 30
[30] And
Caleb stilled the people before Moses
and said
Let us go up at once
and
possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
Caleb —
Together with Joshua
as is manifest from Numbers 14:6
7
30
but Caleb alone is here
mentioned
possibly because he spake first and most
which he might better do
because he might be presumed to be more impartial than Joshua
who being
Moses's minister might be thought to speak only what he knew his master would
like.
Stilled the people —
Which implies either that they had began to murmur
or that by their looks and
carriage
they discovered the anger which boiled in their breasts.
Before Moses —
Or
towards Moses
against whom they were incensed
as the man who had brought
them into such sad circumstances.
Let us go up and possess it — He does not say
Let us go up and conquer it. He looks on that to be as
good as done already: but
Let us go up and possess it! There is nothing to be
done
but to enter without delay
and take the possession which our great Lord
is now ready to give us! Thus difficulties that lie in the way of salvation
vanish away before a lively faith.
Verse 31
[31] But
the men that went up with him said
We be not able to go up against the people;
for they are stronger than we.
The men —
All of them
Joshua excepted.
Stronger —
Both in stature of body and numbers of people. Thus they question the power
and truth
and goodness of God
of all which they had such ample testimonies.
Verse 32
[32] And
they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the
children of Israel
saying
The land
through which we have gone to search it
is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we
saw in it are men of a great stature.
Eateth up its inhabitants — Not so much by civil wars
for that was likely to make their conquest
more easy; but rather by the unwholesomeness of the air and place
which they
guessed from the many funerals
which
as some Hebrew writers
not without
probability affirm
they observed in their travels through it: though that came
to pass from another cause
even from the singular providence of God
which
to
facilitate the Israelites conquest
cut off vast numbers of the Canaanites
either by a plague
or by the hornet sent before them
as is expressed
Joshua 24:12.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Numbers》
13 Chapter 13
Verses 1-20
Send thou men
that they may search the land of Canaan.
Glimpses of the better land
I. The search.
II. The retreat
III. An emblem of
God’s dealings with His people.
1. The children of Israel were sent back to the wilderness on account
of their sin.
2. While they are sent in judgment
they go back of their own accord.
3. Though the fruit of sin
and the token of God’s righteous
displeasure
all was overruled for their good.
4. Though chastened they are not cast off.
IV. Improvement.
1. Let young believers be not high-minded
but fear.
2. Let backsliders remember and weep.
3. Let tried and troubled saints take fresh courage. (Islay Burns
D. D.)
The sending forth of the spies
I. The origin of
this expedition (cf. Deuteronomy 1:20-25).
1. God had Himself declared to them the excellence of the land (Exodus 3:8; Exodus 33:3).
2. He had promised to guide them to the land (Exodus 32:34; Exodus 33:2; Exodus 33:14). Moreover
He was visibly
present with them in the majestic pillar of cloud and fire.
3. He had promised to drive out the heathen nations and give them
possession of the land (Exodus 23:20-33; Deuteronomy 1:8).
4. He commanded them to “go up and possess” the land (Deuteronomy 1:8; Deuteronomy 1:21).
5. Yet their answer was
“We will send men before us
and they shall
search us out the laud
” &c. (Deuteronomy 1:22). Clearly their duty was
not to send men to search out the land
but trusting in God
to obey His voice
and go and take possession of the land. God may allow us to carry out our
unbelieving plans to our own confusion. If we will “lean unto our own
understanding
” He will let us take our way until we find what utter folly our
fancied wisdom is.
II. The agents in
this expedition. “Of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man
every
one a ruler among them
” &c. (Numbers 13:2-16). Three points here
require notice.
1. The wisdom of this arrangement.
2. The scarcity of worthy leaders. We see here that a large
proportion of even these leading men
these “rulers” and “heads of the children
of Israel
” were unworthy of the position which they occupied.
3. The diversity of human fame. The names of these twelve men have
been handed down to the present time; but how different are the positions which
they occupy! History perpetuates the memory of Nero as well as of St. Paul
of
Judas Iscariot as well as of Jesus Christ. We are making our posthumous
reputation now; let us take heed that it be of a worthy character.
III. The aims of
this expedition. They were to report as to the condition of--
1. The land
whether it was fertile or barren
whether it was wooded
or bare
&c.
2. The towns
whether they were walled and fortified or open and
unprotected
&c.
3. The people
whether they were strong or weak
whether they were
few or many
&c.
IV. The spirit
appropriate to this expedition. “And be ye of good courage.” (W. Jones.)
The twelve spies
I. Their
selection.
1. One from each tribe. That each tribe
without preference or
distinction
might be represented.
2. Each was a man of mark. “Every one a ruler.” “Heads of the
children of Israel.” Men of judgment and discretion. This the more needful--
3. They were chosen and sent by Moses. Their various characters prove
the impartiality of Moses. He could doubtless have found in each tribe a man
after his own heart. Probably he allowed the people of each tribe to have a
voice in the matter.
II. Their
commission.
1. They were to spy out the whole land. Not to give a report upon
some few favourable or unfavourable aspects of it.
2. They were to
observe the people
and note especially their numbers
character
habits
and
strength.
3. They were to bring particulars of the dwellings of the people; whether cities
tents
or otherwise. From this
their habits and power of resistance might be inferred.
4. They were carefully to examine the soil
whether fit for pasturage
or tillage
whether it was fat or lean.
5. To confirm and illustrate what they might say of the soil
they
were to bring of the fruit of the land.
6. They were to be fearless. God would have them in His keeping.
III. Their journey.
1. In the glorious summer-time
thus commissioned
they set out on
their enterprise. Time when the country looked most beautiful.
2. They passed up through the whole country
from the south to the
extreme north; even to Hamath.
3. Returning
they visited Hebron. Should not the remembrance of him
who dwelt there (Abraham) have encouraged them to believe in their conquest of
the country?
4. At a place afterwards called Eshcol (the place of grapes
or the
cluster)
they cut down a large bunch of grapes; and collecting also some figs
and pomegranates
they returned with much information after forty days.
IV. Their report.
1. Things in which they agreed. Concerning the country
soil
fruit
people. They showed the fruit they had brought.
2. Things about which they differed. Their ability to conquer this
wonderful country.
3. Effect of their representations.
4. Only Joshua and Caleb faithful; these were silenced and out-voted.
Minorities have often been in the right. Reason: goodness and wisdom generally
with the few. (J.
C. Gray.)
Wise travellers
To us at this day the use may be twofold. First
to such as travel
to see foreign countries
that they observe fit things in them
so make good
use of their travel
not neglecting things profitable
and sucking up all
venom
that the corruption of those places may yield
as too many do
to their
own
not only temporal
but eternal woe
and to the poisoning of many others
when they return. Secondly
to magistrates
ministers
and all of good
disposition
it may be a pattern of care and endeavour
according to the places
and power they have
to work liking in men of the true Canaan that shall endure
for ever
and a daily disliking of the pleasures of Egypt
this transitory and
sinful world
that bewitcheth so many to their endless woe and confusion. (Bp.
Babington.)
The promised land
We have a heavenly Canaan
towards which we are journeying;
and we are told by an oracle
even more sure than the Urim and Thummim
“There
remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God.” This
then
being the case
can we do better than apply to ourselves the injunction in the text
and
“search out the land” which is our promised abode? True it is
we cannot send
men as the Jews did
for “who shall ascend into heaven
save the Son of God
which came down from heaven?” The city which we seek is no fancy of the
imagination. But shall we open the book of their record
and note what inspired
lips have spoken concerning the New Jerusalem? Shall we tell you of the gates
each made of a single pearl
and the foundations of twelve manner of precious
stones? When the gates of that city shall close upon the ransomed spirit
will
it be on these things that the undying eye will be fixed
or rather upon the
face of “Him who sitteth upon the throne
” the triune Jehovah
the glorified
Jesus? He who hath “washed us in His own blood
and made us kings and priests
to God and to the Lamb
” will be the supreme object of our admiration and
worship. Such is the land towards which we are hastening--an inheritance not
doubtful
but secured to us by two “immutable things
by which it is impossible
for God to lie.” And now
having heard this good report
shall we gird on our
swords and prepare
as disciples of the Lord
to “fight the good fight of
faith
” and declare in the heart-stirring words of Caleb
“Let us go up and
possess it
for we are well able to overcome it.” Press forward
then; the
voice of our Captain is cheering us onward--“Fear not
it is your Father’s good
pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Angels are rejoicing at our progress; and
not only so
but fighting on our side; Satan and his apostate legions are
fleeing before the triumphant cross. Shall we plead our terrors at the Anakim
while the sword of the Eternal is drawn on our behalf? Away with the thought;
“though they hedge us in on every side
in the name of the Lord we will destroy
them.” Yet let us
not go on this warfare “without counting the cost”; the enemies against whom we
have to contend are giants indeed. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood
but
against principalities and powers
against the rulers of the darkness of this
world
against spiritual wickedness in high places.” These our foes are
watchful as well as powerful; they are most malignant; they know our weak
parts
and can tempt
us most craftily; they are in league with the corruption of our own nature
and
are often most dangerous when least suspected. Are we prepared
against such antagonists as
these
not only to draw the sword
but to cast away the scabbard? (H.
Christmas
M. A.)
Moses called Oshea . . .
Jehoshua.--
The change of Joshua’s name
Originally called Hoshea
or Salvation
this name was changed
when he led the spies
to Jehoshua
or The Lord is Salvation. And it has never
ceased to seem significant to the Christian that this name of Joshua should
have been that by which our Lord was called. In its Greek form
“Jesus
” it was
given to Him because He was to save His people from their sins. By His
distinctive name among men He was linked to Joshua
and in the salvation He
accomplishes for His people we are therefore led to expect the same leading
characteristics as distinguished the salvation of Israel by Joshua.
1. We are
in the first place
reminded by this parallel that the
help afforded to us in Christ is God’s help
and this in a fuller sense than
was true in Israel’s case.
2. Again
we are reminded by this parallel
that as in the conquest
of the land by Joshua
so in our salvation
is there a somewhat perplexing
mixture of miracle and hard fighting. Sometimes the rivers that flow deep
before us open at our approach
and we pass over dryshod. At other times we are
allowed to fall into ambuscades. And just as the Israelites
when they found
the Jordan open before them and the walls of Jericho fall down
supposed that
the conquest of the land was to be completed without their drawing their
swords
and were in consequence defeated before Ai
so are the great mass of
those who enter the Christian life presuming that God will give them the land
of uprightness
purity of heart
and holiness of life
with scarcely an effort
on their part. And therefore
though there was miracle on the side of Israel
yet this rule was distinctly laid down as the rule by which the territory was
allotted to the tribes
that each was to have what each could take
and hold
against the enemy. This is the law of our acquisitions also. What becomes
really ours is what we fight for inch by inch
killing as we go
slaughtering
the obstinate foe on his own soil
so that the property be left to us
uncontested. God’s grant is useless to us if we will not draw the sword and conquer
it
if we will not wield the axe and clear it. These two united form the
strongest of titles
God’s grant and our own conquest. (Marcus Dods
D. D.)
Verse 23-24
The place was called the brook Eshcol
because of the cluster of
grapes.
Grapes of Eshcol
I. The true
inquirers into the divine will ever have their reward. There are grapes for
every student of God’s Book.
II. The region
promised to the good is rich in blessing. Their highest enjoyments on earth are
only the taste of a few grapes of the heavenly world.
III. The vast
majority of the human family have ever been marked by meanness of soul. Not
only did these
specimens fail to inspire the millions of Israel to go and take possession of
the land
but even ten out of the twelve discoverers lost heart. Talk not of
majorities! (Homilist.)
Glimpses of the promised land
I. Consider the
narrative itself.
1. The evil report. Not one word of encouragement do they offer--no
reference do they make to that Divine protection which they had experienced
during their perilous search--no exhortation do they utter
urging the people
to obey the Divine command. Their report was essentially an “evil” one
calculated to dishearten the people--to raise prejudices in their minds. Now
the conduct of these spies has always
and I think rightly
been regarded as
illustrative of the conduct of those who are dismayed by the difficulties which
attend a religious life. For it cannot be denied that these are numerous and
formidable. This does not admit of a doubt and it ought not to be concealed.
2. Very different was the testimony which Caleb and Joshua bore.
These faithful men thought and acted for themselves. Singularity for its own sake
is always to be avoided
since it may arise from a desire to attract notice and
thus be the mere offspring of vanity. But when truth is concerned
then
though
we should stand alone
it becomes us to avow it. There never was a more false
or dangerous maxim than that the voice of the people is the voice of God: it is
much more frequently the voice of the devil--the voice of impulses which he has
excited and of passions which he has stirred.
II. Consider the
spiritual lessons which this narrative suggests. Glimpses of the promised land!
No Christian is without them
for there are foretastes of heaven even on earth.
1. There are glimpses of the promised land which we obtain by faith.
God has discovered to us in His Word a better country
and though a wise reserve
is maintained
yet much information is afforded us with regard to it.
2. There are glimpses of the promised land which we obtain when we
possess the first-fruits of the Spirit. In the grace that you now receive you
have a type of the glory which is yet to be revealed. In the peace which you
now enjoy
you have a type of the perfect happiness you will soon experience.
In the purity which you now possess you have a type of the spotless holiness in
which you will be hereafter arrayed. In the communion which you now hold with
God you have a type of that more intimate fellowship which is the privilege of
heaven.
3. Glimpses of the promised land are often vouchsafed to the
Christian at an early stage of his experience. But there was much for us to
learn
and God sent us into the wilderness to learn it. After all
our
experience was superficial--our feelings were stronger than our principles--our
faith needed trial
and so
like the Israelites we have been “led about and
instructed.” Do not complain
therefore
because your experience is not what it
once was. God gave you
at the outset of your Christian career
a glimpse of
the promised land
and the memory of this may cheer you now when you mourn
because of the travel and toil of the wilderness.
4. Glimpses of the promised
land are often enjoyed by the believer at the close of life. This is not
invariably the case
but it frequently is so
as a reward for eminent piety. (H.
J. Gamble.)
A cloister of gospel grapes
Strabo states that in Bible times and in Bible lands there were
grape-vines so large that it took two men with outstretched arms to reach round
them
and he says there were clusters two cubits in length
or twice the length
from the elbow to the tip of the long finger. And Achaieus
dwelling in those lands
tells us that during the time he was smitten with fever one grape would slake
his thirst for the whole day. No wonder
then
that in these Bible times two
men thought it worth their while to put their strength together to carry down
one cluster of grapes from the promised land. But I bring you a larger cluster
from the heavenly Eshcol--a cluster of hopes
a cluster of prospects
a cluster
of Christian consolations; and I am expecting that one taste of it will rouse
up your appetite for the heavenly Canaan.
1. First
I console you with the Divinely sanctioned idea that your
departed friends are as much yours now as they ever were. That child
O
stricken mother! is as much yours this morning as in the solemn hour when God
put it against your heart and said as of old
“Take this child and nurse it for
Me
and I will give thee thy wages.” It is no mere whim. It is a
Divinely-planted principle in the soul
and God certainly would not plant a
lie
and He would not culture a lie!
2. But I console you again with the fact of your present
acquaintanceship and communication with your departed friends.
3. I console you still further with the idea of a resurrection. On
that day you will get back your Christian dead. There is where the comfort
comes in. And oh
the reunion; oh
the embrace after so long an absence!
Comfort one another with these words. (T. de Witt Talmage.)
Eshcol
Contemplate that cluster which they bear--that earnest of rich
fields. These grapes are proof of Canaan’s exuberant fertility. So
too
there
is a heavenly Eshcol before faith’s eye. It shows delicious clusters. The joy
before Christ cheered His heart. The joy before us should gird up our loins.
This cluster was the vine’s perfection. So
too
perfection is the essence of
our heaven. Nothing can enter there to stain
&c. Oh
what a contrast to
our present state I In the true Eshcol’s cluster there is this richer fruit;
Jesus is seen. This is the crown of heaven. The rising of the sun makes day.
The presence of the king constitutes the court. The revelation of the Lord
without one intervening cloud
is the grand glory of the endless kingdom.
Believer
what will it be to gaze on the manifested beauty of Him who is
altogether lovely! What
to comprehend all that Jesus is! What
never to lose
sight of Him! Are you a traveller towards this heaven? (Dean Law.)
Foretastes of heaven
Land-birds of beautiful plumage greeted Columbus days before his eye caught a
glimpse of the New World. A more southern voyager found himself in the fresh
water of the Amazon before discovering the continent whence they came. So at
the close of life’s voyage do birds of paradise come hitherward
careering on
bright wings
and the river of life sends its refreshing current far out into
the briny sea of this world.
The pomegranate
People in the East have always been fond of using fruits and
flowers as symbols. Thus lots of pomegranates were carved as sacred emblems
upon Jachin and Boaz
the two chief pillars in the temple (1 Kings 7:18)
embroidered on the
priest’s garments (Exodus 28:33).
I. Our religion
should be delightful. The pomegranate is delightful to every sense; for it
gladdens the eye
and is a favourite ornament. Its leaf is bright green and
lustrous; its wood is yellow and graceful; its blossom is well shaped and
scarlet. The good is the beautiful
beautiful with God’s beauty. The
pomegranate is also very fragrant. It sweetens the air and breathes benediction
all around. You should behold flowers and plants not with the eyes of the
gardener who plants them
nor of the child who plucks them
nor of the merchant
who buys them
but of the Christian who finds in them sweet suggestions of the
love of God. The pomegranate is also delightful to the taste
for its juice is
very delicious. It was also in Bible times very delightful to the mind: for
like the olive it was an emblem of peace. Invading armies cut down the
fruit trees
and one of the first to fall before the sword and fire was the
pomegranate
as it was a shrub rather than a tree. This was one reason why it
was so popular
as it was a sign of long-continued peace. It was thus a token
of the religion of peace.
II. Our religion
like the pomegranate
should be very useful. It was good for medicine. Every
part of it had healing virtue
and it heals several of the diseases that are
most common in the East--sore throat
dysentery
&c. You know that all
green things are literally for the healing of the nations. The religion of
Jesus
when real in the heart
always sweetens the breath of society and heals
many sores. Our plant is also good for drink. It is very juicy
and has a
remarkable quality of quenching thirst in these hot climes. Its delicate juice
is often manufactured into wine
and is a great favourite with the sick
and
indeed with all classes. It is also good for food. Do not suppose that the
religion of Jesus is good for the world to come but not good for this. It is the
sincere Christian alone who gets out of this present life all the good it can
yield him. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
and all these things shall be
added unto you.
III. Our religion
like the pomegranate
should be very fruitful--fruitful both in ourselves and
in the world. When our Saviour speaks of the fruit bearing of His disciples
He
means such rich fruit as you find on the Syrian soil
and under the
wonder-working Syrian sun. We never see anything like it in our cloudy clime.
Why
the seeds in one pomegranate might soon fill a grove
if none of them were
spoiled. I was allured the other day to a splendid horse-chestnut. I pulled one
of its blossoms
but I was disgusted with it
and at once flung it away. It was
ruffled and bedashed with rain
bored through by flies
discoloured with
dust--I flung away the ragged
blighted
deflowered thing. Many a beautiful and
promising young life soon becomes like that outcast blossom. One of the darkest
things to me in the world is the ease with which a fine young life is sometimes
injured. But if you yield your heart early to Christ
and gladly take Him as
your Teacher
Saviour
and Guide
how delightful
useful
and fruitful your
life may become--it may grow as the pomegranate. You can set no bounds to the possibilities
of good that belong to the very humblest Christian. A portrait of Dante was
discovered lately; he was
holding a pomegranate in his hand. Perhaps it had
charmed the poet as an emblem of what he desired to be. (James Wells
D. D.)
Verse 27
It floweth with milk and honey.
A land flowing with milk and honey
The idea suggested is
that the true disciples of the Lord Jesus
are expected to show to the world some illustration of the nature of the
heavenly country to which they are journeying. In a sense they have been there
and have come back. But in what sense?
1. The idea with many persons is
that the future condition of man is
so completely different from this
that it is out of the question to attempt to
form a conception of it. Now
it is true
St. Paul tells us
“that eye hath not
seen
nor ear heard
neither have entered into the heart of man
the things
which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” But it is also true
as the
apostle goes on to say
that “ God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit.”
Some people
then
are in a position to understand what the heavenly kingdom is
like. They have true ideas about it--foretastes. In fact
“heaven” is really
the expansion of a life begun here below. “He that hath the Son hath life.”
2. What
then
has the true disciple to show as specimens of the
produce of this unseen and unknown country? Briefly
the character of Christ
reproduced in him
by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is faintly
imperfectly
reproduced; still it is reproduced (see 2 Corinthians 1:21
“Hath Christed
us”). There is the strength which overcometh the world
the peace which passeth
understanding
the blessedness of communion with God
the soul-thirst for God
ever renewed and ever satisfied.
3. It is by the presentation of these fruits of the land that souls
are won. No doubt there are some persons in the world to whom Christ and
everything belonging to Christ
are only repulsive; and these will scrutinise
the disciple with an unfriendly eye
and rejoice if ever they find
or fancy
they find
any inconsistency in his conduct. But there are also many others of
a different temper. They are halting between two opinions. They say
not of course in words
but by their feelings and manner
“Be Christ to us; let us see in you and
through you what the Divine Master is
and how He will treat us if we venture
to apply to Him”--or
to express it differently
“Show us the fruits of the
heavenly land
of which you think so much and speak so much. You are amongst us
as a citizen of the heavenly city (Philippians 3:20). Enable us to gather
from your conduct what are the characteristics of that noble land
of that
bright and glorious companionship.”
4. And lastly
what is the practical conclusion to be drawn from the
whole subject thus discussed? Surely it is this--that we
who profess to serve
the Lord Jesus Christ
should be careful to recognise the responsibility laid
upon us to give a good report
like Caleb and Joshua
and not a bad report
like the ten other spies
of the unseen land. We shall give a bad report if our
lives are not attractive
and are not consistent. We shall give a good report
if our characters glow
even feebly
with the inner light of the life of
Christ; and if
by deed as well as by word
we cry
“ The conflict may be a
formidable one
but it is not too formidable”; and if we trust as we should do
and may do
that we shall be more than conquerors through Him that loved us. (G.
Calthrop
M. A.)
Verse 30
Let us go up at once
and possess it.
The ancient Canaan a type of heaven
I. In what
respects the ancient canaan was a type of heaven.
1. It was a promised land
and the right of possession was founded on
the promise.
2. It was a land in which God was peculiarly present.
3. It was a land of fruition.
4. It was a free gift.
II. The Israelites
had dangers
difficulties
and discouragements in the wilderness
in their way
to Canaan; so have Christians in their progress to heaven.
1. There are formidable foes to be encountered. The corrupt heart
the evil world
and that apostate spirit
the devil.
2. There are adversaries in timid and faint-hearted associates.
3. The Israelites in their progress were made dependent on the Lord
for all things.
III. The
resolution--“let us go up at once
and possess it.”
1. The title to it is sure. It is pledged in Christ; as heirs of God
and joint heirs with Christ. He is our Joshua and is gone to take possession
for us.
2. We have means and ordinances by which needed strength is supplied
and we are invited and enjoined to feed in the spiritual manner
and to drink
of the spiritual rock.
3. Here we have many foretastes of the good land. (Sketches of
Four Hundred Sermons.)
Difficulties in the way
1. The kingdom of heaven challenges the inquiry of all men. It
addresses an appeal to human reason
and to human trust. Though itself a
revelation
and therefore not to be handled as a common thing
nor to be tested
by common instruments
yet Christianity invites the most careful inquest. It does
not seek to rest upon the human intellect as a burden
but to shine upon it as
a light. ]f Christianity may be represented under the image of a land
such as
ancient Canaan
then it is fair to say of it
that it offers right of way over
its hills and through its valleys
that its fruits and flowers are placed at
the disposal of all travellers
and that he who complains that the land is shut
against him speaks not only ungratefully but most falsely.
2. Different reports will
of course
be brought by the inquirers.
The result of the survey will be according to the peculiarities of the
surveyors. As streams are impregnated by the soils over which they flow
so
subjects are affected by the individualism of the minds through which they
pass. Thus Christianity may be said to be different things to different minds.
To the speculative man it is a great attempt to solve deep problems in
theology; to the controversialist it is a challenge to debate profound subjects
on new ground; to the poet it is a dream
a wondrous vision many-coloured as
the rainbow
a revelation many-voiced as the tunes of the wind or the harmonies
of the sea.
(a) We don’t escape by false reasoning.
(b) We don’t escape by fear.
Application:
1. Some have shown the spirit of Caleb--what is voter testimony?
2. Will you resolve
in Divine strength
to follow the Lord fully? (J.
Parker
D. D.)
The decision and exertion incumbent upon Christians in all things
I. The passage
serves to illustrate the believer’s duty in general. “Go forward.” This is the
command of God to His people
with reference to every obligation that devolves
upon them
and at every critical moment
amidst all our difficulties we
encounter from the world. Nothing but this heroism will suit the dignity and
the decision of Christian character.
II. The passage
serves to illustrate the more special duty of the people of God with reference
to missionary exertion. And that I conceive to be one of the pressing duties of
the Church of Christ in the present day. (W. H. Cooper.)
The magnanimous character and wisdom of Caleb
1. He “stilled the people.” Stillness engenders thoughtfulness.
2. He seeks to secure unity of faith. “Let us go up.”
3. Promptness. “At once.”
4. He directs their minds to their ability.
Conclusion: The world belongs to Christ by creation and by
preservation. In God’s name the Church may claim Christ’s prerogative for the
conquest of the world. (W. Mudge.)
Good witnesses for God
I. God hath ever
had some witnesses of his truth Nicodemus. Joseph of Arimathea. And how can it be
otherwise
for the truth shall never decay from the earth
but be spread abroad
from place to place
and from generation to generation for ever (Psalms 119:89). We perish
for all flesh
is as grass
and all the glory of man is as the flower of the field
but the
word of the Lord abideth for ever (1 Peter 1:24). God will have this
never to die
never to wither. He hath the hearts of all men in His own hand
to turn them at His pleasure (Acts 9:15). So saith Christ
“I tell you
if these should hold their peace
the stones would cry” (Luke 19:40)
and therefore He can never
be without some witness to maintain His truth.
1. This teacheth us that God is most glorious and powerful
and will
be known in the earth (Psalms 8:1-2; Matthew 21:15; Acts 14:17).
2. Great is His truth and prevaileth; He hath always had a Church
upon the face of the earth
and He never forsaketh it
though multitudes
conspire against it
it shall have the upper hand at last.
3. Be not discouraged when the truth is oppressed
because God is
able to maintain it
and raiseth up His enemies oftentimes to defend it.
4. This should persuade every one of us how to carry ourselves
namely
that we should not take any approbation or liking of the evil of other
neither ought we to imitate any in sin
how holy soever they seem to be
neither give consent to them by our practice
forasmuch as God’s hand hath
overtaken them at one time or other.
II. The evil of
others
yea
although they be many
may not re followed of us. The reasons.
1. Whatsoever is in itself evil cannot be made good and lawful by any
example
nor by many examples. It cannot be warranted by the law of man
much
less by the pure law of God Himself.
2. No greatness
no multitude can save a man from judgments due to
the least sin; for though hand join in hand
the wicked shall not go unpunished
(Proverbs 5:1-23; Proverbs 11:21). This serveth to reprove
many carnal and formal Christians that oftentimes encourage themselves in evil
and strengthen themselves by the example of others.
3. We may gather from hence a reproof of ignorant recusants grounding
only upon their forefathers; such as can give no other reason of their religion
but that they were born and bred in it (Psalms 78:8).
III. It is the duty:
of God’s children to exhort and stir up one another to good things. And that
for divers reasons.
1. We are quickly hardened in sin. We are quickly dull to all good;
exhortation made by others setteth an edge upon us
and putteth life into us (Proverbs 27:17).
2. Such as continue to the end are made partakers of Christ
and with
Him of all other graces; this ought to provoke us to practise this duty
the
rather seeing so great fruit cometh by it
the blessing of all blessings
Christ Jesus is made ours (Hebrews 3:13-14).
3. We have other reasons used by the same apostle (Hebrews 10:25-26). Fearful judgments remain
for all backsliders.
4. The day of the Lord draweth near
and we must take heed that it
take us not unprepared; we must therefore stir up ourselves and others to look
for it and to long after it. Lastly
we see evil men do it in evil and to evil.
They labour by all means to make others as bad as themselves. This also we see
in this place
much more therefore ought we to teach and instruct one another
and be helpers to the most holy faith one of another. (W. Attersoll.)
A campaign for God
The Israelites sent twelve spies into Paran and Kadesh to
reconnoitre. I suppose they wanted to see if God’s word was true. That’s always
the way with unbelievers. God had said to them
“Go over. I’ll help you. It
will be yours. It’s a land flowing with milk and honey. All you’ve got to do is
to go and take it.” But they thought they would first find out for themselves
what it was worth
and whether they would be able to take it. They brought back
what we would call in these days a majority and minority report. Ten said that
it would be impossible to take the country. All admitted that what God had told
them was true about the milk and honey. Only Caleb and Joshua confirmed the
Lord in regard to taking the land. All admitted that the land was good
but ten
said they saw giants
and walls
and castles
and that the Israelites would not
be able to overcome these. I can imagine these fellows in camp
telling their
comrades that they had stood alongside these giants
and had been obliged to
look up to see their faces
and that they were to them but as grasshoppers.
When we believe
we are able to overcome giants
and walls and everything. A
lie generally travels faster than the truth. It is an old saying that a lie
will go round the world before the truth can get his boots on to follow him.
The world always seems to rejoice whenever anything goes wrong with religion. So thus
he went round the camp and found favour with the Jews. “I would rather go back
to Egypt and make bricks without straw again. I would rather hear the crack of
the slaveholder’s whip again
than encounter these terrors.” That’s the way the
Israelites talked
and that is the talk of the unbeliever. I am one of the
spies sent out to look at the promised land. I have found it flowing with milk
and honey. Let us say whether we fear anything now. Let us go up at once and
take the land. I tell you that it is good. If Caleb’s voice had prevailed
the
Israelites might have saved forty years in the wilderness. To-day I say that
four-fifths of the professed children are not able to reach the land
simply on
account of their unbelief. Many persons have told me that I mustn’t expect so
great a success as I had in the old country. If I don’t expect it
I won’t have
it. We must go at once and take the land. We are able to do it. “Their defence
has gone from them.” How easy it is for God to pour out His blessings in such
profusion that we will not be able to receive them. That was the difference
between Caleb and Joshua and the ten. The ten got their eyes on the walls and
the giants
but Caleb and Joshua lifted theirs above and saw Him on His throne.
They said that it was easy for God to give them that country as He promised.
They remembered how easily He had taken them across the Red Sea; how He had fed
them with manna in the wilderness
and how He had made the water gush forth
from the barren rock. If God wishes to aid you
then you are well able to go up
and take the land. That is the difference between a man who has God with him
and the one who has not. The greatest difficulty we have to encounter is
therefore
the unbelief so current among Christians. Oh
would that God would
sweep it away! Our God is able to do it. Let us not limit the power of the Holy
One of Israel. Look upward and see Him who sitteth on the right hand of God
and press forward. (D. L. Moody.)
Caleb’s spirit
Was Caleb
then
a giant--larger than any of the sons of Anak? Was
he a Hercules and a Samson in one? Was his arm so terrific that every stroke of
it was a conquest? We are not told so; the one thing we are told about Caleb is
that he was a man of “another spirit.” That determines the quality of the man.
Character is a question of spirit. It is an affair of inward and spiritual
glow. Caleb had been upon the preliminary search; Caleb had seen the walls
and
the Anakim
and the fortresses
and he came back saying
We can do this
not
because we have so many arms only
or so many resources of a material kind
but
because he was a man of “another spirit.” In the long run
spirit wins; in the
outcome of all history
spirit will be uppermost. The great battles of life are
not controversies of body against body
but
as far as God is in them
they are
a question of spirit against body
thought against iron
prayer against
storming and blustering of boastful men. While the cloud hangs over the field
and the dust of the strife is very thick
and the tumult roars until it deafens
those who listen
we cannot see the exact proportions
colours
and bearings of
things; but if we read history instead of studying the events of the day which
have not yet settled themselves into order and final meaning
we shall discover
that spirit is mightier than body
that “knowledge is power
” that
“righteousness exalteth a nation
” and that they who bear the white banner of a
pure cause ultimately triumph because God is with them. (J. Parker
D. D.)
Difficulties may be overcome
“It is impossible!” said some
when Peter the Great determined on
a voyage of discovery; and the cold and uninhabited region over which he
reigned furnished nothing but some larch-trees to construct his vessels. But
though the iron
the cordage
the sails
and all that was necessary
except the
provisions for victualling them
were to be carried through the immense deserts
of Siberia
down rivers of difficult navigation
and along roads almost
impassable
the thing was done; for the command of the sovereign and the
perseverance of the people surmounted every obstacle.
Verse 32-33
They brought up an evil report.
The report of the spies
I. God’s promises
will always bear investigation. It is true that none of us has entered heaven;
but Jesus
who has gone on in advance to take possession of it in His people’s
name
has sent back an Eshcol cluster of its vintage
that we may know
something of what we should expect. He has given us “the earnest of the Spirit
in our hearts.” The believer already has everlasting life; for the regeneration
which he has here experienced needs but to be expanded and elevated and
sublimated
to become the life of heaven. It is a confirmation of Jehovah’s
word to him; it is the seal of God Himself to the truthfulness of His promise
that he shall yet enter into heaven’s own rest.
II. There are Anakim
to be encountered in the conquest of every promised land. Christ has said
“If
any man will come after Me
” &c.
and has urged us to count the cost before
we commence to raise our tower. So He would prepare us for self-denial
hardship
and long-continued struggle; but we must not suppose that in all this
the gospel is an exception to the general law. No Canaan of success
in any
pursuit
can be gained save by the conquest of the Anakim. He who would rise to
a position of eminence in the department of literature
for example
must learn
to “scorn delights
and live laborious days.” He must deny himself many
pleasures in which others allow themselves to indulge
and must keep himself
in a sense
secluded from the world
living in his library and at his desk. The
man of business who would climb the steep that leads to wealth
must pursue a
similar course. He cannot leave his place; he keeps himself chained to the oar;
he knows that nothing will avail but work--hard and continuous work; for so
only can he conquer those influences that stand in the way of his attainment of
his object. It is the same with the artist; and
on a lower platform
with the
athlete. All of them have to go into training; and
in every pursuit
a
campaign
with its perils and fatigues
comes before a victory. We cannot
complain
there-tore
if the same law holds in the spiritual life. The giants
with whom we have to contend are mainly in ourselves
in the shape of evil
principles and sins that most easily beset us; and it is only through
self-conquest that we can pass to any external victory. We cannot vault by one
spasmodic leap up to the height of holiness
any more than the Israelites could
all at once obtain possession of the Land of Promise. “By little and little” it
has to be done. It needs prayer
and watchfulness
and constancy; and if we
decline to enter upon the conflict
we shall fall short of the inheritance.
III. The true
believer is always able to conquer his spiritual adversaries with the help of
God. It is not a question of feebleness
but of faith. Whether the work we set
before us be our own sanctification
or the evangelisation of the city
or the
conversion of the world
the principle is still the same. We can do all things
through Christ strengthening us; and if we attempt great things
trusting in
Him
we may expect to do great things
not otherwise.
IV. There is a
point beyond which it is no longer possible to repair the follies of the past.
They who will not when they may
shall not when they will. You see this in every
department and pursuit of life. Up to a certain limit it seems to be in a man’s
power
if he choose
to make up for the past; but beyond that limit it is no
longer possible
whether he choose or not. (W. M. Taylor
D. D.)
The spies
I. In the first
place
the ungodly world are not to be excused for that which must
nevertheless
be admitted to be a very natural matter
namely
that instead of
investigating religion for themselves
they usually trust to the representation
of others.
1. The worldly man looks at a Christian to see whether his religion
be joyful. “By this
” says he
“shall I know whether there is that in religion
which will make a man glad. If I see the professor of it with a joyous
countenance
then I will believe it to be a good thing.” But hark
sir! hast
thou any right to put it to that test? Is not God to be counted true
even
before we have proved Him?
2. Again
you say you will test the holiness of Christ’s religion by
the holiness of Christ’s people. You have no right
I reply
to put the
question to any such test as that. The proper test that you ought to use is to
try it yourselves--to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” By tasting and
seeing you will prove His goodness
and by the same process you must prove the
holiness of His gospel. It will be in vain for you to say at the day of
judgment
“Such and such a man was inconsistent
therefore I despised
religion.” Your excuse will then be discovered to be idle
for you shall have
to confess that in other respects you did not take another man’s opinion. In
business
in the cares of this life
you were independent enough; in your
political opinions you did not pin your faith to any man’s coat; and
therefore
it shall be said of you at last
you had enough independence of mind
to steer your own course
even against the example of others
in business
in
politics
and such like things; you certainly had enough of mental vigour
if
you had chosen to have done so
to have stood out against the inconsistency of
professors
and to have searched for yourselves.
II. With that
by
way of guard
I shall now bring forth the bad spies. I wish that the men
mentioned in the text had been the only spies who have brought an evil report;
it would have been a great mercy if the plague that killed them had killed all
the rest of the same sort. Remember
these spies are to be judged
not by what
they say
but by what they do; for to a worldling words are nothing--acts are everything. The
reports that we bring of our religion are not the reports of the pulpit
not the reports that we utter
with our lips
but the report of our daffy life
speaking in our own houses
and
the every-day
business of life.
1. Welt
first
I produce a man who brings up an evil report of the
land
and you will see at once that he does so
for he is a dull and heavy
spirit. If he preaches he takes this text Through much tribulation we must
inherit the kingdom.” Somehow or other he never mentions God’s people without
calling them God’s tried children. As for joy in the Lord
he looks upon it
with suspicion. “Lord
what a wretched land is this!” is the very height of
poetry to him. He is always in the valley where the mists are hovering; he
never climbs the mountain brow
to stand above the tempests of this life. He
was gloomy before he made a profession of religion--since then he has become
more gloomy still.
2. But there is another class of professors who bring up a bad report
of the land. And this I am afraid will affect us all; in some measure we must
all plead guilty to it. The Christian man
although he endeavours uniformly to
walk according to the law of Christ
finds still another law in his members
warring against the law of his mind
and consequently there are times when his
witness is not consistent. Sometimes this witness is
“The gospel is holy
” for
he is holy himself. But
alas! with the very best of men there are times when
our witness contradicts our faith. When you see an angry Christian
and when
you meet with a Christian who is proud
when you catch a Christian overtaken in
a fault
as you may sometimes do
then his testimony is not consistent. He
contradicts then what he has at other times declared by his acts.
III. Thus I have
brought forth the evil spies who bring up a bad report; and now we have some
good spies too. But we will let them speak. Come
Joshua and Caleb
we want
your testimony; though you are dead and gone you have left: children behind
you; and they
still grieved as you were at the evil report
rend their
clothes
but they boldly stand to it that the land they have passed through is
an exceeding good land. One of the best spies I have ever met with is an aged
Christian. I remember to have heard him stand up and tell what he thought of
religion. He was a blind old man
who for twenty years had not seen the light
of the sun. His grey locks hung from his brow and floated over his shoulders.
He stood up at the table of the Lord
and thus addressed us:--“Brethren and
sisters
I shall soon be taken from you; in a few more months I shall gather up
my feet upon my bed
and sleep with my fathers. I have not the tongue of the
learned
nor the mind of the eloquent
but I desire
before I go
to bear one
public testimony to God. Fifty and six years have I served Him
and I have
never found Him once unfaithful. I can say
‘Surely goodness and mercy have
followed me all the days of my life
and not one good thing hath failed of all
the Lord God has promised.’“
IV. And now I want
to press with all my might upon every professing Christian here the great
necessity of bringing out a uniformly good testimony concerning religion. One
of Napoleon’s officers loved him so well that when a cannonball was likely to
smite the emperor he threw himself in the way
in order that he might die as a
sacrifice for his master. Oh
Christian
you would do the same
I think. If
Christ were here you would run between Him and insult--yea
between Him and
death. Well
then
I am sure you would not wantonly expose Christ; bug
remember
every unguarded word you use
every inconsistent act
puts a slur on
Christ. The world
you know
does not find fault with you--they lay it all to
your Master. If you make a slip to-morrow
they will not say
“That is John
Smith’s human nature”; they will say
“That is John Smith’s religion.” They
know better
but they will be sure to say it. Do not allow Christ to bear the
blame--do not suffer His escutcheon to be tarnished--do not permit His banner
to be trampled in the dust. Then there is another consideration. You must
remember
if you do wrong
the world will be quite sure to notice you. They
never think of looking at the virtues of holy men; all the courage of martyrs
and all the fidelity of confessors
and all the holiness of saints
but our
iniquities are ever before them. Please to recollect that wherever you are
as
a Christian
the eyes of the world are upon you; the Argus eyes of an evil
generation follow you everywhere. If a Church is blind the world is not. And
remember
too
that the world always wears magnifying glasses to look at
Christians’ faults. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The evil reporters
1. In these wicked reporters see how Moses
that worthy governor
was
deceived
for thinking there had been a good choice made of faithful men
the
greater part was naught
even ten of the twelve that were sent. So may good men be abused when they mean
well
and must not be censured for that which falleth out against their wills.
Again
so is the proverb verified “All is not gold that glittereth.” The Lord
is to be prayed unto to direct our choices; for weak is the wisdom of man
unless the wisdom
of our all-seeing God go before and direct.
2. In that they confess it was land that flowed with milk and honey
observe the rich blessings God bestoweth upon men
and make such use in your
own particular as he did that said
“O Lord
thou givest to me all things fat
and fair
I give to Thee all things lean and foul.” Again
since the country
was so good
and the inhabitants so wicked
let it make you remember the
religious houses
planted most usually in places that flowed with milk and
honey
and yet the possessors so idolatrous
and every way evil
as the world
now taketh notice they were. Happy men are they that consider the Lord’s
superabounding goodness to them
and make it an argument to press them daily to
thankfulness
love
and all obedience to Him both in soul and body.
3. Note the manner of their praising of the land. It is with a “but”;
surely say they
it floweth with milk and honey; “but
” but what? “But the
people be too strong
and we are not able to go up to possess it.” Thus do
slanderers ever set out their praises. Such an one is a good man
“but.” Such a
woman is a good woman and a good neighbour
“but.” The preacher to-day made a
good sermon
“but.” No man hath a better servant
“but.” So ever with one “but”
or other they abate their praise
and sting the party or matter praised in the
minds of them they speak unto. The Lord of lords and Judge of judges well seeth
this their dealing
yea
the world noteth it
and even they
to whom they
howsoever they hold their peace
secretly in their hearts abhor such smoothing
calumniation. The end of it with God may appear by this example as fearful a
one as may be read in any history. Which you may see was this
that six hundred
thousand of them died in the wilderness
and never entered into the Land of
Promise
and the infamy of these “butting” reporters abide chronicled to this
day in the Book of God
the chronicle to be feared above all chronicles. In
county and country
with great and small
these “buts” towards our brethren and
good matters are used. God in mercy work the remove of them. (Bp. Babington.)
Difficulties
I. There is the
Anak speculative. He is bred by much of the scientific tendency of the time.
Men make everything of law
and forget a personal God.
1. While science has revealed law
it has also revealed marvellous
manipulation of law to special uses
viz.
telegraph
telephone
phonograph.
Now
if man can so use law to special ends without breaking law
cannot God use
His own laws
so that they shall come to focus in blessing on my head
and
without breaking them?
2. The most capacious mind is most attentive to details. The infinite
mind does not find details burdensome. Therefore God can care for me
and help
me.
3. The revelation of the Divine Fatherhood; and fatherhood always
means care
love
help
particular attention.
II. There is the
Anak experimental. He takes such shapes as these--I cannot believe
it is hard
to serve God; I cannot make myself love; I have no assurance
&c.
&c.
If we will only confront this son of Anak by a determined doing of
precisely what Christ tells us
we shall soon discover that he cannot stand
before us and prevent entrance into the Canaan of forgiveness and of peace.
III. There is the
Anak volitional. And he is the main Anak that really prevents us. Two sailors
going to their boat past midnight
and getting into it that they might row
themselves to their ship yonder
with brains fuddled by a spree on shore
laid
hold of the oars and tugged and tugged; and when the morning broke found they
had not moved an inch. And with clearer brains and in the advancing light they
discovered the reason--they had not lifted the anchor. Ah
how often an
unlifted anchor of some known sin is the real Anak keeping back and holding
back! (W. Hoyt
D. D.)
Difficulties determine character
Character
like Achilles in disguise at the court of
Lycomedes
does not disclose itself till the trumpet blast is sounded
and
there is a rush for armour as besuits it.
I. Intellectual.
Schoolboy finds pathway beset with difficulties. They grow
rather than
diminish. Nothing will tell its own mystery: how far we shall proceed will
depend upon an unconquerable will and intensest application. As answers
we
have illiteracy
scholarship
genius.
II. Social Problems
of life and government complex and infinite. A few lead; the multitude follow.
III. Industrial. We
seek and find our own work. Just what is in us will come out.
IV. Religious.
Here
too
difficulties will not remove themselves. Just how we approach them
will reveal the infidel
athiest
or Christian. Conclusion: Life
in all its
departments
is of one piece and like texture; and its difficulties are for
trial
discipline
and mastery. (L. O. Thompson.)
The report of the spies; or
The difference between truth and facts
This was a mean report
it was hardly a report at all--so nearly
may a man come to speak the truth
and yet not to be truthful
so wide is the
difference between fact and truth. Many a book is true that is written under
the name of fiction; many a book is untrue that lays claim only to the dry
arguments of statistics and schedules. Truth is subtle; it is a thing of
atmosphere
perspective
unnameable environment
spiritual influence. Not a
word of what the truth says may have occurred in what is known as literal fact
because it is too large a thing ever to be encompassed within the boundaries of
any individual experience. The fact relates to an individuality; the truth
relates to a race. A fact is an incident which occurred; a truth is a gospel
which is occurring throughout all the ages of time. The men
therefore
who
reported about walled cities
and tall inhabitants
and mountain refuges
and
fortresses by the sea
confined themselves to simply material considerations;
they overlooked the fact that the fortress might be stronger than the soldier
that the people had nothing but figure
and weight
and bulk
and were
destitute of the true spirit which alone is a guarantee of sovereignty of
character and conquest of arms. But this is occurring every day. Again and
again we come upon terms which might have been written this very year. We are
all men of the same class
with an exceptional instance here and there; we look
at walls
we receive despatches about the stature of the people and the number
of their fortresses
and draw very terrible conclusions concerning material
resources
forgetting in our eloquent despatches the only thing worth telling
namely
that if we were sent by Providence and are inspired by the Living God
and have a true cause and are intent to fight with nobler weapons than gun and
sword
the mountains themselves shall melt whilst we look upon them
and they
who inhabit the fortresses shall sleep to rise no more. This is what we must do
in life--in all life--educational
commercial
religious. We have nothing to do
with outsides and appearances
and with resources that can be totalled in so
many arithmetical figures; we have to ascertain
first
Did God send us? and
secondly
if He sent us
to feel that no man can drive us back. (J. Parker
D. D.)
The testimony of a Christian life
“Now lads
” said the late Duncan Mathieson
the Scottish
Evangelist
to a lot of boys who had been converted at his meetings
“the
people here are not in the habit of reading their Bible to learn what God says
to them
but I’ll tell you what they’ll read. They’ll read your lives and ways
very carefully to see if you are really what you profess to be. And mind you
this
if they find your lives to be inconsistent with your profession
the
devil will give them this for an excuse in rejecting Christ.” Very true indeed
are these words. Would that we could lay them more constantly to heart t The
life of the professing Christian is the only book of evidences that many people
ever read in reference to Christianity. The Christian professor’s life is thus
the world’s Bible. When there are inconsistencies and flaws in it
then the
world makes these a plea against religion. Let us remember that the world’s
eyes are upon us. Let us keep our book of evidences clear and pure.
Reason better than imagination
I think it was Henry Ward Beecher who used to relate how when he
was a boy there was no stove in the church which he then attended. Some of the
worshippers began to think that they might be better with a fire
but they were
opposed by others
who thought that a stove should have no place in the house
of the Lord
indeed that they could not get to heaven from a church with a
stove in it but
despite their fierce opposition
the elders by a narrow
majority ultimately decided to have it
and accordingly it was procured and
placed in the church. On the following Sunday the doubters mustered strong.
Some complained of being very warm
and others declared they were nearly
stifled
while a few boldly pronounced that the stove had no right to be there
at all
and together they made a rush for the offending piece of furniture
to
turn it out of the building
when lo
to their surprise
they found it was
empty. These people were very bad reasoners
but had a great imaginative
faculty.
Folly of exaggerating the enemy’s strength
It is a bad plan to exaggerate the enemy’s strength; to do so is
to increase it. Our English warriors have owed many a victory on land and sea
to the confidence with which they entered the fight. Francis Drake was playing
bowls on the Hoe at Plymouth when information was brought him of the appearance
of the terrible Armada. Some were for hurrying away at once; but the great
sailor insisted on finishing the game
gaily assuring his comrades: “ There
will be plenty of time to beat the Spaniards.” It is with something of the same
dauntless spirit that we should enter upon our holy war. There was real wisdom
in the lad’s answer when asked what he thought of the first two chapters of
Job. He had but just learned to read
and had set himself with firm resolve to
read the Bible through from Genesis to Revelation. He had now come to Job
and
his friend asked
“Well
what do you think of it?” “Well
” replied the child
“I don’t like that Satan a bit; and when I get to learn to write and when I
have to write Satan
I will always write Satan with a small ‘s.’” Alas! too
many of us would have to write the word in large capitals if our writing
expressed our feelings. Fear and timidity magnify the foe. Let us learn a
holier and braver lesson. (G. Howard James.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》