Joshua 24

VERSES 1-15.-Joshua reminds the people two or three times in this address that they were idolators at first,' and that therefore there is a natural tendency in them to go back to idolatry.
It must have been a very interesting moment when Joshua confronted the tribes in this way at Shechem, and when he forecast their future to them as Jacob did, and Moses. What a sad thing for the servant of God, after long service, to thus have true fore castings as to the failure that would come after his departure. Here, after a long and blessed campaign, putting the people in possession of the land, he sees that failure is imminent; and certainly nothing can be more pitiable than their history after this: carried away into Babylon they "perish from off the good land which the Lord gave them."
There is enough to keep us humble in looking back to what we have been. We see the mighty hand of God; He has brought us into this wealthy place, and it enhances His grace to look back and see the state of wretchedness which he has brought us out of. As the apostle puts it: " Such were some of you." You could not -remember that you had been poor unless you were now rich; it is the very fact of being set in this wondrous position that enables you to go back in thought to your former one. When in worship, being set high, we can look back to the low; it is not necessary to begin low, though often a meeting does begin in a low tone and rise to a high one, like Habakkuk, who begins- his prayer upon variable notes and ends on stringed instruments. But this is not Deut. 26; there worship begins; and it is not well to drop low to see how you can rise.
Verse 14.-This is our responsibility.
Verse 19.-Joshua is fully aware of the state of things, just as Moses was; he had no expectation from the people. They were too confident; as the Scripture says: " A fool rageth and is confident." They said just what they did to Moses, "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do:" But Joshua did not believe in them.
Verses 26,27.-He says, I have no confidence in you, but in this stone I have. It has heard all the words that I have spoken, and it will retain them. I believe this stone is Christ. So here Joshua falls back upon the stone, and writes all the words on it, and says to the people, I hear your declaration, and I have no confidence in it; but I will tell you in what I have confidence: in this stone, the Rock of Israel; " I have confidence in you, through the Lord."
Verse 32.-Joseph's bones being brought was the proof that they expected resurrection in the land. The idea was, that he was to rise where he was buried. And so, morally, I say we rise where we are buried.
The close of the book is very like the close of the day: it does come to a close, but - it is with the hope for every one that we are coming to the morning-that eternal morning when Christ Himself will be the perfect witness. But you cannot let the book flow- through your mind without its bringing very distinctly before you the wonderful working of God, the desire of His heart to set you upon heavenly ground, and the terrible character of opposition that you are subject to from your fellow-man and Satan upon the earth. (J.B.S.)