James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary
Numbers 21:35
LIFE AT ITS NOBLEST
‘Israel took all these cities … Israel possessed his land.’
I. ‘The joys of conquest are the joys of man.’—To face hopeless odds without fear, in quiet reliance upon the Divine word; to act strongly, and conquer to the uttermost; and then, knowing that all—both the occasion, the promise, the courage, and the victory—all are the gifts of glad and fathomless love, to pour out the full heart in glorious praise to the Great Giver, this, surely, is life at its noblest. And all this—except the praise, which, however, appears in Psalms 135:11; Psalms 136:20—we find here in vv. 34 and 35:—‘And the Lord said unto Moses, Fear him not,’ etc.
II. This raises a question of intensest interest: Is there any parallel to this in my life? Is there any deep-rooted evil for me to overcome in this living present, and in fearless reliance upon some omnipotent word of the Lord that has already gone forth against it? What of those weaknesses or evil habits that I know so well and fear so much? Are they not, like Og, the giant king, simply occasions for a Divine over-coming? Has not the Almightyword sounded out against them even as it did against him? Of him it was said:—‘Fear him not; for I have delivered him into thine hand’; and of them it is said:—‘Sin shall not have dominion over you. Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. Be strong, therefore, in the grace which is in Christ Jesus.’ Yes, in Him, we, even we, may know life at its noblest!
Illustration
(1) ‘Thou wilt pitch in Oboth, from which point and onwards there will be no further record of murmuring. This chapter was set to music by the Psalmist, who interleaved the names of these beings and the story of these battles by the mention of the ever-enduring mercy of God (Psalms 106:16). So shalt it be with us. The experiences of life may not seem to be joyous but grievous, nevertheless, in the golden afterward they will yield food for everlasting joy, and the uncouth names of sins and foes will be woven into the music of golden lays. Wherefore lift up your heads and rejoice in anticipation of your joy, for your redemption draweth night.’
(2) ‘A beautiful little song is given in this Lesson. The princes were able to use their official rods in putting aside the brushwood which hid the well, and its discovery was greeted by songs. How often does God open springs for us which we do not acknowledge! Let us be more prone to give thanks.’
(3) ‘A friendly message was sent to Sihon the king of the Amorites, to ask him, as Edom, Moab, and Ammon had been asked before, for a free passage through his kingdom. But the friendly message was again refused. Sihon followed up his refusal by advancing against the Israelites, and was defeated in a great battle at Jahaz. This victory gave Israel possession of the whole country from Arnon to Jabbok, including the strong city of Heshbon. The Arnon was henceforth the boundary of Israel and Moab. This triumph was celebrated in a war-song which tells of Israel’s glorious success over the Amorites, of the former defeat of Moab, and of the way in which Israel, avenging their kinsmen, won for themselves the fertile land on the east of the Jordan (Numbers 21:27).’