_The children of Israel asked the Lord._ SIMPLICITY IN PRAYER Just that! How we have modernised and complicated and destroyed prayer! “The children of Israel asked the Lord.” How simple, how direct, how sensible, how likely to succeed! The altar may have lost its power: no atheist has pulled down t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kirjath-sepher._ THE BOOK-TOWN The name Kirjath-sepher, that is Book-Town, has been supposed to point to the existence of a semi-popular literature among the pre-Judaean inhabitants of Canaan. We cannot build with any certainty upon a name, but there are other facts of some significance. Already t... [ Continue Reading ]
_To him will I give Achsah my daughter._ DIFFICULTIES AND HARDSHIPS IN LIFE There was more difficulty and danger in the winning of this city than others; which teaches us that we must not think it strange if some part of our life be more encumbered than other parts and times. The husbandman is hind... [ Continue Reading ]
_Zephath _. .. _ Hormah._ ZEPHATH AND HORMAH In the world of thought and feeling there are many Zephaths, whence quick onset is often made upon the faith and hope of men. We are pressing towards some end, mastering difficulties, contending with open and known enemies. Only a little way remains befo... [ Continue Reading ]
_The house of Joseph _. .. _ went up against Bethel; and the Lord was with them._ SUCCESS IN CARRYING OUT GOD’S COMMANDS This work of the house of Joseph which they went about, namely, to take this city Bethel, as God had injoined them, doth lively set before our eyes the duty of all God’s people,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither did Manasseh drive out._ FORSAKING THE LORD’S WORK Manasseh and Ephraim, and the rest of these tribes, did not fail in completing their warfare because they had begun imprudently, but because they did not continue believingly. The tower of conquest was unfinished, not because they had not... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain._ A NEGLECT OF DUTY INJURIOUS TO OTHERS So that we see that the negligence of the other tribes in suffering the forbidden nations to remain and wax strong caused these their brethren to be wronged, and to go without their due which God had... [ Continue Reading ]