Resume your journey and go to the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the hill country, in the foothills, in the Negev, and along the seacoast to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great River Euphrates. Sermons
I. THE CHURCH'S DANGER - to abide at the mount, to settle down into a state of apathy or simple receptivity. This is met by the call to action - "Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: turn you, and take your journey" (vers. 6, 7). Notice: 1. Israel's stay at the mount was good while it lasted. There the nation enjoyed a season of rest, ratified its covenant with God, received the Law, constructed a sanctuary, and was otherwise equipped and organized. There must be times of getting, of learning, of consulting for one's own edification, else it will go hard with us in the work and battle of life. But 2. There was a danger that Israel's stay at the mount might last too long. So is it with the Church, when she concentrates her attention too exclusively on her own spiritual improvement, and forgets her mission to the world. We have to remember that we get and learn only that we may apply and act. There is the peril of religion becoming a species of enjoyment. We luxuriate in retired communion, in restful fellowship with God, in converse with fellow-believers, in Church ordinances; and we think how sweet it would be if this could always last. But we are wrong. It would not be good for us always to be in this state of simple receiving. Religion, divorced from active employment, must soon lose its robustness, and degenerate into a sickly religiosity. There are many, many Christians who have been long enough, and far too long, in the mount, and it would be welt for themselves if they could hear this voice summoning them to go forward. II. THE CHURCH'S DESTINY - to possess the land. The type was the land of Canaan; the antitype, so far as it lies in time, is the world, which it is the Church's calling to conquer for Christ, and for her own possession. St. Paul gives this interpretation in Romans 4:13. Taking the passage in this light, and reading the wider truth into it, we get the idea of a land which is: 1. Known to God (ver. 7). Known thoroughly, in all its parts, peoples, districts, conformation, accessibilities, and inaccessibilities. In advancing to take possession of the world for Christ, we have the encouragement of thinking that he knows precisely to what kind of work he is sending us, and yet promises success. India, China, Africa, etc., - he knows them all, yet he says, "Go in and possess." 2. Gifted by God (ver. 8). It is long since the oracle declared that God had given Christ the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession (Psalm 2:8). The Church, as one with Christ, shares in his kingdom, and shall yet inherit the whole earth. 3. The conquest of which is commanded by God. Not, indeed, by carnal weapons, as the Israelites were commanded to conquer Canaan, nor yet by the destruction of those against whom we war; but by the nobler weapons of the truth, and by seeking men's salvation. This is a benigner method of conquest, and it will prove successful if we advance with faith and courage. Those who persist in hardening themselves must indeed be destroyed; but not by us. The Lord puts no weapon of a kind to injure any into our hands; but bids us leave vengeance with himself. Our means are the preaching of the gospel, prayer, holy living, organized and beneficent activity to reach the lost sheep of our great communities, and multiplied missionary agencies in foreign lands. III. THE CHURCH'S DUTY - to obey her Lord, and go forward at once to this great work. 1. He gives no alternative. 2. The command is express. 3. The world sorely needs our work. 4. Every motive of gratitude and compassion should urge us to it. - J.O.
Because he hath wholly followed the Lord. You want to be a Christian, meanwhile your heart is set upon getting riches. You would store your mind with the learning and wisdom of the world, you wish to gain repute as a good talker in company, and a convivial guest at the social hoard. Ambition prompts you to seek fame among your fellows. Well, I shall not denounce any of these things, but I would use every persuasion to induce you who are believers in Christ to renounce the world. If Christ has redeemed you He has henceforth a claim on you as His servant, and it is at your peril that you take up any pursuits that are inconsistent with a full surrender of yourself to Him. Why many Christians never attain to any eminence in the Divine life is because they let the floods of their life run away in a dozen little rivulets, whereas if they cooped them up in one channel and sent that one stream rolling on to the glory of God, there would be such a force and power about their character that they would live while they lived.( C. H. Spurgeon.) (Matthew Henry.) (A. Maclaren, D. D.) People Amorites, Anakites, Caleb, Canaanites, Eshcol, Isaac, Israelites, Jacob, Jephunneh, Joshua, Laban, Moses, Nun, Og, Seir, SihonPlaces Arabah, Ashtaroth, Bashan, Dizahab, Edrei, Egypt, Euphrates River, Hazeroth, Heshbon, Horeb, Hormah, Jordan River, Kadesh-barnea, Laban, Lebanon, Moab, Mount Seir, Negeb, Paran, Seir, Suph, Tophel, Valley of EshcolTopics Advance, Along, Amorite, Amorites, Arabah, Camp, Canaanite, Canaanites, Coast, Enter, Euphrates, Euphra'tes, Foothills, Haven, Hill, Hill-country, Hills, Journey, Lebanon, Low, Lowland, Lowlands, Mount, Mountain, Mountains, Move, Negeb, Negev, Neighboring, Neighbors, Neighbouring, Nigh, Peoples, Phrat, Places, Plain, River, Seacoast, Seashore, Sea-shore, Seaside, Sea-side, South, Thereunto, Turn, Vale, WesternOutline 1. Moses' speech in the end of the fortieth year6. briefly rehearsing the history of God's sending them from Horeb 14. of giving them officers 19. of sending the spies to search the land 34. of his anger for their incredulity 41. and disobedience Dictionary of Bible Themes Deuteronomy 1:7 4260 rivers and streams Library Foretastes of the Heavenly LifeEarly in the year 1857. NOTE: This edition of this sermon is taken from an earlier published edition of Spurgeon's 1857 message. The sermon that appears in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 45, was edited and abbreviated somewhat. For edition we have restored the fuller text of the earlier published edition, while retaining a few of the editorial refinements of the Met Tab edition. "And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again … Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 45: 1899 Preventive against Backsliding. Afraid of Giants Philo of Alexandria, the Rabbis, and the Gospels - the Final Development of Hellenism in Its Relation to Rabbinism and the Gospel According to St. John. A Plain Description of the Essence and Attributes of God, Out of the Holy Scripture, So Far as Every Christian must Competently Know, and Necessarily Believe, that Will be Saves. The Mountainous Country of Judea. Kadesh. Rekam, and that Double. Inquiry is Made, Whether the Doubling it in the Maps is Well Done. Barren Fig-Tree. Temple Cleansed. In the Temple at the Feast of Tabernacles. Moses and his Writings Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology. The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. ) Deuteronomy Links Deuteronomy 1:7 NIVDeuteronomy 1:7 NLT Deuteronomy 1:7 ESV Deuteronomy 1:7 NASB Deuteronomy 1:7 KJV Deuteronomy 1:7 Bible Apps Deuteronomy 1:7 Parallel Deuteronomy 1:7 Biblia Paralela Deuteronomy 1:7 Chinese Bible Deuteronomy 1:7 French Bible Deuteronomy 1:7 German Bible Deuteronomy 1:7 Commentaries Bible Hub |