DAY 83 Read Joshua 8 and 9.
Today's reading tells of a quick plunge from the flush of victory (under the Lord's direction) to the chagrin of falling into a clever deception (without consulting the Lord).
Memory gem: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).
Thought for today:
"The Gibeonites had pledged themselves to renounce idolatry, and accept the worship of Jehovah; and the preservation of their lives was not a violation of God's command to destroy the idolatrous Canaanites. Hence the Hebrews had not by their oath pledged themselves to commit sin. And though the oath had been secured by deception, it was not to be disregarded. The obligation to which one's word is pledged--if it does not bind him to perform a wrong act--should be sacred. No consideration of gain, of revenge, or of self-interest can in any way affect the inviolability of an oath or pledge. 'Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord.' Proverbs 12:22. He that 'shall ascend into the hill of the Lord,' and 'stand in his holy place,' is 'he that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.' Psalm 24:3; 15:4.
"The Gibeonites were permitted to live, but were attached as bondmen to the sanctuary, to perform all menial services. 'Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord' [Joshua 9:27]. These conditions they gratefully accepted, conscious that they had been at fault, and glad to purchase life on any terms. 'Behold, we are in thine hand,' they said to Joshua; 'as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do [Joshua 9:25]. For centuries their descendants were connected with the service of the sanctuary....
"They had adapted the garb of poverty for the purpose of deception, and it was fastened upon them as a badge of perpetual servitude. Thus through all their generations their servile condition would testify to God's hatred of falsehood."--Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 506, 507.
Today's reading tells of a quick plunge from the flush of victory (under the Lord's direction) to the chagrin of falling into a clever deception (without consulting the Lord).
Memory gem: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).
Thought for today:
"The Gibeonites had pledged themselves to renounce idolatry, and accept the worship of Jehovah; and the preservation of their lives was not a violation of God's command to destroy the idolatrous Canaanites. Hence the Hebrews had not by their oath pledged themselves to commit sin. And though the oath had been secured by deception, it was not to be disregarded. The obligation to which one's word is pledged--if it does not bind him to perform a wrong act--should be sacred. No consideration of gain, of revenge, or of self-interest can in any way affect the inviolability of an oath or pledge. 'Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord.' Proverbs 12:22. He that 'shall ascend into the hill of the Lord,' and 'stand in his holy place,' is 'he that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.' Psalm 24:3; 15:4.
"The Gibeonites were permitted to live, but were attached as bondmen to the sanctuary, to perform all menial services. 'Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord' [Joshua 9:27]. These conditions they gratefully accepted, conscious that they had been at fault, and glad to purchase life on any terms. 'Behold, we are in thine hand,' they said to Joshua; 'as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do [Joshua 9:25]. For centuries their descendants were connected with the service of the sanctuary....
"They had adapted the garb of poverty for the purpose of deception, and it was fastened upon them as a badge of perpetual servitude. Thus through all their generations their servile condition would testify to God's hatred of falsehood."--Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 506, 507.
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