word, and the direction of the Spirit in every thing, so shall peace be upon us, as it now was upon the Israel of God. They must follow the priests as far as they carried the ark, but no further; so we must follow our ministers only as they follow Christ.
4. In following the ark, they must keep their distance, v. 4. They must none of them come within a thousand yards of the ark. (1.) They must thus express their awful and reverent regard to that token of God's presence, lest its familiarity with them should breed contempt. This charge to them, not to come near, was agreeable to that dispensation of darkness, bondage, and terror: but we now through Christ have access with boldness. (2.) Thus it was made to appear, that the ark was able to protect itself, and needed not to be guarded by the men of war, but was itself a guard to them. With what a noble defiance of the enemy did it leave all its friends half a mile behind, but the unarmed priests that carried it, as perfectly sufficient for its own safety and their's that followed it. (3.) Thus it was the better seen by those that were to be led by it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go, seeing it, as it were, chalked out or tracked by the ark. Had they been allowed to come near it, they would have surrounded it, and none would have had the sight of it but those that were close to it; but as it was put at such a distance before them, they would all have the satisfaction of seeing it, and would be animated by the sight. And it was with good reason that this provision was made for their encouragement, for ye have not passed this way heretofore. This had been the character of all their way through the wilderness, it was an untrodden path, but this especially through Jordan. While we are here, we must expect and prepare for unusual events, to pass ways that we have not passed before: and much more when we go hence; our way through the valley of the shadow of death is a way we have not gone before, which makes it the more formidable. But if we have the assurance of God's presence we need not fear, that will furnish us with such strength as we never had, when we come to do a work we never did.
III. They were commanded to sanctify themselves, that they might be prepared to attend the ark; and for this there was good reason, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you, v. 5. See how magnificently he speaks of God's works, he doeth wonders, and is therefore to be adored, admired, and trusted in. See how intimately acquainted Joshua was with the divine counsels, he could tell beforehand what God would do, and when. See what preparation we must make to receive the discoveries of God's glory and the communications of his grace, we must sanctify ourselves. This we must do when we are to attend the ark, and God by it is about to do wonders among us; we must separate ourselves from all other cares, devote ourselves to God's honour, and cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. The people of Israel were now entering into the holy land, and therefore must sanctify themselves. God was about to give them uncommon instances of his favour, which by meditation and prayer they must compose their minds to a very careful observation of, that they might give God the glory, and take to themselves the comfort, of these appearances.
IV. The priests were ordered to take up the ark and carry it before the people, v. 6. It was the Levites' work ordinarily to carry the ark, Numb. 4. 15. But on this great occasion the priests were ordered to do it. And they did as they were commanded, took up the ark, and did not think themselves disparaged, went before the people, and did not think themselves exposed; the ark they carried was both their honour and defence. And now we may suppose that prayer of Moses used, when the ark set forward, Numb. 10. 35, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered. Magistrates are here instructed to stir up ministers to their work, and to make use of their authority for the furtherance of religion; ministers must likewise learn to go before in the way of God, and not to shrink or draw back when dangers are before them. They must expect to be most struck at, but they know whom they have trusted.
7. And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. 9. And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan. 9. And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the Lord your God. 10. And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. 12. Now therefore take ye twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. 13. And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon a heap.
We may observe here how God honours Joshua, and, by this wondrous work he is about to do, designs to make Israel know that he is their governor. And then, how Joshua honours God, and endeavours by it to make Israel know that he is their God. Thus those that honour God he will honour, and those whom he has advanced, should do what they can in their places to exalt him.
I. God speaks to Joshua to put honour upon him, v. 7, 8.
1. It was a great honour God did him that he spake to him, as he had done to Moses from off the mercy-seat, before the priests removed it with the ark. This would make Joshua easy in himself and great among the people, that God was pleased to speak so familiarly to him.
2. That he designed to magnify him in the sight of all Israel. He had told him before he would be with him, ch. 1. 5. that comforted him, but now all Israel shall see it, and that magnified him. Those are truly great with whom God is, and whom he employs and owns in his service. God magnified him, because he would have the people magnify him. Pious magistrates are to be highly honoured and esteemed as public blessings, and the more we see of God with them, the more we should honour them. By the dividing of the Red-sea, Israel was convinced that God was with Moses in bringing them out of Egypt; therefore they are said to be
