Spiritual Warfare
The children of God in their spiritual warfare too much resemble the children of Israel after Joshua fell asleep. (Jud. 3:5-8.)1 They did not cast out the remnants of the Canaanites, but made a league with them: so, alas! we have allowed remnants of evil things to hold peaceable possession of corners of our hearts; and, through lack of diligence in weeding the soul’s garden, God is but little with us. We have neglected to take the foxes, the little foxes, which spoil the vines. (S. Sol. 2:15.)2
There were four things which made Israel fight well under Joshua: 1st, the necessity of fighting; 2nd, the certainty of victory; 3rd, God with them; and 4th, the rich spoil. How is it that God’s people, with Christ for their Captain, are but sorry soldiers?
If Christ be with us, what is the city of strength, what are the walls of Jericho, but an occasion to faith? (Josh. 6)3
The slothful believer may have trouble through the flesh; but he never knows the evil and power of the flesh as do those who fight against it and subdue it.
Fußnoten
Judges 3: 5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: 6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. 7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. 8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.↩︎
Song of Solomon 2: 15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.↩︎