Joshua 8:30-3530Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in mount Ebal, 31As Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings. 32And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel. 33And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. 34And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. 35There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them. (Joshua 8:30‑35)
The discipline Israel had suffered yielded the peaceable fruits of righteousness; they were earnest to obey God’s Word. This is seen in Joshua’s command to bury the body of Ai’s king before sundown, lest by its remaining upon the tree the land should become defiled (Deut. 21:2323His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21:23)). But besides this, they now repaired to Ebal and Gerizim, and set up the stones whereon the law was written.
The Lord had, by Moses, instructed Israel to set up the stones upon their entrance into Canaan; He had pointed out the mountains where they should put the blessing and the curse consequent upon their obedience and disobedience to His Word, and had given them to know that by setting up the words of His law they placed themselves under its authority, and became His willing people. (See Deut. 11:29-3029And it shall come to pass, when the Lord thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal. 30Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh? (Deuteronomy 11:29‑30), and Deut. 27:9-109And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God. 10Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day. (Deuteronomy 27:9‑10).)
Joshua’s faith is expressed in dedicating the first altar erected by Israel in Canaan to “the Lord God of Israel.” This altar was built of unhewn stones, not “polluted” by iron tool, stones which no human hand had shapen. It was for burnt-offering and for peace-offering, and no mention is made of sin-offerings sacrificed upon it. The sacrifice offered upon it would therefore imply, that Israel hearkened to God’s Word as worshippers, and as in communion with Him. The altar was built upon Mount Ebal, from which the Amens responding to the curses for breaking the law were uttered.
They also set up great stones upon the mount, plastered them with plaster, and wrote thereon the words of the law (Deut. 27:1-21And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day. 2And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster: (Deuteronomy 27:1‑2)). Having done this the Levites surrounded the ark in the valley between the mountains and read the words of the law, the whole host of Israel filling the hillsides (Josh. 8:3333And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. (Joshua 8:33)). The elders of Israel, the officers and their judges; “The stranger, as he that was born among them”; the infant and the warrior, men, women, and children; none were absent. All this vast company were gathered together, that, by solemn Amens uttered before God, they might bow to His Word, and take upon them its responsibility.
What a lesson does this assembled multitude teach us in thus manifesting their obedient honoring of God’s Word. Alas! the Word of God is too little revered, too little obeyed by His people now. Human ideas are allowed to stand beside it; it is not always the final appeal as well as the strength and food of God’s people. Their Amen does not always arise heavenwards when its precepts are uttered.
The curses were read with a loud voice by the Levites, and, as each curse for disobedience sounded in Israel’s ears, the hundreds of thousands assembled upon Mount Ebal responded with unanimous Amens. Twelve times they said “Amen” to the twelve times uttered curses, and the twelfth, “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them,” included every possible neglect or failure. Blessings also were read (Josh. 8:33-3433And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. 34And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. (Joshua 8:33‑34)), but where were the Amens sounding from Mount Gerizim? Scripture is silent. It records not one responsive “So be it” to blessings earned by the obedience of fallen man. (Read Deut. 27.) Man may justly assent to “all the judgments” (Ex. 24:33And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do. (Exodus 24:3)) of God’s law, but they who remain under the law remain under its curse (Gal. 3:1010For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (Galatians 3:10)).
The standing of the Christian presents a striking contrast to that of Israel in this scene. Christ has, by His death, made His people free, for they have died to the law in Him. His cross has severed them from the law’s power and dominion, for the law addresses not its demands to men who are dead: “My brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ” (Rom. 7:44Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. (Romans 7:4)).
The covenant inscribed upon the plaster covered stones, Paul said, eighteen hundred years ago, “decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away” (Heb. 8:1313In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (Hebrews 8:13)), but the covenant of grace is changeless and eternal. “If that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second” (Heb. 8:77For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. (Hebrews 8:7)). But that of grace is perfect before God. The Lord Jesus is the mediator thereof. His own precious blood has confirmed it.
Our blessings are not entrusted to our own custody, but are in the safe and eternal keeping of God our Father Himself, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings “in Christ.”
Our altar of thanksgiving and worship is, therefore, not set, as was Israel’s, upon an Ebal – a mount of curses – for “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.”
But the contrast reaches to our responsibility as well as to our blessings. God requires holiness of His people in accordance with the revelation which He gives them thus, Israel’s standard of holiness was the law, the Christian’s standard is Christ. Inasmuch as our blessings are greater than were Israel’s, so is our responsibility.
The Christian is beloved in sovereign grace and is bidden obey the truth because he is so beloved, not lest being disobedient he should forfeit the goodness shown him. (Compare Rom. 12:1-21I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1‑2), with Deut. 11:26-2826Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: 28And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. (Deuteronomy 11:26‑28).) Those who say they are Christians are professedly under the authority of the Lord Jesus, and their responsibility is to walk as He walked. “He that saith he abideth in Him ought also so to walk, even as He walked” (1 John 2:66He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1 John 2:6)). Such are subject to the precepts of the Word, and if the Christian obeys not the word of God he belies his Christianity. “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:44He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:4)). It is the “reasonable service” of those who are brought into the fullness of God’s blessing to present their “bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” Because their sins are forgiven for His name’s sake, it is for them to seek and to do those things which are pleasing in the sight of God. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:33For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (1 John 5:3)).