The nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel by them.
The trial and chastisement of an unfaithful people
I. It was God’s own thought to put them to the proof.
1. Far otherwise were the thoughts of the nations.
(1) When Israel was strong their thoughts were of alliances.
(2) When Israel became weak their thoughts were of conquest and revenge.
2. The nations could do nothing without God’s permission.
3. This proving of character was done out of respect to His covenant.
(1) God acted by principle and not by temporary impulse.
(2) He acted according to His established manner of dealing with His people’s sins.
(3) Provision made for this through the intervention of the coming Messiah, the real Mediator of the covenant.
4. God puts His people under discipline to serve wise and holy ends.
(1) Nor real injury is ever intended.
(2) Never is the rod without some gracious instruction: “Hear ye the rod, and Him who appointeth it.”
5. God Himself determines the time, manner, and severity of the trial.
II. It was necessary to put Israel to the proof.
1. Their allegiance to their God must be ascertained.
(1) God’s jealousy required it.
(2) Without allegiance the people were not in a fit state to receive Divine blessings.
(3) Ways and means were easy where there was allegiance.
2. Human protestations of obedience are little to be trusted.
III. This testing of character was made in love, not in anger.
1. All God’s dealings with His covenant people are necessarily in love. This is the very spirit of His covenant: “Your God”--“God is for you”--always on your side.
2. It was love to prevent a breach of the covenant.
3. It was love to teach the heart the bitterness of sin.
4. It is love to teach self-knowledge and humility.5. It is love where a false character exists to have the discovery of it made known in good time.
IV. Obedience is with God the all-important requirement.
1. Obedience is the index which shows that the heart is right with God.
2. Obedience springs naturally from the fear and the love of God.
3. In the gospel obedience must spring from love.
4. Obedience in the gospel is the obedience of children.
5. Obedience must be shown in the face of opposition. (J. P. Millar.)
Tests and chastisement
I. the work to be done.
1. Chastisement as well as trial.
2. A special mark is put on the reason for this course of dealing (chap. 2:20-23).
II. God’s choice of instruments.
1. God designates His own agency to do His work.
2. God selects His instruments from the camp of His enemies equally with His friends.
3. A sinning people often supply the means of their own correction.
4. God can turn the most unlikely persons into fit instruments for doing His work.
III. The tendency of the covenant people to apostatise from their God.
1. It is what might have been least expected.
2. The root-cause lies in the depravity of the human heart.
3. Remissness of parental training one of the immediate causes.
IV. Each new generation requires in some degree to be taught by an experience of its own.
1. The strange incapacity of the human heart for receiving Divine lessons.
2. Personal experience is the most effective method of teaching.
(1) A more vivid impression is made.
(2) Personal interests are more deeply touched.
3. Each generation must have a character of its own, and answer for itself. (J. P. Millar.)
To teach them war.
It was God’s will, then
it was a necessity for the Israelites that they should “learn war.” In their case “learning war” meant learning that God alone could fight for them. Do not the Canaanites of unbelief, heresy, and worldliness still remain? And is not the evil of their remaining presence overruled for a twofold good--that of teaching His Church how to make war, and of proving their faithfulness toward Himself? (L. H. Wiseman, M.A.)