And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
Ver. 16. God forbid that we should forsake the Lord.] And yet they did thus, not long after Joshua's death. It is ordinary with the many headed multitude to turn with the stream, to tack about to every wind, to be of the same religion with others their superiors, to keep on the sunny side, wheresoever it be. Thus at Rome in Dioclesian's time they were Pagans; in Constantine's, Christians; in Constantius's, Arians; in Julian's, Apostates; in Jovinian's, Christians again; and all this within less than the age of a man. It is therefore "a good thing that the heart be established with grace," Heb 13:9 that men may "cleave to God with full purpose," Act 11:23 being "steadfast and unmovable." 1Co 15:58