安息日午后——11月1日
记忆经文：
“我─耶和华是监察人心、试验人肺腑的，要照各人所行的，和他做事的结果报应他。” ——耶利米书 17:10（和合本）
“I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” KJV — Jeremiah 17:10
使徒所写的话是为了历代信徒的教训，尤其对于那些活在“万物的结局近了”之时的人，有特别的意义。他的劝勉与警告，他的信心与勇气之言，都是每一个愿意“将信心坚持到底”的人所需要的。（《使徒行述》518.1）
使徒努力教导信徒，要保持思想不偏向被禁止的主题，也不要把精力浪费在无意义的事情上。凡不愿落入撒但诡计的人，必须谨慎守护心灵的门户；他们要避免阅读、观看或聆听任何会引发不洁思想的事物。思想不能任意漂流，被仇敌所引导去思考各种邪恶的事。心灵必须忠实地设防，否则外在的罪恶将唤醒内在的邪恶，使灵魂陷入黑暗之中。彼得写道：“所以要约束你们的心，谨慎自守，专心盼望耶稣基督显现的时候所带来给你们的恩……那召你们的既是圣洁，你们在一切所行的事上也要圣洁。因为经上记着说：‘你们要圣洁，因为我是圣洁的。’”（《使徒行述》518.2）
“The apostle's words were written for the instruction of believers in every age, and they have a special significance for those who live at the time when “the end of all things is at hand.” His exhortations and warnings, and his words of faith and courage, are needed by every soul who would maintain his faith “steadfast unto the end.” Hebrews 3:14. The Acts of the Apostles, page 518.1
“The apostle sought to teach the believers how important it is to keep the mind from wandering to forbidden themes or from spending its energies on trifling subjects. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices, must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind must not be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest. The heart must be faithfully sentineled, or evils without will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness. “Gird up the loins of your mind,” Peter wrote, ‘be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ... not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.’” The Acts of the Apostles, page 518.2
星期日——11月2日
违约之罪
阅读《约书亚记》第七章。以色列人在攻打艾城时失败的两个主要原因是什么？
Read Joshua 7. What were the two major causes of Israel’s defeat by the inhabitants of Ai?
上帝为他们所成就的大胜利，使以色列人变得自信自满。因为上帝应许要将迦南地赐给他们，他们便感到安全无忧，却未意识到唯有上帝的帮助才能带来真正的成功。甚至约书亚也在没有求问上帝的情况下，就计划攻取艾城。（《先祖与先知》493.4）
以色列人开始夸耀自己的力量，并轻视敌人。他们以为这场胜仗轻而易举，于是认为派出三千人足够了。这些人仓促出征，却没有得到上帝同在的确据。他们推进到城门口，却遇到了敌人顽强的抵抗。看到敌人的人数众多、准备充分，他们顿时惊慌失措，溃逃而下。迦南人乘胜追击，“从城门前追赶他们……在下坡的地方击杀他们。”虽然阵亡人数不多，仅三十六人，但这场失败却令全体民众极度沮丧。“众民的心就消化如水。”这是他们第一次与迦南人交战，如果连这座小城的守军都打不过，那面对更强大的敌人又该如何？约书亚将这次失败视为上帝不悦的征兆，忧伤恐惧地“撕裂衣服，俯伏在耶和华的约柜前直到晚上，他和以色列的长老都把灰撒在头上。”（《先祖与先知》493.5）
上帝的回答是：“起来！你为何这样俯伏在地呢？以色列人犯了罪，违背了我所吩咐他们的约。”这不是哀叹绝望的时候，而是要迅速采取果断行动的时候。营中有隐藏的罪，必须搜出并除去，否则上帝的同在与祝福就不会再临到祂的百姓。“你们若不把那当灭的物从你们中间除掉，我就不再与你们同在。”（《先祖与先知》494.2）
上帝的命令被一个受委托执行祂审判的人忽视了，而全体以色列人也被视为要为这罪负责：“他们取了那当灭的物，又偷窃，又行诡诈。”上帝指示约书亚如何查出并惩罚罪犯。要用拈阄的方式来确定有罪之人。罪人不会立刻被指明出来，这段不确定的时间是为了让百姓意识到，他们也应对营中隐藏的罪负有责任，从而激发他们省察自己的内心，并在上帝面前谦卑悔改。（《先祖与先知》494.3）
“The great victory that God had gained for them had made the Israelites self-confident. Because He had promised them the land of Canaan they felt secure, and failed to realize that divine help alone could give them success. Even Joshua laid his plans for the conquest of Ai without seeking counsel from God. PP 493.4
“The Israelites had begun to exalt their own strength and to look with contempt upon their foes. An easy victory was expected, and three thousand men were thought sufficient to take the place. These rushed to the attack without the assurance that God would be with them. They advanced nearly to the gate of the city, only to encounter the most determined resistance. Panic-stricken at the numbers and thorough preparation of their enemies, they fled in confusion down the steep descent. The Canaanites were in hot pursuit; “they chased them from before the gate, ... and smote them in the going down.” Though the loss was small as to numbers—but thirty-six men being slain—the defeat was disheartening to the whole congregation. ‘The hearts of the people melted, and became as water.” This was the first time they had met the Canaanites in actual battle, and if put to flight before the defenders of this little town, what would be the result in the greater conflicts before them? Joshua looked upon their ill success as an expression of God's displeasure, and in distress and apprehension he “rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.’” Patriarchs and Prophets, page 493.5
“The answer from Jehovah was, “Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath ... transgressed My covenant which I commanded them.” It was a time for prompt and decided action, and not for despair and lamentation. There was secret sin in the camp, and it must be searched out and put away before the presence and blessing of the Lord could be with His people. “Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.” Patriarchs and Prophets, page 494.2
“God's command had been disregarded by one of those appointed to execute His judgments. And the nation was held accountable for the guilt of the transgressor: “They have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also.” Instruction was given to Joshua for the discovery and punishment of the criminal. The lot was to be employed for the detection of the guilty. The sinner was not directly pointed out, the matter being left in doubt for a time, that the people might feel their responsibility for the sins existing among them, and thus be led to searching of heart and humiliation before God.” Patriarchs and Prophets, page 494.3
星期一——11月3日
亚干之罪
阅读《约书亚记》7:16–19。这整个过程向我们揭示了关于上帝和亚干的哪些特质？
Read Joshua 7:16–19. What does the entire procedure tell us about both God and Achan?
清早，约书亚召集众百姓，按支派聚集，庄严而令人敬畏的审查仪式开始了。一步一步地，调查逐渐推进，试炼越来越接近。先拈出支派，再拈出家族，然后是家室，最后是个人。上帝的手指点出亚干——迦米的儿子，犹大支派的人——就是以色列的祸害。（《先祖与先知》495.1）
为了完全确立他的罪，使任何人都不能指控他被冤枉，约书亚郑重地劝诫亚干，要他承认真相。这个可怜的人终于完全承认了自己的罪：“我实在得罪了耶和华以色列的上帝……我在所夺的财物中，看见一件美好的示拿衣服、二百舍客勒银子、一条重五十舍客勒的金子，我就贪爱这些物件，便拿去了。看哪，这些东西藏在我帐棚内的地里，银子在衣服底下。”立刻，有人被派去亚干的帐棚，他们挖开指定的地方，“看哪，那物果然藏在他帐棚里，银子在衣服底下。”他们把那些物品从帐棚里取出来，带到约书亚面前，“放在耶和华面前。”（《先祖与先知》495.2）
判决随即宣布并立刻执行。约书亚说：“你为何连累我们？今日耶和华必使你受连累。”因为百姓曾因亚干的罪受害，他们也要通过代表参与他的惩罚。“以色列众人就用石头打死他。”（《先祖与先知》495.3）
我们自称受同样的原则所治理，被同样的圣灵所感动。然而，许多人却没有将一切献给基督，反而取了“那块金锭”和“那件美好的巴比伦衣服”，并把它们藏在自己的营中。如果仅仅一个亚干的存在就能削弱整个以色列营地的力量，那么当几乎每个教会、每个家庭都有“亚干”时，我们的事工为何如此缺乏能力，又有何可奇怪呢？（《证言》卷五 157.1）
上帝的不悦仍然临到祂的子民，当罪存在于他们中间，又被那些身居要职之人纵容时，上帝的能力就不会在他们中间显现。（《证言》卷三 270.2）
“Early in the morning, Joshua gathered the people together by their tribes, and the solemn and impressive ceremony began. Step by step the investigation went on. Closer and still closer came the fearful test. First the tribe, then the family, then the household, then the man was taken, and Achan the son of Carmi, of the tribe of Judah, was pointed out by the finger of God as the troubler of Israel. Patriarchs and Prophets, page 495.1
“To establish his guilt beyond all question, leaving no ground for the charge that he had been unjustly condemned, Joshua solemnly adjured Achan to acknowledge the truth. The wretched man made full confession of his crime: “Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel.... When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekel's weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent.” Messengers were immediately dispatched to the tent, where they removed the earth at the place specified, and “behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, ... and laid them out before the Lord.” Patriarchs and Prophets, page 495.2
“Sentence was pronounced and immediately executed. “Why hast thou troubled us?” said Joshua, “the Lord shall trouble thee this day.” As the people had been held responsible for Achan's sin, and had suffered from its consequences, they were, through their representatives, to take part in its punishment. “All Israel stoned him with stones.” Patriarchs and Prophets, page 495.3
“We profess to be governed by the same principles, to be influenced by the same spirit. But instead of giving all for Christ many have taken the golden wedge and a goodly Babylonish garment and hid them in the camp. If the presence of one Achan was sufficient to weaken the whole camp of Israel, can we be surprised at the little success which attends our efforts when every church and almost every family has its Achan?” Testimonies for the Church, volume 5, page 157.1
“God's displeasure is upon His people, and He will not manifest His power in the midst of them while sins exist among them and are fostered by those in responsible positions.” Testimonies for the Church, volume 3, page 270.2
星期二——11月4日
忠心的选择
阅读《约书亚记》7:19–21。约书亚要求亚干做什么？这一请求有什么意义？我们应如何理解他的认罪？
Read Joshua 7:19–21. What is Joshua asking Achan to do? What is the significance of such a request? How do we understand his confession?
亚干的罪，是在最直接、最严肃的警告与上帝能力的伟大彰显之下所犯下的。当时全以色列都曾被明确告诫：“你们务要谨慎，不可取那当灭的物，免得你们取了那当灭的物，使自己成为当灭的。”这命令是在上帝奇妙地使约旦河分开的事件之后宣告的；那时以色列人刚与上帝更新了割礼之约，守了逾越节，并且看见了“耶和华军队的元帅”向他们显现。接着又经历了耶利哥的陷落——这是上帝亲自审判罪恶、警告违背祂律法之人的明证。以色列人很清楚，这胜利完全是上帝的大能所赐，并非靠他们自己的力量。因此，那禁止他们取掠物的命令具有极其严肃的意义。上帝用祂话语的能力攻陷了这坚固的城，这次征服属于祂，所以城中一切都应完全献给祂。（《先祖与先知》495.5）
在那得胜与审判交织的庄严时刻，数百万以色列人中，只有一个人竟敢违背上帝的命令。亚干在看到那件华丽的示拿外袍时，贪心被激发；即便当他面对死亡时，他仍称那件衣服为“美好的巴比伦衣服”。一罪引发另一罪，他又夺取了上帝所指定归入圣所库中的金银——他抢夺了上帝的份，偷取了迦南地初熟的果子。（《先祖与先知》496.1）
导致亚干灭亡的罪根是贪婪——这是一切罪中最普遍、也是最容易被轻视的罪。其他的罪容易被察觉并受到惩罚，而违反第十条诫命的罪，却鲜少被谴责。亚干的故事揭示了这种罪的严重性及其可怕的后果，这正是上帝要教导我们的功课。（《先祖与先知》496.2）
“Achan's sin was committed in defiance of the most direct and solemn warnings and the most mighty manifestations of God's power. “Keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed,” had been the proclamation to all Israel. The command was given immediately after the miraculous passage of the Jordan, and the recognition of God's covenant by the circumcision of the people—after the observance of the Passover, and the appearance of the Angel of the covenant, the Captain of the Lord's host. It had been followed by the overthrow of Jericho, giving evidence of the destruction which will surely overtake all transgressors of God's law. The fact that divine power alone had given the victory to Israel, that they had not come into possession of Jericho by their own strength, gave solemn weight to the command prohibiting them from partaking of the spoils. God, by the might of His own word, had overthrown this stronghold; the conquest was His, and to Him alone the city with all that it contained was to be devoted. Patriarchs and Prophets, page 495.5
“Of the millions of Israel there was but one man who, in that solemn hour of triumph and of judgment, had dared to transgress the command of God. Achan's covetousness was excited by the sight of that costly robe of Shinar; even when it had brought him face to face with death he called it “a goodly Babylonish garment.” One sin had led to another, and he appropriated the gold and silver devoted to the treasury of the Lord—he robbed God of the first fruits of the land of Canaan. Patriarchs and Prophets, page 496.1
“The deadly sin that led to Achan's ruin had its root in covetousness, of all sins one of the most common and the most lightly regarded. While other offenses meet with detection and punishment, how rarely does the violation of the tenth commandment so much as call forth censure. The enormity of this sin, and its terrible results, are the lessons of Achan's history.” Patriarchs and Prophets, page 496.2
星期三——11月5日
希望之门
Read Joshua 8:1–29. What does this story tell us about how God can transform our most abysmal failures into opportunities?
阅读《约书亚记》8:1–29。这段故事告诉我们，上帝如何能把我们最深的失败转化为新的机会？
当约书亚执行了上帝对亚干的审判，将上帝的忿怒从以色列中除去之后，他便奉命召集所有战士，再次向艾城进军。此时，天上的军队为以色列征战，他们的敌人被击败并溃逃。（《时兆》1881年5月12日第1段）
约书亚深知，他们唯一的希望在于顺从上帝。于是他照着摩西的吩咐，召集全体百姓，向他们宣读顺从律法所带来的祝福，以及违背律法所导致的咒诅。然后，他在众人面前再次诵读十条诫命，以及摩西所记下的各项律例与条例。随后，约书亚再次带领以色列人出征，与敌人作战。耶和华为祂的子民大行奇事，他们的军队在每一次胜利中信心倍增，愈发勇敢。（《时兆》1881年5月12日第2段）
“一个罪人就能带来黑暗，使上帝的光被整个会众隔绝。当百姓感到黑暗笼罩，却不明白原因时，他们应当怀着极大的谦卑与痛悔，恳切寻求上帝，直到找出并除去那些使上帝的灵忧伤的罪。”（《证言》卷三 265.1）
“After Joshua had executed the divine sentence upon Achan, and had thus turned away from Israel the wrath of God, he was commanded to marshal all the men of war and again advance against Ai. The armies of Heaven now fought for Israel, and their enemies were put to flight. The Signs of the Times May 12, 1881, paragraph 1.
“Mindful that their only hope was in obedience to God, Joshua now assembled all the people as Moses had commanded, and rehearsed to them the blessings which would follow their obedience to the law, and the curses that would fall upon them should they disregard it. Then he repeated before them the law of ten commandments, and also all the statutes and precepts which Moses had recorded. Again Joshua led Israel forth to battle with their enemies. The Lord wrought mightily for his people, and their armies pressed forward, gaining fresh courage with every victory.” The Signs of the Times May 12, 1881, paragraph 2.
“One sinner may diffuse darkness that will exclude the light of God from the entire congregation. When the people realize that darkness is settling upon them, and they do not know the cause, they should seek God earnestly, in great humility and self-abasement, until the wrongs which grieve His Spirit are searched out and put away.” Testimonies for the Church, volume 3, page 265.1
星期四——11月6日
上帝能力的见证
阅读《约书亚记》7:6–9，这段经文描述了约书亚在灾难发生后的最初反应。请特别关注《约书亚记》7:9。约书亚的话中蕴含了什么重要的神学原则？
Read Joshua 7:6–9, which deals with Joshua’s initial reaction to the calamity that befell them. Focus especially on Joshua 7:9. What important theological principle is found in his words?
亚干贪爱并私自收藏了一条金子和一件华丽的巴比伦衣服，那些都是从敌人那里夺来的掠物。但上帝已宣告耶利哥城为“当灭之地”，并命令百姓不可取掠物归为己用。“你们务要谨慎，不可取那当灭的物，免得你们取了那当灭的物，使以色列的营受咒诅，遭祸患。但凡金银、铜铁的器皿都要归耶和华为圣，必入耶和华的库中。”（《证言》卷四 491.1）
然而，犹大支派的亚干取了那当灭的物，激起了耶和华的怒气。当以色列的军队出去与敌人争战时，他们被击退，甚至有人阵亡。这使百姓极度沮丧，连领袖约书亚也感到困惑不解。他极其谦卑地俯伏在地，痛哭祷告：“哀哉！主耶和华啊，你为何领这百姓过约旦河，将我们交在亚摩利人手里，使我们灭亡呢？巴不得我们住在约旦河那边就好了！主啊，以色列人在仇敌面前转背，我还能说什么呢？因为迦南人和这地所有的居民听见了，就必围困我们，将我们的名从地上除灭。那时，你为自己的大名要怎样行呢？”（《证言》卷四 491.2）
耶和华回答约书亚说：“起来！你为何这样俯伏在地呢？以色列人犯了罪，违背了我所吩咐他们的约，取了那当灭的物，又偷窃、又行诡诈，还把那物放在自己的物中。”亚干偷取了本应归入上帝库中的物品，他又掩盖自己的罪。当他看到以色列营地遭受灾难时，他仍然没有认罪，因为他明知约书亚曾重述上帝的警告——若有人夺取当灭之物，全营都必遭祸患。（《证言》卷四 492.1）
当他因不义之财而心中欢喜时，忽然听见将要进行调查的消息，这使他感到不安。他反复对自己说：“这关他们什么事？我的行为我自己负责。”他表面上装作镇定，甚至高调谴责那“罪人”。若他立刻认罪，也许还能得救；但罪使人心刚硬，他仍旧伪装无辜。在人群之中，他以为自己不会被揭发。拈阄的仪式开始，为的是查出罪人。第一次，阄落在犹大支派；亚干的心开始急速跳动，因为他正属这个支派，但仍存侥幸心理。第二次，阄落在他所属的家族；此时，他脸色苍白，罪状已被约书亚看出。最后一轮，阄明确地指向他——这个不幸的人就这样站在那里，被上帝的手指明指出，他就是造成这一切灾祸的罪魁祸首。（《证言》卷四 492.2）
“Achan coveted and secreted a wedge of gold and a goodly Babylonish garment that were taken as spoil from the enemy. But the Lord had pronounced the city of Jericho accursed and had commanded the people not to take of the spoil of their enemies for their own use. “And ye, in anywise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.” Testimonies for the Church, volume 4, page 491.1
“But Achan, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. When the armies of Israel went out to fight against the enemy, they were repulsed and driven back, and some of them were slain. This brought great discouragement upon the people. Joshua, their leader, was perplexed and confounded. In the greatest humiliation he fell upon his face and prayed: “Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast Thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt Thou do unto Thy great name?” Testimonies for the Church, volume 4, page 491.2
“The answer of the Lord to Joshua was: “Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.” Achan had stolen that which was to be reserved for God and placed in His treasury; he had also dissembled in that when he saw the camp of Israel troubled he did not confess his guilt, for he knew that Joshua had repeated the words of the Lord to the people, that if they should appropriate to themselves that which God had reserved, the camp of Israel would be troubled. Testimonies for the Church, volume 4, page 492.1
“While he is rejoicing in his ill-gotten gain, his security is broken in upon; he hears that an investigation is to be made. This makes him uneasy. He repeats over and over to himself: What does it concern them? I am accountable for my acts. He apparently puts on a brave face and in the most demonstrative manner condemns the one guilty. If he had confessed he might have been saved; but sin hardens the heart, and he continues to assert his innocence. Amid so large a crowd he thinks he will escape detection. Lots are cast to search out the offender; the lot falls upon the tribe of Judah. Achan’s heart now begins to throb with guilty fear, for he is one of that tribe; but still he flatters himself that he will escape. The lot is again cast, and the family to which he belongs is taken. Now in his pallid face his guilt is read by Joshua. The lot cast again singles out the unhappy man. There he stands, pointed out by the finger of God as the guilty one who has caused all this trouble.” Testimonies for the Church, volume 4, page 492.2
星期五——11月7日
进一步思考
如果当亚干第一次被试探时，有人问他是否愿意给以色列营地带来失败与死亡，他必定会回答：“不，不！你的仆人岂是狗，竟能做出这样的大恶呢？”但他迟疑不决，沉溺于贪欲的诱惑之中；当机会来临时，他就越过了心中原先的界限。信徒们往往也是如此——他们在不知不觉中被引诱，逐渐使上帝的圣灵忧伤，欺骗邻舍，最终使上帝的愤怒临到教会。没有人能独立地为自己而活。一个人的羞辱、失败与死亡，就足以波及整个以色列营。那原本在战场上保护他们的神圣遮盖被撤去了。如今，在上帝的子民中，若有各种被容忍的罪存在——这些罪被自称为基督徒的人所纵容与实行——也必同样使上帝的笑脸转离祂的教会。
到了天上账簿展开的那一日，审判者无需言语，只需一个洞察人心、充满责备的目光，每一个行为、每一桩交易、每一段人生的细节，都会清晰地浮现在罪人的记忆中。在那时，人不必像约书亚的时代那样，从支派到家族、从家族到个人地被寻找出来；因为他自己的嘴唇将要承认他的羞耻——他的自私、贪婪、欺骗、伪善与不义。他那些曾隐藏于人前的罪，在那日都要如同宣告在屋顶上一样被显明出来。（《证言》卷四 492.3）
教会最该警惕的影响，不是来自公开的反对者、无神论者或亵渎者，而是来自那些行为不一致的信徒。正是这些人拦阻了以色列之上帝的祝福，使教会软弱无力，蒙上难以抹去的羞辱。当约书亚俯伏在地上，痛苦地向上帝呼求、流泪祷告时，上帝的话语却带着责备临到他说：“起来！你为何这样俯伏在地呢？”（《证言》卷四 493.1）
现今的许多教会中，充满了那些自称事奉上帝，却是贼、凶手、奸淫者与行淫乱的人。然而，自称持守“卑微信仰”的我们，应当遵行更高的标准。我们应当成为圣经的基督徒，勤奋研读那指引生命的地图。我们必须谨慎而虔诚地省察激励自己行为的动机。凡愿意信靠基督的人，现在就应开始学习十字架的荣耀。若要成为真正活泼的基督徒，就必须从现在起敬畏并顺从上帝。若他们愿意，就能拯救自己的灵魂脱离灭亡，赢得永生的冠冕。（《证言》卷四 493.2）
“If when Achan yielded to temptation he had been asked if he wished to bring defeat and death into the camp of Israel, he would have answered: “No, no! is thy servant a dog that he should do this great wickedness?” But he lingered over the temptation to gratify his own covetousness; and when the opportunity was presented, he went further than he had purposed in his heart. It is exactly in this way that individual members of the church are imperceptibly led on to grieve the Spirit of God, to defraud their neighbors, and to bring the frown of God upon the church. No man lives to himself. Shame, defeat, and death were brought upon Israel by one man’s sin. That protection which had covered their heads in the time of battle was withdrawn. Various sins that are cherished and practiced by professed Christians bring the frown of God upon the church. In the day when the Ledger of Heaven shall be opened, the Judge will not in words express to man his guilt, but will cast one penetrating, convicting glance, and every deed, every transaction of life, will be vividly impressed upon the memory of the wrongdoer. The person will not, as in Joshua’s day, need to be hunted out from tribe to family, but his own lips will confess his shame, his selfishness, covetousness, dishonesty, dissembling, and fraud. His sins, hidden from the knowledge of man, will then be proclaimed, as it were, upon the housetop. Testimonies for the Church, volume 4, page 492.3
“The influence most to be feared by the church is not that of open opposers, infidels, and blasphemers, but of inconsistent professors of Christ. These are the ones who keep back the blessing of the God of Israel and bring weakness upon the church, a reproach that is not easily wiped away. While Joshua was lying on his face upon the ground, pouring out his soul to God with agony of spirit and with tears, God’s command was a reproof: “Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?” Testimonies for the Church, volume 4, page 493.1
“The popular churches are filled with men who, while they make a pretense of serving God, are thieves, murderers, adulterers, and fornicators; but those who profess our lowly faith claim a higher standard. They should be Bible Christians, and they must be diligent in the study of the Chart of life. Carefully and prayerfully should they examine the motives which prompt them to action. Those who would put their trust in Christ should begin to study the beauties of the cross now. If they would be living Christians they must begin to fear and obey God now. If they will they can save their souls from ruin and make a success of winning eternal life.” Testimonies for the Church, volume 4, page 493.2