If we have reason to think this is the sin that is in the camp, let us begin with personal and united confession. And then let us come before God to put away and destroy the sin. Here stands at the very threshold of Israel’s history in Canaan the heap of stones in the valley of Achor, to tell us that God cannot bear sin, that God will not dwell with sin, and that if we really want God’s presence in power, sin must be put away. Let us look the solemn fact in the face. There may be other sins, but here is certainly one that causes the loss of God’s presence—we do not pray as Christ and Scripture teach us. Let us bring it out before God, and give up this [p75] sin to the death. Let us yield ourselves to God to obey His voice. Let no fear of past failure, let no threatening array of temptations, or duties, or excuses, keep us back. It is a simple question of obedience. Are we going to give up ourselves to God and His Spirit to live a life in prayer, well-pleasing to Him? Surely, if it is God who has been withholding His presence, who has been discovering the sin, who is calling for its destruction, and a return to obedience, surely we can count upon His grace to accept and strengthen for the life He asks of us. It is not a question of what you can do; it is the question of whether you now, with your whole heart, turn to give God His due, and give yourself to let His will and grace have their way with you.
6. With sin cast out God’s presence is restored.—From this day onwards there is not a word in Joshua of defeat in battle. The story shows them going on from victory to victory. God’s presence secured gives power to overcome every enemy.
This truth is so simple that the very ease with which we acquiesce in it robs it of its power. Let us pause and think what it implies. God’s presence restored means victory secured. Then, we are [p76] responsible for defeat. Then, there must be sin somewhere causing it. Then, we ought at once to find out and put away the sin. We may confidently expect God’s presence the moment the sin is put away. Surely each one is under the solemn obligation to search his life and see what part he may have in this evil.
God never speaks to His people of sin except with a view to saving them from it. The same light that shows the sin will show the way out of it. The same power that breaks down and condemns will, if humbly yielded to and waited on in confession and faith, give the power to rise up and conquer. It is God who is speaking to His Church and to us about this sin: “He wondered that there was no intercessor.” “I wondered that there was none to uphold.” “I sought for a man that should stand in the gap before Me, and found none.” The God who speaks thus is He who will work the change for His children who seek His face. He will make the valley of Achor, of trouble and shame, of sin confessed and cast out, a door of hope. Let us not fear, let us not cling to the excuses and explanations which circumstances suggest, but simply confess, “We have sinned; we are sinning; [p77] we dare not sin longer.” In this matter of prayer we are sure God does not demand of us impossibilities. He does not weary us with an impracticable ideal. He asks us to pray no more than He gives grace to enable us to. He will give the grace to do what He asks, and so to pray that our intercessions shall, day by day, be a pleasure to Him and to us, a source of strength to our conscience and our work, and a channel of blessing to those for whom we labour.
God dealt personally with Joshua, with Israel, with Achan. Let each of us allow Him to deal personally with us concerning this sin, of restraining prayer, and its consequences in our life and work; concerning the deliverance from sin, its certainty and blessedness. Just bow in stillness and wait before God, until, as God, He overshadow you with His presence, lead you out of that region of argument as to human possibilities, where conviction of sin can never be deep, and full deliverance can never come. Take quiet time, and be still before God, that He may take this matter in hand. “Sit still, for He will not be in rest until He have finished this thing this day.” Leave yourself in God’s hands.
[p78] A PLEA FOR MORE PRAYER
CHAPTER VII
[Contents]
“Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?”—Jer. viii. 22.
“Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto Thee; for Thou art the Lord our God.”—Jer. iii. 22.