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In this brief story we have a painfully characteristic piece of human history - first, spiritual soundness; then consequent prosperity; then laxity and sin; then punishment and disaster. We trace the steps.

I. A COMMENCEMENT IN MORAL AND SPIRITUAL SOUNDNESS. These two tribes and a half were brave and godly men: "valiant men" (ver. 18); godly men also, for they "cried to God in the battle, and they put their trust in him" (ver. 20); and it is clear that they were acting so much under the direction and in the service of Jehovah that it could be said of their struggle "the war was of God" (ver. 22). It is possible that a war of the same kind, a struggle between contending armies, may now be "of God," and that godly soldiers may cry, with genuine and acceptable devotion, for Divine succour. But such engagements are rare. The illustration of this truth is found now in other fields:

(1) in the battle of life;

(2) in the struggle against particular evils, such as drunkenness, impurity, etc.;

(3) in the great missionary campaign. Here are three principal virtues in all moral and spiritual warfare - valour (ver. 18), prayer (ver. 20), and trust in his Word (ver. 20).

II. CONSEQUENT SUCCESS AT THE HAND OF GOD. "They were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand," etc. (ver. 20). Beside the security and joy of victory came possessions (ver. 21) and a home (vers. 22, 23). Those who, in the battles they fight under God, strive in accordance with his will, manfully, prayerfully, and expectantly, will certainly be rewarded with

(1) the joy of victory,

(2) increase of power and spiritual wealth, and

(3) the approval and reward of the Divine Captain.

Too often - alas for human infirmity! - comes -

III. SPIRITUAL DECLENSION. "They transgressed against the God of their fathers," etc. (ver. 25). Their comfortable prosperity led to free intercourse with ungodly neighbours, and this to laxity of thought and word, and this, ultimately, to defection and rank disobedience. So is it only too often in the history of men, of Churches, of nations. Their early piety leads to an enjoyable prosperity; this leads to intimate association and intercourse with those less devout and pure; and this to contamination and corruption. It is the course which humanity has taken in every dispensation, in every land, in every Church; not necessarily, but with a lamentable frequency. So common is the case that all prosperous piety may well hear a loud voice bidding it Beware! Spiritual declension is unperceived in its beginning; spreads through the soul - through the ranks - with perilous subtlety; grows with gathering rapidity; is increasingly hard to overcome; is fatal in its final issues. It leads to -

IV. A MISERABLE DOOM. It ended, in the case of these Israelites, in defeat and exile - in national destruction (ver. 26). It ends, with us:

1. In utter defeat and failure; so that the purpose of our life, whether individual or collective, is wholly thwarted.

2. In spiritual exile; in disastrous separation from God. He is no longer with us as he once was; he is no longer in us. We live apart from him in a far country.

3. In saddest disappointment. The Master is grieved that his Church (his disciple) has fallen from its (his) high estate; the good and wise grieve over one more deplorable defection. - C.

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KJV: The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war.

WEB: The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skillful in war, were forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty, that were able to go forth to war.