Judges 1:27-28 Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns… Manasseh and Ephraim, and the rest of these tribes, did not fail in completing their warfare because they had begun imprudently, but because they did not continue believingly. The tower of conquest was unfinished, not because they had not counted the cost at the beginning, but because they forgot their infinite resources in the help of Jehovah. I. MEN FORSAKING A WORK WHICH HAD BEEN BEGUN AFTER LONG PREPARATION. The plagues of Egypt, the miracles of the wilderness, the gifts of the manna and other supplies, and the long period of discipline in the desert, were all designed to lead up to the full inheritance of the land. II. MEN FORSAKING A WORK WHICH HAD ALREADY SEEN PROSECUTED WITH GREAT ENERGY AND AT GREAT COST. The Church has thrown away not a little energy for want of just a little more. III. MEN FORSAKING A WORK ABOUT WHICH THEY HAD CHERISHED ARDENT HOPES. The whole way up from Egypt had been a long path of expectation. We see here brilliant hopes blasted for ever for want of a little more faith and a little more service. How many of our once cherished visions have fled for the same reason! IV. MEN FORSAKING A WORK IN WHICH THEY HAD ALREADY WON SPLENDID TRIUMPHS. The path of their past prowess was almost vocal against this sinful inaction and unbelief. V. MEN FORSAKING A WORK TO WHICH GOD HAD COMMANDED THEM, IN WHICH GOD HAD MARVELLOUSLY HELPED THE, AND IN WHICH HE NO LESS WAITED TO HELP THEM STILL. They did not "remember the years of the right hand of the Most High." "They forgat His works." No less did they forget His absolute commands, and His unbroken promises. (F. G. Marchant.) Parallel Verses KJV: Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. |
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