Verses 4-6
"Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow Jehovah will do wonders among you. And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people."
"Sanctify yourselves ..." Longacre described what is meant by this command thus: "It consisted in the washing of garments and bodies as well as abstaining from any act or object regarded as unclean."[17] The same author also gave as a good modern example of "sanctification," "The actions of a Mohammedan making his ceremonial ablutions before going into the mosque to pray."[18] Arthur Pink's comment on this is especially good, particularly as it is related to the great bulk of current-day preaching. He said:
"The hirelings harp continuously on God's grace, His promises, and naught but faith required by Him; and woefully fail to stress God's holiness, His precepts, obedience being indispensably necessary."[19]
Yes, God's grace took them over, all right, but note the part that Israel themselves played in this tremendous blessing. (See further comment on sanctification in this series, Vol. 2, Exodus, pp. 160,261.)
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