that day? Must they not desire to escape eternal ruin, and obtain eternal glory? If the wicked will be turned into hell, and the righteous only be received into heaven; will not the conviction of the certainty of these things tend to produce integrity and uprightness before men, as well as lead them to Christ for the favour of God? Can that man have divers weights in his bag, or divers measures in his house, great and small, who lives in the constant persuasion, that for those very things he shall be tried and cast before the bar of God? Surely, the fear of the Lord must be the beginning of wisdom. He that fears the Lord will depart from evil; he will hope in his mercy, and walk in his ways (v. 13-16). And who would desire to be found among those enemies of God, whom he hath, in righteous judgment, devoted to destruction? Look at the case of Amalek. Remember the cause of the tremendous doom denounced upon that people; and learn to fear the least approach to unkindness or injustice towards others. The Lord is a jealous God; he will surely avenge the cause of his people. CHAPTER XXVI. 1 The confession of him that offereth the basket of firstfruits. 12 The prayer of him that giveth his third year's tithes. 16 The covenant between God and the people. AND it shall be, which the art to God unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein; 2 That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there. 3 And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the LORD thy God, that I am come unto the country which the LORD sware unto our fathers for to give us. 4 And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar of the LORD thy God. 5 And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous: 6 And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage: 7 And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression: 8 And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders: 9 And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey. 10 And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God: 11 And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you. 12 ¶ When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled; 13 Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them: 14 I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me. 15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey. 16 This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. 17 Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice: 18 And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; 19 And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken. THIS is a very beautiful chapter. It affords directions for the observance of the people, when they came to the promised inheritance, in testifying their gratitude and love for all the Lord had done for them in bringing them safe to their possession. They were to take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, and go unto the priest in the place which the Lord shall choose to place his name there, and say, "I profess this day unto the Lord thy God, that I am come unto the country which the Lord sware unto our fathers to give it to us." The priest was then to take the basket from their hand, and set it down before the Lord's altar; and the offerer was to acknowledge before the Lord all that the Lord had done for them in bringing them to the promised land, as he had said (v. 3, 4). Is not all this exceedingly beautiful, as denoting the spirit of grateful love, which they were to evince for all the Lord's unmerited kindness to them? Does it not shew what every believer in Christ ought to do, when he has found rest and peace to his soul, as the Lord hath promised in the gospel to them that seek him? Are they not bound, by every constraining motive, openly to confess what the Lord hath done for their souls? Should they hesitate for a moment in so doing? Would it not shew the reality of their faith, and tend to recommend the Saviour to the notice and approbation of others? How delightful to hear one and another saying, I profess this day unto the Lord my God, that I am come unto the rest which the Lord hath promised; that I have found the Saviour, and found rest and peace to my soul. I profess that I was a poor sinner, ready to perish. My bondage was great, and my misery was greater. I was dead in sins and heard my voice; he looked upon my misery, my affliction, my oppression. He brought me out of that horrible pit with a mighty hand. He brought me to his dear Son, and gave me his salvation, "flowing with milk and honey," which I now enjoy. He washed me from my sins; he clothed me with his righteousness; he led me by his Spirit; he hath given me the earnest and first-fruits of the heavenly inheritance in my heart. And now I am come to confess his goodness, and to give him all the praise of what he hath done for my soul. Can you make this confession? Every child of God on earth can do so now; and every heir of glory in heaven will do so, as the expression of his highest joy before the throne above, for evermore. Again, in the regulation which follows about the "tithe of all their increase," are you not taught to be very particular and exact in paying your stipulated dues? Are you not taught to keep back nothing from the Lord, but to give him the whole revenue of praise and glory due to his name? How otherwise could you say, "I have hearkened unto the voice of the Lord my God, and done according to all that he hath commanded me?" (v. 14.) Or, how could you look up and pray, "Look down from thy holy habitation from heaven, and bless" my soul according to the grace and truth of thy salvation in Jesus Christ my Lord? Or, how could you "avouch the Lord to be your God, to walk in his ways, and to hearken to his voice?" (v. 17.) Or, how could you be assured that the Lord had avouched you to belong to his peculiar people? (v. 18.) May the Lord thus bless us above all! In praise, and in name, and in honour, may he make and preserve us an holy people unto the Lord our God, as he hath spoken! (v. 19.) CHAPTER XXVII. 1 The people are commanded to write the law upon stones, 5 and to build an altar of whole stones. 11 The tribes divided on Gerizim and Ebal. 14 The curses pronounced on mount Ebal. with the elders of Israel com the uncircumcision of my flesh. I was far Amanded the people, saying, Keep all from God, and ready to perish; but God made me to see and feel my danger. I cried unto the Lord for help and deliverance. He the commandments which I command you this day. 2 And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister: 3 And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee. ye 4 Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaister them with plaister. 5 And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them. 6 Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God: 7 And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God. 8 And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly. 9 ¶ And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God. 10 Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day. 11 ¶ And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, 12 These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin: 13 And these shall stand upon mount Ebal 'to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, 15 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. 16 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. 17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. 18 Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. 19 Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. 20 Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen. 21 Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen. 22 Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. 23 Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen. 24 Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen. 25 Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen. 26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen. (1) Heb. for a cursing. THERE is an evident design throughout the Sacred Scriptures, that the truth of God should be preserved. The Lord himself set the example; and Moses and others were commanded to do the same. The tables of the law were written by the finger of God. Moses was commanded to write in a book the events which took place: others after him wrote in the same manner; till, in due time, the whole book of God was complete. How thankful should we be for the written Word of God! We see the same care for the preservation of the truth in this chapter. When they passed over Jordan they were to "set up great stones, and plaister them with plaister." On these stones they were to "write all the words of this law." They were also to take care that the words of this law should be written very legibly; not only that the writing may be durable, but that it may be distinctly seen, and correctly read, by every passer by (v. 1-4). Is it not a great mercy that we have all the words of this law printed very plainly, that every one may see with his eyes, and read in his own tongue, the wonderful works and words of God? Thanks be unto God for the inestimable treasure of his blessed Word, as well as for the unspeakable gift of his dearly beloved Son. Take notice of the altar they were to build. They were to take the stones just as they were, and not lift up any iron tool upon them (v. 5). Truth is best as it is. It requires no art or polish of man to set it off to greater advantage; it shines most in its own native lustre. The same applies to Christ and his salvation. Take him, and take his blessings just as they are; lift up no tool upon either; there is nothing you can clip off, nor any thing you can put on. Every attempt of this kind only betrays your presumption or your ignorance; let Christ be all and in all. curse and one evidence of saving grace is, making the sinner to see, and humbly to confess, and heartily acquiesce in its holy and righteous decisions (v. 26). A CHAPTER XXVIII. 1 The blessings for obedience. 15 The curses for disobedience. ND it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. 3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy But of what does the Word of God consist? Generally speaking, of two parts, law and gospel. In other words, it consists of the curse and the blessing: these must be made known, and in both we must acquiesce. You must see that the curse is deserved, and confess it. You must see that the blessing is unmerited, and acknowledge it. Your hearty Amen must be given to both, with an enlight-store. ened mind and a willing heart; otherwise it is plain you understand neither in their nature, nor your proper position respecting both. All the congregation of Israel were to be thus engaged. When the one half of the tribes pronounced the curse, all the people were to say, Amen. When the other half proclaimed the blessing, all were to do the same, and praise the Lord (v. 9—26). Let us ask, can you acquiesce in the truth and justice of the curse denounced against all transgressors, including yourself in the guilty number? Can you give your hearty Amen to every sentence of the law passed upon the guilty soul, yours as well as the rest? Do you see that you have deserved the wrath of Almighty God? Do you see, that, were he to cast you for ever from his presence, he would be righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works? If you flinch on this point, things are not right. The state of your soul is not what it ought to be. You have yet to learn an essential part even of the first dawning of heavenly wisdom. Not only does this remark apply to the several cases named in this chapter, but to all possible violations of the holy law of God. He that "confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them," is under this 6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. 8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. 10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. 11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous 'in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: 14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. 15 ¶ But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: 16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. 17 Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. 18 Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 19 Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 20 The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto 'for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. 21 The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it. 22 The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish. 6 23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron. 24 The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed. 25 The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. 26 And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away. 27 The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed. 28 The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart: 29 And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee. 30 Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof. 31 Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them. 32 Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long and there shall be no might in thine hand. 33 The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway: 34 So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see. 35 The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head. 36 The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone. 37 And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee. 38 Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it. 39 Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them. 40 Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit. 41 Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but 10 thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity. 42 All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust "consume. |
