Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc09/v10100

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 6KB | 107 lines

10103
 * Laws against falsehood and injustice. (1-9) The year of rest,
 The sabbath, The three festivals. (10-19) God promises to
 conduct the Israelites to Canaan. (20-33)

 #1-9 In the law of Moses are very plain marks of sound moral
 feeling, and of true political wisdom. Every thing in it is
 suited to the desired and avowed object, the worship of one only
 God, and the separation of Israel from the pagan world. Neither
 parties, friends, witnesses, nor common opinions, must move us
 to lessen great faults, to aggravate small ones, excuse
 offenders, accuse the innocent, or misrepresent any thing.

10112
 #10-19 Every seventh year the land was to rest. They must not
 plough or sow it; what the earth produced of itself, should be
 eaten, and not laid up. This law seems to have been intended to
 teach dependence on Providence, and God's faithfulness in
 sending the larger increase while they kept his appointments. It
 was also typical of the heavenly rest, when all earthly labours,
 cares, and interests shall cease for ever. All respect to the
 gods of the heathen is strictly forbidden. Since idolatry was a
 sin to which the Israelites leaned, they must blot out the
 remembrance of the gods of the heathen. Solemn religious
 attendance on God, in the place which he should choose, is
 strictly required. They must come together before the Lord. What
 a good Master do we serve, who has made it our duty to rejoice
 before him! Let us devote with pleasure to the service of God
 that portion of our time which he requires, and count his
 sabbaths and ordinances to be a feast unto our souls. They were
 not to come empty-handed; so now, we must not come to worship
 God empty-hearted; our souls must be filled with holy desires
 toward him, and dedications of ourselves to him; for with such
 sacrifices God is well pleased.

10122
 #20-33 It is here promised that they should be guided and kept
 in their way through the wilderness to the land of promise,
 Behold, I send an angel before thee, mine angel. The precept
 joined with this promise is, that they be obedient to this angel
 whom God would send before them. Christ is the Angel of Jehovah;
 this is plainly taught by St. Paul, #1Co 10:9|. They should have
 a comfortable settlement in the land of Canaan. How reasonable
 are the conditions of this promise; that they should serve the
 only true God; not the gods of the nations, which are no gods at
 all. How rich are the particulars of this promise! The comfort
 of their food, the continuance of their health, the increase of
 their wealth, the prolonging their lives to old age. Thus hath
 godliness the promise of the life that now is. It is promised
 that they should subdue their enemies. Hosts of hornets made way
 for the hosts of Israel; such mean creatures can God use for
 chastising his people's enemies. In real kindness to the church,
 its enemies are subdued by little and little; thus we are kept
 on our guard, and in continual dependence on God. Corruptions
 are driven out of the hearts of God's people, not all at once,
 but by little and little. The precept with this promise is, that
 they should not make friendship with idolaters. Those that would
 keep from bad courses, must keep from bad company. It is
 dangerous to live in a bad neighbourhood; others' sins will be
 our snares. Our greatest danger is from those who would make us
 sin against God.
10136
 * Moses is called up into the mountain, The people promise
 obedience. (1-8) The glory of the Lord appears. (9-11) Moses
 goes up into the mountain. (12-18)

 #1-8 A solemn covenant was made between God and Israel. Very
 solemn it was, typifying the covenant of grace between God and
 believers, through Christ. As soon as God separated to himself a
 peculiar people, he governed them by a written word, as he has
 done ever since. God's covenants and commands are so just in
 themselves, and so much for our good, that the more we think of
 them, and the more plainly and fully they are set before us, the
 more reason we may see to comply with them. The blood of the
 sacrifice was sprinkled on the altar, on the book, and on the
 people. Neither their persons, their moral obedience, nor
 religious services, would meet with acceptance from a holy God,
 except through the shedding and sprinkling' of blood. Also the
 blessings granted unto them were all of mercy; and the Lord
 would deal with them in kindness. Thus the sinner, by faith in
 the blood of Christ, renders willing and acceptable obedience.

10144
 #9-11 The elders saw the God of Israel; they had some glimpse of
 his glory, though whatever they saw, it was something of which
 no image or picture could be made, yet enough to satisfy them
 that God was with them of a truth. Nothing is described but what
 was under his feet. The sapphires are the pavement under his
 feet; let us put all the wealth of this world under our feet,
 and not in our hearts. Thus the believer sees in the face of
 Jesus Christ, far clearer discoveries of the glorious justice
 and holiness of God, than ever he saw under terrifying
 convictions; and through the Saviour, holds communion with a
 holy God.

10147
 #12-18 A cloud covered the mount six days; a token of God's
 special presence there. Moses was sure that he who called him up
 would protect him. Even those glorious attributes of God which
 are most terrible to the wicked, the saints with humble
 reverence rejoice in. And through faith in the atoning
 Sacrifice, we hope for greater honour than Moses ever enjoyed on
 earth. Now we see through a glass darkly, but when he shall
 appear, then face to face. This vision of God will continue with
 equal, if not increasing brightness of joy; not for a few days
 only, but through eternity.