Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc09/v11750

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 6KB | 104 lines

11751
 * The unclean to be removed out of the camp, Restitution to be
 made for trespasses. (1-10) The trial of jealousy. (11-31)

 #1-10 The camp was to be cleansed. The purity of the church must
 be kept as carefully as the peace and order of it. Every
 polluted Israelite must be separated. The wisdom from above is
 first pure, then peaceable. The greater profession of religion
 any house or family makes, the more they are obliged to put away
 iniquity far from them. If a man overreach or defraud his
 brother in any matter, it is a trespass against the Lord, who
 strictly charges and commands us to do justly. What is to be
 done when a man's awakened conscience charges him with guilt of
 this kind, though done long ago? He must confess his sin,
 confess it to God, confess it to his neighbour, and take shame
 to himself; though it go against him to own himself in a lie,
 yet he must do it. Satisfaction must be made for the offence
 done to God, as well as for the loss sustained by the neighbour;
 restitution in that case is not enough without faith and
 repentance. While that which is wrongly gotten is knowingly
 kept, the guilt remains on the conscience, and is not done away
 by sacrifice or offering, prayers or tears; for it is the same
 act of sin persisted in. This is the doctrine of right reason,
 and of the word of God. It detects hypocrites, and directs the
 tender conscience to proper conduct, which, springing from faith
 in Christ, will make way for inward peace.

11761
 #11-31 This law would make the women of Israel watch against
 giving cause for suspicion. On the other hand, it would hinder
 the cruel treatment such suspicions might occasion. It would
 also hinder the guilty from escaping, and the innocent from
 coming under just suspicion. When no proof could be brought, the
 wife was called on to make this solemn appeal to a
 heart-searching God. No woman, if she were guilty, could say
 "Amen" to the adjuration, and drink the water after it, unless
 she disbelieved the truth of God, or defied his justice. The
 water is called the bitter water, because it caused the curse.
 Thus sin is called an evil and a bitter thing. Let all that
 meddle with forbidden pleasures, know that they will be
 bitterness in the latter end. From the whole learn, 1. Secret
 sins are known to God, and sometimes are strangely brought to
 light in this life; and that there is a day coming when God
 will, by Christ, judge the secrets of men according to the
 gospel, #Ro 2:16|. 2 In particular, Whoremongers and adulterers
 God will surely judge. Though we have not now the waters of
 jealousy, yet we have God's word, which ought to be as great a
 terror. Sensual lusts will end in bitterness. 3. God will
 manifest the innocency of the innocent. The same providence is
 for good to some, and for hurt to others. And it will answer the
 purposes which God intends.
11782
 * The law concerning the Nazarites. (1-21) The form of blessing
 the people. (22-27)

 #1-21 The word Nazarite signifies separation. Some were
 appointed of God, before their birth, to be Nazarites all their
 days, as Samson and John the Baptist. But, in general, it was a
 vow of separation from the world and devotedness to the services
 of religion, for a limited time, and under certain rules, which
 any person might make if they pleased. A Nazarite is spoken of
 as well known; but his obligation is brought to a greater
 certainty than before. That the fancies of superstitious men
 might not multiply the restraints endlessly, God gives them
 rules. They must not drink wine or strong drink, nor eat grapes.
 Those who separate themselves to God, must not gratify the
 desires of the body, but keep it under. Let all Christians be
 very moderate in the use of wine and strong drink; for if the
 love of these once gets the mastery of a man, he becomes an easy
 prey to Satan. The Nazarites were to eat nothing that came of
 the vine; this may teach the utmost care to avoid sin, and all
 that borders upon it, and leads to it, or may be a temptation to
 us. They must not cut their hair. They must neither poll their
 heads, nor shave their beards; this was the mark of Samson being
 a Nazarite. This signified neglect of the body, and of the ease
 and ornament of it. Those who separate themselves to God, must
 keep their consciences pure from dead works, and not touch
 unclean things. All the days of their separation they must be
 holy to the Lord. This was the meaning of those outward
 observances, and without this they were of no account. No
 penalty or sacrifice was appointed for those who wilfully broke
 their vow of being Nazarites; they must answer another day for
 such profane trifling with the Lord their God; but those were to
 be relieved who did not sin wilfully. There is nothing in
 Scripture that bears the least resemblance to the religious
 orders of the church of Rome, except these Nazarites. But mark
 the difference, or rather how completely opposed! The religious
 of that church are forbidden to marry; but no such restriction
 is laid upon the Nazarites. They are commanded to abstain from
 meats; but the Nazarites might eat any food allowed other
 Israelites. They are not generally forbidden wine, not even on
 their fasting days; but the Nazarites might not have wine at any
 time. Their vow is lasting, even to the end of their lives; the
 Nazarites' vow was only for a limited time, at their own will;
 and in certain cases not unless allowed by husbands or parents.
 Such a thorough difference there is between rules of man's
 invention and those directed in Scripture. Let us not forget
 that the Lord Jesus is not only our Surety, but also our
 example. For his sake we must renounce worldly pleasures,
 abstain from fleshy lusts, be separate from sinners, make open
 profession of our faith, moderate natural affections, be
 spiritually-minded, and devoted to God's service, and desirous
 to be an example all around us.