SERMON UPON DEUTERONOMY XXX II. 51. 389
PC that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.' Therefore the sin was impatience mingled with diffidence, and this in the sight of all the
1. He was m a great passion, more than was usual with him at other times, as appeareth by the manner of his speaking, ' Ye rebels ; ' and also the doubling of his stroke showeth the heat of his anger. Now, 'the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God,' James i. 20. The passion was in itself a fault, but withal it disturbed him so that he could not discharge that duty which was incumbent upon him ia the manner that he ought to do it, with faith and affiance in God, or so as he might set out his goodness, power, and truth. He spake in a provocation, not as became a meek and faithful servant of the Lord, that desired to glorify him in the eyes of the people.
2. There was unbelief and distrust in it, ' Must we fetch you water out of this rock ? ' A speech that savoured of doubting, which needed not, considering what an express promise they had from God. There- fore God saith. Num. xx. 12, 'Because ye believed me not' They spake as if it were impossible to fetch water out of the rock, when God had assured them of the contrary ; or at least such an abundance for them all as might be sufficient for all the multitude with their beasts and cattle. Or if their faith in God's power was clear, they might doubt of his mercy, that God would do such a thing for a murmuring and unthankful people.
3. There was scandal in it. In this they did not endeavour as they ought to set forth God's glory and power in the eyes of all the people. They should have charged the rock to yield forth water, and have given the people a good example of believing and obeying God's words in their greatest straits : ver. 12, ' Ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel ; ' that is, they did not publicly before the people show affiance in God, as became them. Therefore the words are to be noted : ver. 13, * This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them.' Though Moses and Aaron sanctified him not by faith and obedience, yet God sanctified himself.
[1.] Among the people, by giving water for their thirst. So it is said. Isa. xlviii. 21, ' When he led them throufrh the deserts, he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them ; he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed forth.' And as for them, so for their cattle ; yea, the wild beasts of the wilderness had benefit by this mercy of God to his people. So Isa. xliii. 20, ' The beasts of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls ; because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.'
[2.] He was sanctified in Moses and Aaron by punishing their dis- obedience. Thus it is taken, Ezek. xxxviii. 16, ' That the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, 0 Gog, before their eyes ; ' that is, by punishing them for their sins, for thereby God makes himself known to be a holy and powerful God. So Lev. x. 3, ' I will be sanctified in them that come nigh unto me, and before all the people I will be glorified;' either by doing good to them that serve him aright, or by punishing them that transgress his precepts.
This is the history. Now observe it in three things —
390 SERMON UPON DEUTERONOMY XXXIL 51.
First, The state and quality of the persons.
(1.) Moses was an eminent servant of the Lord, faithful in all his house, Deut. xxxiv. 5, 'So Moses the servant of the Lord died.' Though men he holy for the main, yet it doth not justify their failings or excuse their evil actions, as if they were not sins, nor hinder God's wrath from breaking out upon them temporally, though they be exempted from eternal condemnation ; for God is no respecter of persons : ' Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth ; much more the wicked and tlie sinner,' Prov. xi. 31. If the faults of the righteous, whom God loveth with a fatherly love in Christ, be not without chas- tisement, surely the wicked cannot escape. Their sins are not by design, but by surprise, not committed with a strong will, but out of frailty ; and being committed, they are retracted by repentance. As IMoses often mentioned this sin, and at his death maketh here an acknowledg- ment of God's justice against him for it, that his example might be a warning to all people not to disobey God's commandments or disbelieve his word. Yet God will be known to be a holy God by the notable inconveniences God's people often bring upon tliemselves here in the world. This truth is ushered in with an Ucce, ' Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the eartli ; ' that is, observe the just and most wise government of our supreme Lord. Behold it ! it is a certain truth, and deserveth our most solemn consideration. Many miseries we may have in our pilgrimage, for they are recompensed upon earth, and our chastisements are confined only to tlie present life.