The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 270

J. IT SECURED THEM A TIME OF RELIGIOUS RETROSPECT AND CONTEMPLATION, NOT ALREADY OCCUPIED DY WORLDLY CARES. The commencement of a civil year naturally brings with it vnrious civil and worldly caree, which occupy the mind, demand the attention, and distract the thoughts. The worldly position has to be reviewed, accounts made up, stock taken, debts claimed and paid, subscriptions renewecl or dis- continued, agents communicated with, orders given, arrangements ma.de in some instances for the whole of the coming twelvemonth; and the result is, that the mind of most men is then so occupied, not to say harassed, that it cannot turn itself with any vigour or freshness to the contemplation of things heavenly and spiritual. Of great value then, and importance, is it that religion should have a separate time to itself for a review of the spiritual position, for the taking of stock in a religious sense, the balancing of the account with heaven, the forming of plans for the spiritual life before- hand, since that life has as much need to be carefully provided for as the worldly life. The opening of a year being the natural time for such a review, the new arrangemen. made naturally suggested it, and provided a quiet time for it. II, IT GAVE THE IDEAS CONNECTED WITH THE FESTIVAL ABOUT TO BE INSTITUTED A GBEATER HOLD ON MEN'S THOUGHTS THAN MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN THE CASE. Everyone recognises the importance of a new beginning. A religion naturally strike8 its key-note at the co=encement of its round of services. As the coming of Christ into the world is the very essence of Christianity, the ecclesiastical year of Christendom co=ences with Advent. Thus Christians are taught that the foundation-stone of their religion, the root out of which it all springs, is the Incarnation. For Mosaism the key-note was deliverance from Egypt, and covenant relationship with God as His people by means of sacrifice. Deliverance from Egypt was redemption from servitude, and the commencement of a free national life. Sacrifice was the appointed means of keeping up and renewing the covenant relationship begun in circumcision. In the Pass- over these two thoughts were blended together, and Israel had to meditate on both. The one thought was necessary to call forth that loving trust in the favour and good- ness of God, which lies at the root of all acceptable service; the other was needed to give ease to the conscience, to reassure the trembling sinner, and remove his sense of a guilt that separated him from God, and made his circumcision un.availing. The prominence given to these ideas by the position of the Paschal Festival, impressed them upon the minds of the Israelites as fundamental and vital truths. • 111. lT GAVE THE RELIGION GENEBALLY A STATUS AND A POSITION OF Th"""DEPfil<"DENCE, WHICH INCBEASED MAN'S RESPECT FOR IT. In all times and countries the suspicion occurs to some, that religion is but a form of statecraft, a politic invention of governors to render government more easy. Anything that marks the co-ordinate authority of Church and State in their separate spheres, and especially the independence of the Church, is valuable, as an obstacle to Erastianism, and an indication of the Church's inherent right to regulate Church affairs. An ecclesiastical calendar distinct from the civil calendar is no doubt a little matter; but it implies an important principle, and is perhaps not without some influence over the general tone of thought and feeling in a country. Vers. 3-20.-The Passove:r Proper. The Passover may be viewed:- 1. As A COMMEMORATIVE RITE. Instituted with reference to the tenth plague, and as a means by which the .first-born of the Israelites might be saved from destruction, but accompanied by ceremonies which were connected with the prospective departure of the whole nation out of Egypt, the Passover feast, as established "by an ordinance for ever," co=emorated two distinct and different things. (1) The passing over of the houses of the Israelites by Jehovah, when he went through the land in the character of "destroyer" (ver. 23), to smite the first-born; and (2) the hurried departure of the nation out of '.Egypt in the night, with bread for their journey, which they had not had time to ieaven (ver. 34). It was thus intended to remind them of two great mercies; the lesser one being the escape of their first-born from sudden death, and the greater one the deliverance of the whole people from the bondage and affliction of Egypt, with th!l consequence of such deliverance, the establishment of them as a nation under the direct government of God, and under laws which were c~mmunicated to them by God ~self at Sinai. Man is so apt to forget the benefits which God confers upon him, that it has  264 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [en. xu. 3-20.