II. ~n's DEMA'll'D. 1. His cle.im upon the siwed life: "It is mine." (1) Ilia right to our service. He bas bought us with a great price. (2) His delight in us. We nre a t-r<",nsure and a joy to him. Because he loved us he ge.ve Christ to die for us. 2. 'l'ho lifo which Christ has redeemed is to be set apart for God (Rom. xii. 1). (1) With full purpose of heart. (2) Under the power of Christ's love: "the lcve of Christ con- straineth us." (3) With unceasing prayer for the Spirit's indwelling. Ver. 3-16.-How to dedare Gorl's safoation. I. DY THE REMEMBRANCE OF ms MERCIES. 1. "Remember this de.y in ·which ye came out from Egypt." (1) 'l'ho Lord's Supper is 11n ordinance of remembr11nce: "Do this in remembrance of me." (2) 'l'he remembrance of deliver11nce extends over the Christian's whole life: "un- leavened bread is eaten." 2. The celebration of the PIISSover awoke inquiry 11moncr those who had not witnessed God's deeds (ver. 8).-True gratitude, heartfelt thanks~ giving, will make the reality of God's love to be felt by those who have not known him. (1) The place and use of the Lord's Supper in the Christian Church. (2) The power of love in the Christian life. (3) Of true praise and worship in the congre<>ation, 0 'l'o make God something to others, he must first be something to ourselves. II. BY THE oomG OF ms WILL. The Israelites, in sacrificing or redeemincr the to first-born, woke ~<rain the question," What is this?" (vers. 14, 15). Our obedience the good and holy will of God, our consecration to his service will show the reality of his salvation and awaken in many hearts the question whence this consecration flows and the desire to share it. "Let your light so shine" (Matt. v. 16).-U. Ver. 10. Cf. eh. :xii. 42.-Remember. Utmost pains taken that the day should be honoured and remembered. (1) '1.'he month in which it occurred became the beginning of months. (2) A special ordinance as to the first-born pointed back con- tinually to the event celebrated (vers. 11-13). (3) The annual feast was specially devised to keep it in memory (vers. 14, etc.). Why all this? I. REA.SOX OF OBSERVANCE. It commemorated: 1, A great fudgment. Nine pl~aues had passed; the members of each successive trial following one another at shorter intervals a.nd with increasing severity. [I1111stration, siege of town. Besiegers draw parallels closer and closer, each time sounding summons to surrender. Every summons disregarded; at length word given for the assault.] God laying siege to Egypt, now preparing for the assault (cf. generally Amos iv.). "Therefore, prepare to meet thy God" ( eh. :xi. 4). "I will go out;" the representatives stand aside that the arm of Jehovah may be recognised. Fourteenth of month; mid.night. God accompanied by the angel of vengeance. Picture result-palace, dungeon, stables, fields, temples, streets. The judgment was upon Egypt and her gods. 2. A great deliverance. (1) From death. God the judge is impartial. If Egypt has sinned, so also Israel. Three pla,,aues shared by both, both now threatened by self-same danger. Israel, however, trusting God. may escape by obedience. Lamb chosen four days earlier. Slain that afternoon at sundown. Light of full moon shows blood streaks on lintels a.nd door- posts of hoUJ!6S in Goshen ; inside, people prepared for departure, feeding on lamb, :Midnight: Is it imagination that rush a.nd quiver of unseen wings? The shadow of the wings of God shelter each blood-stained door, whilst the angel of vengeance passes over, sparing those whom God protects. (2) From slavery. Wailing throughout Egypt. Midnight message, "Go, get ye gone." At once families gather to standards of their tribes. Soon one great army, harnessed and equipped, laden with spoils of Egypt, the Israelites march forth from the land of their captivity. 'l'he time fulfilled to the day (xii. 41), when their hour is come their God is ready. 3. A great exhibi- twn of DivilrtR- power. Not a mere judgment or a mere deliverance, but judgment by a personal judge, deliverance by a personal deliverer. (1) The Egyptians needed to learn who Jehovah was. '!'he Israelites had not done much to make him respected; rather bad brought bis name into disrepute as the patron of a slavish multitude. Must cause his own name to be hallowed (cf. Ezek. x.xxvi. 20-23). (2) Israel needed to learn that Jehovah was the deliverer-a God faithful to his promises, yet who could Dot endure sin. Moses a.nd Aaron. his instruments, but the victory due only to his right hand a.nd his holy arm. IL USE OF THE OBSERVANCE. By communicating the judgment and the deliverance, OU, XIII, 17-20.) 'THE BOOK OF EXODUS. 305
It was calcu!atctl to ~-~ep men mindful of. the judge a~d the deliverer, a1;1d to prompt respect for his law (xm. 9). Commemorations are an aid to memory, remmdin"' of past events, and recalling associations connected with them. Mere observance as a~ end in itself, bondage (cf. Gal. iv. 9, 10); as a means to an encl, helpful and necessary. The Pharisee mafces a virtue of observance; the right thing is to draw virtue from it. Seo what this observance taught :-1. God is long-suffering, but the day of vengeance comes at length. 'l'he help to memory, as to what he had done, was a help to convic- tion as to what he might do. 2. God will not clear the guilty, yet his mercy doth endure for ever. Even with the help, how often were these truths forgotten (cf. Ps. ovi. 7-13, etc.); would any have remembered them without it? Apply. Lifo, which forms the memory of the future, grows out of memory of tl::e past. A good memory is a help to good living. What helps do you use to prompt memory? 'l'he marked bill, the birthday text-book, the diary-all these helpful; above all, the day, the anniversary, if we use it rightly. Commemorations are but sign-posts pointing to that which is commemorated; use them as such, follow out their indications. So, remembering past mercies, faith will be strengthened and hope sustained.-G.