The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 135

pm,itive institution, and hRd no independent moral worth. It stood to the moral law in a triple relntion of subordination-(1) As inferior to it in its own nature. (2) Aa de~igned to aid the mind in rising to the apprehension of the holiness which the law enjoined. (3) As ~roviding (typic11.lly) for the removal of guilt contracted by the breaking oft.he law. 'I his distinctness of the" ten words" from the other parts of the law is evinced- !. ,:r,; '!'HE MA'l,"1-"ER OF TREIB PROMULGATION. 1. They alone were spoken by tho voice of God from Siuai. 2. 'l'bey were uttered amidst circumstances of the greatest magnificence and terror. 3. They alone were written on tables of stone. 4. 'l'hey were written b~· God's own finger (eh. xxxi. 18). The rest of the law was commu- nicated privately to Moses, and through him delivered to the people. II. IN THE NAMES GIVEJ\ TO THEM, AKD THE USE MADE OF THEM. 1. They are " the words of the Lord," as distinguished from the "judgments" or "rights" derived from them, and embraced with them in" the book of the covenant," as forming the statutory law of Israel (eh. xxiv. 3). 2. The tables on which they were written are- to the exclusion of the other parts of the law--ca.lled "the testimony" ( eh. xxv. 16), "the covenant" (Deut. iv. 13), "the words of the covenant" (eh. x.xxiv. 28), "the tables of testimony" (Ex. xxxi. 18; x.xxii. 15), " the tables of the covenant" (Deut. ix. 9-11). 8. The tables of stone, and they only, were placed in the ark of the covenant (eh. xxv. 21). They were thus regarded as in a special sense the bond of the covenant. 'l'he deposition of the tables in the ark, underneath the mercy seat, throws light on the nature of the covenant with Israel. '!'he law written on the tables is the substratum of the covenant-its obligatory document-the bond; yet over the law is the mercy- seat, sprinkled with blood of propitiation-a testimony that there is forgiveness with God, that he may be feared (Ps. cxx.x. 4), that God will deal mercifully with Israel under this covenant. It is obvious, from these considerations, how fallacious is the statement that the Old Testament makes no distinction between the moral, juristic, aud ceremonial parts of the law, but regards all as of equal dignity.--J. 0. Vers. 1-18.-The moral, law-(hneral, S'IJ,n,ey. View this law of the ten com- mandments as- L AUTROIUTATIVELY DELIVERED. "God spake all these words, saying," etc. (ver.1). A.n authoritative revelation of moral law was necessary-I. That man might be made distinctly aware of tlu rumpasB of his obligatio'IUJ. The moral knowledge originally possessed by man had gradually been parted with. What remained was distorted a.nd confused. He ha.d little right knowledge of his duty to God, and very inadequate con- ceptions even of his duties to his fellow-men. '!'his lost knowledge was recovered to him by positive revelation. Consider, in proof of the need of such a revelation, the- ignorance of God which prevails still, men's imperfect apprehensions of his holiness, their defective views of duty, etc. And this though the revelation has so long been 11:iven. 2. '!'hat a basi,s of cerminty might be obtained for the inculcation of moral truth. This also was necessary. Man has ever shown himself ingenious in explaining away the obliuations 0 which the law imposes on him. He may deny that they exist. He may make light of holiness. He may take up utilitarian ground, and ride off on dispute! as to the nature of conscience, the origin of moral ideas, the diversities of l,uIWlll opinion, etc. ']'he law stops all such cavilling by interposing with its authori- rative "'l'hus saith the Lord." See on this point a valuable pa.per on "Secularism," by H. H. Hutton, in "Expositor," January, 188L 3. That tlu authority of COnllcie,u:e may be strer,gthened. Conscience testifies, in however dim a.nd broken a way, to the existence of a law above us. It speaks with authority. " Ha.d it might as it has ngjn it would rule the world." In order, however, that we may be made to feel that it~i.s ~ living will, and no mere impersonal law, which thus imposes its oommands upon us, there is a clear need for the voice within being reinforced by the voice without- for hbtorical revel.e.tion. Sinai teaches us to recognise the authority which binds us in uur con.sciences as God's authority. 4. For --,w; purposes. See previous chapter. II. GRACIOUSLY PREFACED. "I am the .Loro., thy God," etc. (ver. 2). 'fhis preface to the la.w is of great importanoe. 1. It tutifted kl IM/act Uiat God', relation l,o .b,ro,e/, ,11as fundarr.eutally a gracioua one. "The law W&B introduced with t.he words, 'I am Lhc: Lord thy God,' a.nd speaks with the m11.jestic authority of the Eternal, di:1pensing en. xx. 1-18.) THE BOOK OF EXODG& 1-ll