The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 217

c,,mpl~t.e c0nformity_ to the will of Gorl; for thcr_c were men of David's spirit long before Dr\\"1d s time. But m how many was there nothmg more than the inconsirlernte shout of those who, after all Gorl had said, hnd yet not the slightest knowledge of his will I Aml yet with all these profound differences the superficial enthusiastic agreement evidently ~en·ed e. purpose. For not only was there a word, but also a highly siunificant and impressive deed. Notice that all the preparations in the way of altar, pill~rs, offerinus etc., made so carefully by Moses, are not said to have been made by God's comman"'d~ ment. The most we can sny is, that they were not out of h1mnony with his will. 'l'hey were a visible representation, a kind of writing out of the great contract into which the people thus entered. There stood the altar signifying the presence of God, and there the pillars signifying the twelve tribes, and there was the blood with its principle of life joining together, in e. glorious unity, Jehovah and his people. The great and lamentable differences underneath are neither forgotten nor underrated; but for the time they are not regarded. The unity of feeling thus secured was mado to ser.e a great symbolic purpose. 'l'hese people, by word and deed, by the erection of these pillars, and by the acceptance of the sprinkled blood, took part in a great historic act, and declared that they were the people of God in a way the consequences of which they could not afterwards escape. ill. Observe this very remarkable thing-THAT GoD SHOULD HAVE ACCEPTED THEIR ACCEPTANCE. He knew how much a.nd how little it meant, and yet he did not point ..,ut the rashness of the utt.era.nce, he did not interfere with the symbolic actions by which Moses more deliberat.ely set forth the adhesion of the people. We are bound, therefore, to conclude that in whatever ignorance and sudden enthusiasm the people might subscribe to this covenant, yet that subscription was right. 'l'he laws that God gave from Sinai are the laws for men to live by. The constitution of God's kingdom was by this great symbolic act solemnly introduced into Israel, and made the con- stitution of Israel also. Every na.tion, if it is to be anything more than a mere crowd, must have a constitution. Some constitutions grow, and like all things that grow, they occasionally bra.nch out in unexpected directions. Other constitutions, men meet together to determine and formulate, like that of the American republic. But here is a constitution which comes down out of heaven from God; and in a great historic act, the nation into which it comes accepts it. Hence those born under that constitution were bound to accent it also. There was no nation on the face of the earth that had asuch securities, pri;ileges, and prospects as Israel had under these laws from Sinai. 'l'he government was neither a despotism nor a democracy. The people were neither under an arbitrary will which might capriciously change, nor did they depend upon their own fluctuating opinions. God, if we might use such an expression, was bound by these laws, even as the people were themselves.-Y. Vers. 4.-" If any man will do the will he shall know of the doctrine." What a man receives must depend upon what he is able to receive. [Illustration. The sponge absorbs more water than the wood, because its pores are more open.] To receive the liuht of revelation the spiritual pores must be well opened; and this depends upon in°ward conditions-the will to obey, followed by obedience. Here a revelation is im- pending. Notice- 1. HuDINEBS OF THE WOULD-BE RECIPIENTS. Moses had declared the Divine will. 'l'hc hearers might have been indifferent, or they might have been disheartened by the stringency of the injunctions. In either case,_ through their imperfect condition, more perfect light must have been delayed. For a li~tle, ho~ever, t~ey were rapt o~t of self; and thouah, it may be, the momentary enthusiasm did not pierce clouds which years only could disperse, yet they were ready for the moment to gain a glimpse, at any rate, of the Divine glory. "All the words which the Lord hath said will we do:" such was ti.te utterance of the people's disposition at the moment. Temporary inclination, l.l(Jwever, is uot everythinu; at best it only marks out the way along which effort may compel habit. For a naiion to speak with "one voice" is something; 'but it needs discipline and training to secure the "one heart" as well. 'l'he tint step towards becuritJ~ this has next to be taken:- I I. Ht:AllIKEiis OONFIRMELI AJ\"D ACCEPTED. A record needed to impress the memory; .. sacr..weut.al .i;ywLol to impress the imagination. l. 'J.'/~ reCQ'l'd. "Moses wrote all CH, XXIV, 3-9.) THE BOOK OF EXODUS.