The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 107

26). (2) God hl\S ever held nations responsible to him (Job xii. 18 • Jer. xxvii. 6 • Dan. ii. 21 ; iv. 32). (3) The Hebrew nation more especially so. He' raised them up in pursuance ~fhis promise to their fathers. He preserved them in Egypt. He brought them forth with an outstretched arm. He gave them a code of laws at Sinai. lle gave them possession of the land of Canaan. In visible symbol he guided their government. (Ps. cxlvii. 19, 20; Rom. ix. 4, 5). 2. Therefore nations may sin against him. (1) Where a Jaw is there may be transgression (1 John iii. 4). God has not left himself with?ut witness (Acts xiv. 17).. _(~) The Gentile na~ions sinned in throwing off their allegiance to the true God and JOmmg themselves to idols. They have in consequence sunk into the most abominable immoralities (Rom. i. 21-32). (3) 'l'he Hebrews follow~_the bad example of_ t~eir ne!ghbours: (a)..Jn asking a king to be like them (1 Sam. vm. 7, 8). (b) In their 1dolatnes (1 Krngs xu. 26-30; 2 Kino-s 0 xxi. 11). They became demoralized by licentiousness and violence (Isa. i. 4). II. THE SIN OF A CHURCH. 1. The commandments of the Lord concern Ohwrches. (1) The Church of God iu the noblest sense is a grand unity existing throughout the universe and throughout the ages. This is the corporation against which the gates of he!~ cannot prevail (Matt. xvi. 18). . (2) This invisible Church has visible represen- tatn-es on this earth. The congregat10n of Israel was such a representative (Acts vii. 38; collate Ps. xxii. 22 with Heb. ii. 12). Now under the gospel these representatives are many. There is a Church where two or three are met together in the name of Jesus. 2. These Ohurches are responsible to God. (1) They have to maintain the purity of faith (Titus iii. 10; 2 John 10 ; J nde 3; Rev. ii. 13). (2) They have to maintain purity of discipline, viz. by persuasion, by admonition, and by expulsion of incorrigible offenders. Excision in the Jewish Church was accompanied by the infliction of death; for the laws of the nation and those of the Church were one (Exod. xxxi. 14; Numb. xv. 34, 35). Now it means withdrawment from the companionship of the offender (Matt. xviii. 17; Rom. xvi. 17 ; 1 Cor. v. ; 2 Thess. iii. 6, 14; 2 Tim. iii. 5). III. Tm: OFFERING FOB sm. 1. Communities are punished in this world. ( l) This is evident from the nature of the case. There is no future resurrection of com- munities. Disintegration to a community is its utter extinction. (2) Nations meet their punishment in adversities which are ordered by Providence. These are the sword (1 Sam. xii. 9-15); the pestilence (Deut. x.xviii. 21); the consequence is famine, and wasting, possibly, unto extinction. God stirs up one nation against another to punish its pride (Isa. xii. 2, 25; xiv. 1-4; xlvi. 10; Jer. 1. 21-32). (3) Churches have their punishment in this world. It may come in the form of spiritual leanness. In abandonment to apostacy (Isa. I.xvi. 3, 4; 2 Thess. ii. 11). The candlestick may be ta.ken out of its place (Matt. xxi. 41-43; Rev. ii. 5). 2. Punishment may be averted by sacrijke. (1) Sacrifices of the Law were concerned with communities. The text furnishes an example. The community may be civil. It may be ecclesiastical. Wh,·n sacrifice is accepted, no punishment is inflicted. This is the import of the assurance, "It shall be forgiven ,them." (2) The sacrifice of Calvary is no less concerned with communities. Churches feel it as well as individuals. Nations feel it as well as Churches. Churches and nations also should plead it far more than they do. 3. There is no mercy for wi1ful sin. (1) To avail ourselves of the benefits of atonement, them must be repentance. This was expressed when the elders of the congregation, on behalf of their constituents, laid their hands upon the bullock (see ver. 15). The gospel of this is obvious. (2) There must also be faith. The faith expressed in the laying on of hands was carried further in the sprinkling of blood (see vers. 16, 18). 'l'he vail was a type of Christ, who is our " Way" to God, the " Door" to us into the temple of the Divine Presence (Heb. x. 19, 20). The blood sprinkled upon the vail set forth the laying of our sin upon him who thereby consecrates for us the way. Ho also is our altar of incense upon whom the blood of our guilt is laid, and by whose intercession we are rendered acceptable to God (1 Pet. ii. 5). (3) Judgment is reserved for tho 0bstinate. Woon a Church becomes apostate and will not repent, it must be destroyed. Such was the case with J udaisn1, which wns removed amidst the slaughter of the destruction of Jerusalem. Such will be the doom of the llabylouish harlot (Rev. xviii. 4-8). And what hope is there for nations when they become infidel? If sins of ignorance cannot be forgiven without a sin offering, what must be the fate of com- muuities guilty of presumptuous sins !-J. A. M. OB. IV. 1-35,] TH]!; :BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 63