The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 221

must shrink from and shun. So the idea of holiness, of sacred separation, of freedom from that wl1ich defiles (ver. 44), was planted within the soul, and grew in the nation; and it was ready when the time came for the great redeeming purpose of God to be revealed. There was a people well schooled in the essential idea of holiness. II. A BEKINDEB OF THE PREVALENCE OF BIN. Connecting uncleanness, defilement, with so many living creatures, there would be before their eyes continual reminders of that which was evil; they would be constantly or frequently put in remembrance that they lived in a world of sin and danger. "All living nature . . . transmuted into a thousand tongues to remind and warn of sin and uncleanness. The living monitor would meet the devout Jew at every point, and call to him in words of sacred admo- D,i.tion from every direction. Looking out at his door, the passing of a camel or a bird of prey would be a memorial to him . . . to guard the approaches of uncleanness. Sitting down under his vine or fig tree, or going forth to gather flowers, the insects crawling on the leaves would be monitors of the presence of evil,'' etc. (Seiss). III. A PICTURE OF T1IE MANY-SIDED NATURE OF BIN. The unclean animals being associated in bis mind with sin, the Jew would naturally connect particular sins with those animals whose habits suggested the thought: the fox would remind him of the evil of treachery and low cunning; the tiger, of ferocity; the hog, of sensuality; the vulture, of gluttony, etc.; he would see before him living pictures of various forms of sin, and would be reminded that evil in every form, temptation in every phase, were about him, and that vigilance was needful at every hour of his life, at every step of his course. We may learn from these thoughts: 1. That holiness includes, if it is not contained in, separateness of soul and life from that which is evil. Though not minute legal precepts, yet other voices say clearly, forcibly, imperatively to us," Be ye separate; touch not the unclean thing." 2. That sin, with its taint and temptation, is on every hand; and not only all around us but, what is more and worse, within us. "Watch and pray," say the heavenly voices. 3. That sin is multiform in our day and land as it was in theirs. It approaches by every avenue, drapes itself in every costume, assumes every air and attitude, must be promptly recognized, wisely parried, stoutly fought, patiently and repeatedly subdued.-C. Vers. 4-47.-Clean and unclean-three side truths. I. THAT Gon DOES SOME TIIINGB TO PROVE us. There were plain, palpable reasons of a sanitary or moral nature for many of these prohibitions; for many others there were, doubtless, valid reasons which escape our view. Probably some remain for which there was no reason in the nature of the case, but it seemed good to the Divine Ruler of Israel to issue them ns tests of obedience. Such was the prohibition of the forbidden fruit in Eden. Such were certain statutes on other subjects. Occasionally these laws regulating the dietary must have been i;everely testing. The fisherman, e.g., must have been sometimes tried when he londed fine palatable fish which were forbidden, and which bad to be cast ag:ain into the sea. God's dealing may seem arbitrary to us. Enough that he, our Father, who has given us so much, who ha~ indeed given us everything we are and have, and to whom we are looking for everything we shall be and shall enjoy in the furthest future, holds out of reach or takes back again that which we would fain have or keep. God tries us, and we must submit with filial trustfulness and cheerfulness. II. THAT IN D0UnTFUL CASES WE DO WELL TO ABSTAIN, "There was a difficulty in determining the case of the camel whether or not it really divides the hoof wholly, and the case of the hare whether it really chews the cud." These, however, are prohibited. We are often placed in circumstances in which we are doubtful as to the legality of pleasures to be enjoyed or profits to be realized. In such cases it is well to keep our "hands off." Abs1inence will result in an infiuitesimnl loss; indulgence might end in serious mischief (see 1 'l'hess. v. 22). Ill. THAT WE ARE HOST IMPORTANTLY AFFECTED BY TilE THINGS WHICH WB APPROPRIATE. Stringent and detailed dietary laws may seem to us to be a redundant part of revelation. They would not have been added, probably, but for the direct religious aspect they wore. But, apart from their primary object, they teach us the valuable lesson that it is a matter of serious if not supreme importance to be appro- priating right things every day. 1. Right food/or the body. Many men are less devout, 18-i THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [CH. XI, 1-47.