The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 316

Law, is to sacrifice our birthright of manliness for a mess of the rudest pottage.- R. M. E. Ve:s. 1---30.-.Abomina'ble doings. _This chapter contains laws against abominations prsct.1sed by the heathen, together with rcasona why the) must be avoided by the people of God. Foremost amongst these reasons is- I. THAT THEY ARE FORBIDDEN BY Goo. This is the highest reason, for: 1. He ia the supr611Ul Arbiter of men (vers. 5, 6, 24): "I am tho Lord." (1) He is our Creator. His power over the work of his hands is absolute. It is our wisdom to confess this without gainsaying. (2) He is our Governor. He has not abandoned his creation to mechanical laws. The providence of his intelligence is everywhere and ever active. This his people saw in the miracles of the Exodus. (3) Moral beings are morally responsible to a God of holiness and truth. His will is law. It is truth. It is purity. 2. He is the covenant Friend of his people (vers. 1, 4, 30): "I am the Lord your God.•• ( l) The covenant relationship is set forth in this declaration, It therefore suggests all the promises. Blessings pertaining to this life; also to that which is to come. What glorious blessings I (2) Gratitude is appealed to here. Love should constrain us. The obedience of love is the purest. It is most acceptable to God. It is mosi perfect; for the whole being is in it. IL THAT THE HEATHEN HAVE PRACTISED THEM. 1. They were the doings of the Egyptians (ver. 3). (1) The corrupt state of heart which prompted them, and which was aggravated by their repetition, was that from which the children of Israel suffered cruel and relentless persecutions and oppressions. 'l'he bitter experience they had of these abominations should lead them scrupulously to avoid them. (2) If they had learnt to follow their vices, it is time to unlearn them, now that they have been delivered from Egypt. Providence furnishes men with opportunities favourable to repentance and reformation. We are answerable for these. l!. They were the doings of the Canaanftes. (1) Customs common to the heathen should be viewed with sus- picion by the people of God. The practices of custom come to be called " ordinances " (see ver. 3). Ordinances of man must not be confounded with ordinances of God. (2) \Ve need admouition here. It is easy to flow with the stream ; difficult to stem the torrent. We must brace ourselves to this. We should look to God to nerve our resolution. Ill. THAT THE MATTEB IS VITAL. 1. God leads his people into temptation. (1) Thus he led his people into Egypt. Now be conducts them in amongst the Canaanites. " Shall there be evil in a city and the Lord bath not done it?" (see Isa. xiv. 7; Amos iii. 6). (2) Yet is not God the .Author of moral evil. Physical may exist apart from moral evil. Witness the afflictions of Job (see also John ix. 1-3). (3) God leads men into temptation, not that they may fall icto it, but that they may learn to resist it, and so form a strong moral character. 2. There is life in the Law to those who can keep it. (1) In so far as it is fulfilled, it brings the benefits of a wise and good code (Deut. iv. 8; Neh. ix. 13, 14; Ps. cxlvii. 19, 20). (2) But who can so fulfil it as to ensure eternal life? Not one (see Luke x. 25-28; Rom. x. 5). (3) Therefore faith is declared to be the principle of justification (Hab. ii. 14). Upon this Paul founds his reasoning (Gal. iii. 10-14; Rom. i. 16, 17 ; Phil iii. 9). 3. Ruin is denounced upon the transgressor. (I) Faith is the principle of a true obedience. The t~~nsgressor of_ the Law denies hi6 faith and comes under the curse (Heb. x. 38; Deut. xxvn. 26; Jer. XI. 3). (2) For bis sake tho land is cursed (ver. 25). So defiled may it become e.s to be unfi, for the tabernacle of God. The curse upon the ground for man's sake came in the form of a deluae of water; it will yet come in a flood of fire (Gen. iii. 17 ; v. 29 ; 2 Pet. iii. 7). (3) The transgressor is cut off from among his people (ver. 29; comp. 1 Cor. iii, 17). The abomination in which he is held is vigorously set forth under the figur? of the land vomiting and spuing out its inhabitants (vers. 25, 28). So were the Egyptians ejected. So were the ancient Canaanites (see Gen. xv. 16; Hev. iii. 16). So in turn were the Israelites (Ezek. xx. 11, 13, 21). We should not be highminded, but fear (Rom. xi. 19-21; Heb. iv. 11). "Lay the ear of your faith to the gates of the bottomless pit, and hear the doleful shrieks and outcries of damned sinners, whom c:artb bath spewed out, and hell has swallowed, and tremble lest this be your portion at the last" (M. He.uy).-J • .A. M. CH, XVllL 1-3).] 'l'HE DOOK 01'' LEVITICUS. 281