The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 336

reminds us of some truths which come home to ourselves. We may observe: I. That power is apt to be tyrann~cal. The history of nations, tribes, individuals, is the history of assertion and assumption, The strong have ever shown themselves ready to take advanuige of the weak. Hence the oppression and c,,uelty which darken the pages of human history. 2. That God would have us be just to one another. In most cases j f not in all, we can take no credit for our superior strength, and build no claim on it: In many cases, if not in most, we can impute no blame to others for their weakness: the unfortunate are not necessarily the undeserving, and we have no right to make them suffer. 3. But beyond this, God would have us be Hpecially kind to the .nce:e5sitous becawe they are 1>eedy. H~re are t~ese statutes in respect of the poor, the affhcted, and the stranger. The devotional Scriptures speak more fully of this sacred duty (Ps. xli 1, 2; lxii. 13; cxii. 9, etc.). The prophets utter their voice still more furcibly (Isa. !viii. 6-8; Ezek. xviiL 7; Neh. v. 10-12; Jer, xxiL 16 • Amos iv. 1 etc.). Our Lord has, with strongest emphasis, commended to us considerateness ~ ward the weak and helpless (Matt. x. 42; xviii. 6, 10, 14; xxv, 34-40, etc.). His apostles spoke and wrote in the same strain (Rom. xii. 15; 1 Cor. xii. 26, etc.). But that which, above everything, should lead us to be considerate toward the poorer and weaker members of our community is the thought that to do so is so truly and .emphatically Divine. God himself has ever been acting on this gracious principle. He interposed to save the children of Israel because they were weak and affiicted. Again and again he stretched out his arm of deliverance, saving them from the strong and the mighty of the earth. On this Divine principle he deals with us all, He "knows our frame, and remembers that we are dust." "Like as a father pities his children, so he pities them that fear him." Our Saviour dealt with exquisite considerateness in all his relations to hls undiscerning and unappreciative disciples; and now he is dealing with gracious forbearance toward us in all the weakness, poverty, shortcoming of our service, \Ve are never so much like our merciful Master as when we speak and act considerately toward those who are poorer, weaker, and more helpless than ourselves.-C, Vere. 11, 13, 15, 16, 35, 36.-Integrity. The Jews have always been considered a -cnnning and crafty race; they have been credited with a willingness to overreach in business dealings. Men would rather have transactions with others than with them, Jest they should find themselves worsted in the bargain. This suspicion may be well founded; but if it be so, it ought to be remembered that it is the consequence of the long and cruel disadvantages under which they have suffered, and is not due to .anytbing in their own ulood or to any defect in their venerable Law, From the beginning they have been as strictly charged to live honourable and upright lives before man as to engage regularly in the worship of God. They have been as much bound to integrity of conduct as to devoutness of spirit. In these few verses we find -them called to- I. INTEGRITY IN DAILY TRANBACTI0NB-H0NESTY, "Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely" (ver. 11). "Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him" (ver. 13; tsee vers. 35, 36). Nothing could be more explicit than this, nothing more comprehen- sive in suggestion. No member of the Hebrew commonwealth could (1) deliberately ,appropriate what he knew was _not his o"'.n, or (2) rob h_is nei~hbour in t~e ac~ of .trading, or (3) deal falsely or unnghteously in any transaction or in any relation, with- out consciously breaking the Law and coming under the displeasure of Jehovah. The words of the Law are clear and strong, going straight to the understanding and to the conscience. Every man amongst them must have known, as every one amongst us knows well, that dishonesty is sin in the sight of God. II. INTEGRITY IN OFFICIAL DUTY-JUSTIOE. (Ver. 15.) It is a pitiful thought that, in every nation, justice has been open to corruption; that men placed in honourable .posts in order to do justice between man and man have either sold it to the highest bidder or surrendered and betrayed it from craven fea~. God's clear word condemns such rank injustice, and his high displeasure follows the perpetrator of it. He who undertakes to judge his fellows must do so in the fear of God, and if ~e swer'!es from his integrity in his public acts, he must lay his account with heaven 1f not with ;man. Ill, li;TEGRITY IN wonD-TRUTH. "Ye shall not lie one to inother" (vcr, 11). en. xrx. 1-37.] THE nooK OF LEVITICUS. 301