The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 400

THESE SHOULD EXERT ON us. We are apt to celebrate the greatness of our country with too little reference in our minds to the special favours we have received from God. The separation, through geological processes, of our land from the continent; the store of treasure laid up for our use beneath the surface ; the mingling of races resulting in our strong English character; the upraising of mighty and godly men (Alfred, Wickliff~, Tind~le, Wesley, etc.), who have wrought great things for us; the effectual ~nd lastrn~ ?ehvcrance of our l!1-nd from the bonds and corruptions of Rome; the secunty of rehg10us freedom; the nse and growth of the missionary and subse- quently, the evangelistic spirit, etc. These things and such things as these are ~ational mercies, which we should frequently recall, and, remembering them, we should (1) gua~d against national ~astfuln~ss, .as if ~ur :• right hand'.' had done everything; (2) cultivate!- sense of nat)onal obligation, with its accompamment of reverent gratitude; and especially (3) reahze that we are what we are in order that we may bear witness to God's truth, and extend the kingdom of Jesus Christ, Ill. SPECIAL INDIVIDUAL MERCIES WE HAVE RECEIVED AND THE INFLUENCE WE SHOULD GAIN FROM THEm REMEMBRANCE. Every human life, when it haR reached maturity, contains instances of special as well as ordinary loving-kindness from the hand of God. These may be (1) recovery from dangerous illness; or (2) extrication from financial embarrassment; or (3) preservation of some precious life; or (4) deliverance from forming a foolish and fatal friendship, or from the perils attending compulsory association with the wicked ; or (5) sense, suddenly or gradually imparted, of the supremacy of sacred things resulting in the acceptance of Christ as Lord and Saviour; or (6) revival from spiritual sloth and backsliding. The remembrance of these calls for (1) humility, (2) gratitude, (3) consecration,-C. Vers. 9-14.-Provision and piety. We have here- L THE DIVINE FORETHOUGHT. Jehovah (1) anticipated the religious wants of his people, and made due provision for them. "When ye be come into the land . , • and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring," etc. (ver. 10). God has anticipated our spiritual necessities with every provision in the gospel ; there will never arise any necessity for which there is not, in Christ Jesus and his salvation, an adequate supply. (2) Anticipated their bodily necessities. He was preparing for them. corn and wine and oil in the land whither they went. So God is, through all the months between seed-sowing and harvest, " preparing us corn," providing for our nourishment, and also for our enjoyment. His hand of power is ever working (John v. 17) in anticipation of our wants and wishes. II. Hur,1AN PIETY IN BEBPONBE. The goodness of God, shown to us through all generations, demands intelligent and devout response. We are reminded by the beautiful act of symbolism here enjoined-the presentation of the first sheaf of the harvest unto the Lord (vers. 10, 11)-that our responsive piety should show itself in: 1. Conscious dependence on God, the Source of all life and strength; the waving of the firstfruits was a clear acknowledgment that the whole came from him and belonged to him. 2. Gratitude to God, the bountiful Benefactor. Undoubtedly this was to be a principal element in the institution ; their hearts were to be filled with thankfulness for the harvest then about to be gathered in. There is not less gratitude due to our gracious God for giving us food as the result, in part, of our own labour, skill, intelligence, and patience; there is, in truth, immeasurably 'IMre, for it is the kindest way of doing the kindest thing; it is a way in which be has regard not only to our physical requirements, but also to our moral and spiritual well-being. 3•. Fellow- ship with God. 'J.'he meat and drink offerings (ver. 13) spoke of the fellowship of the worshipper with Jehovah himself. ~e. are! as r~conciled childre~, to have con~munion with the God whom we love, to reJ01ce 1n his presence, to sit down at his table. 4. Consecration to God. (!) 'l'he burnt offering (ver. 12) pointed to the dedication of themselves to the Lord ; and (2) the strict injunction of ver. 14 intimated that they were to bring to the service of Jehovah the first produce of the fertill) land he hnd given them. '!'his is the culmination of true piety, the (1) presentation of ourselves to him as to the One whose we are (Rom. xii. 1 ; 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20), and (2) bringing the first and the best we have to his holy service (Prov. iii. 9); laying ourselves and our substance oa the altar of our Lord.-C. OH, XXIII. 6-44.] THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS.