The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 422

• The case before us was one of pure blasphemy. This reckless youth, the son of an Egyptian father, had blasphemed "the Name," and for this he was· stoned to death after those who heard the blasphemy had laid their hands on his head. I. LET US STABT WITH THE FUNDAHENTAL TBUTB THAT THE NAKE 011' GoD IS THE REVELATION OIi' BIB ClUBACTEB IN WOBD. Hence to take up the Name of God lightly is to treat his character lightly. It is, in fact, to despise the Person, and is nothing less than treason against the Supreme King. The individual who blasphemes "the Name" would take up arms against the Person, and so must be treated as a rebel. When therefore, we bear in mind that God makes known his Name that men may trust i~ him (cf. Ps. ix. 10), the blaspheming of his holy Name is really the rejection of his appeal for trust, the rejection of his merciful manifestation, and deserves the penalty attached to it. II. MAN's ATTITUDE TOWARDS Gon's NAME DETEBllINEB HIS CHA.BAOTER. In other words, the Name of God is the touchstone of human character. The person who curseth the holy Name, as this reckless youth did, is thereby judged. He has voluntarily set himself against the Almighty, he has become a rebel not in heart only but openly, and if the Most High is to exercise his authority, the blasphemer should die. It is, more- over, a mistake to imagine, because sentence is not now executed so speedily against blasphemers, that their awful sin has become less heinous in the lapse of ages. The shortsighted individual who defies the Almighty will find eventually how hard are the- bosses of his buckler. liJ. THE PENALTY ATTACBED TO BLASPHEMY IS TO BE ACQUIESCED IN BY THE PEOPLE· OF THE LoBD. The whole congregation in this case is called upon to repudiate the awful crime. Those who heard it are required to lay their hands on the blasphemer's head, to indicate that the guilt must be his own. 'l'bey will not share it, and then the whole congregation are to be the executioners of the Divine decree. Now we are bound to entertain a similar and holy abhorrence of such a crime. We are most assuredly sinking in character if, through association with careless men, we come to regard blas- phemy when indulged in as a light thing. The truth is, if we are making spiritual progress, we shall be advancing in the fear of bis Name. Greater awe, not greater familiarity, wiU characterize us, until at length we shall see it to be just and right, u treason towards mere potentates on earth is regarded as a capital offence, much more· ouglit treason against" the blessed and only Potentate" to be visited with death. IV. LET us IN CONBEQUENOE ALL BOW AT THE NAME OF JESUS. To him bath the Father given a Name that is above every name, that at it every knee should bow (Phil. ii. 9, 10). Submitting reverently to him, we shall find in bis Name that marvellous significance which was heralded before his birth (Matt. i. 21). As our Saviour from sin, he will show us how reasonable is the exhortation, "Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 'l'im. ii. 19). Bnptized in his Name, as well 11s in the Name of the Father and of the Holy Ghost, we shall look to him for the fulfil- ment of the covenant promise therein implied. 1 Under the shadow of the Name and in the light of the face of God revealed in Jesus Christ, we shall be enabled to pass on reverently and peacefully towards our everlasting rest.-R. M. E. Public Jmtice secured liy the law of retaliation. Cb. xxiv. 17-22; cl. Matt. v. 38-48; Rom. xii. 19-21. There is here presented to us, as a law upon which Israel was to act, the principle of retaliation. And yet we have seen in the moralities of eh. xix. 17, 18, au express denunciation of revenge. How are we to reconcile this re- taliation commanded with the revenge which is forbidden? Evidently the retaliation is to be deliberate, in cool blood, without the fever-heat of vengeance. Now, when we bear in mind the early age to which this law of retaliation was given, an age when the institution of public justice was rudimentary in character, then w& can understand bow very important a check it was on the lawlessness to which men are naturally tempted, Of course, when public justice has developed itself into a wid& and vigilant system, the necessity for each man taking the law into bis own hand ceases. Then it becomes a crime against law to usurp its functions; it only increases lawless- ness to attempt for one's self what the organized state willingly undertakes for you. 1 Cf. To.it's 'Thoughts for the Thoughtful,' pp. 186-195, 888 THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [os. XXIV. 10-23.