IV. lMPABTIALITY. (Ver. 22.) • V. INBTRUOTIVENEBB. Law should not only decide individual case9, and bring down appropriate penalty on individual transgressors; it lhould also, by its embodiment or Divine principles, be a most effective teacher of truth, a constant instructor in righteous- ness. The law of the land should be daily leading the nation to true conceptions of, what is upright, moral, estimable. These few statutes contain that vital principle, the supreme value of human (as compared with animal) nature. If a man killed his fellow-man, he must die; if he killed a beast, he must restore it (vers. 17, 18, 21). There are too many who (1) treat themselves or (2) treat others as if there were nothing more in human nature than in the "beasts that perish." How much is a man better ~ban a_ ~beep~ He is better by the imm~urable height of his intelligent, responsible, spmtual, immortal nature. Let us estimate our own worth, and recomize 0 ; the preciousness, before God, of the meanest soul that walks by our side along the path , of human life. We may add that we see here-- VI. Roou FOB FUBTHEB REVELATION. Righteous law, applicable to all, vindicated by just administrators, without a trace of personal resentment, says," an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." But beside this righteous law, consistent with it while high above it, is the spirit of individual, generous forgiveness. Where duty to society does not demand it, let the spirit of retaliation, so natural to unrenewed humanity, give place to the spirit of magnanimity,-the spirit of Jesus Christ, the Great Teacher (Matt. v. 38-41), the Divine Exemplar (Luke uiii. 34).-C. Vers. 10-12.-..4. blasphemer punished. .An incident is here inserted that explains• part of the Law by pointing to its origin. It is a practical illustration that throws I lurid light upon the possibility and consequences of transgression. I. THE SIN. It is described as blasphemy. 1. .A sin of the tongue. Not the light matter some deem it. The tongue can cut like a sword. We need to take heed to our ways, lest we sin with the tongue. The prayer befits us, "Set a watch, 0 Lord, before my mouth." .A word quickly spoken may have lasting results. What a power for good or evil is placed within our reach 1 2. Its criminal character. The Name of God is to be had in reverence. 'l'his man sinned against the third commandment. If it be treason to speak ill of the ruler, how much more to utter with contempt the Name of the King of kinge I Lost to all sense of propriety must be be who can curse God. Far from this, his Name should not even be jestingly or frivolously mentioned, nor should be be called to witness in our casual remarks. II. ITS CAUSES. 1. The immediate cause waa atrife. This rouses angry passions and lends to worse sin. The beginning of strife is as the letting out of water; nono cnn foretell how far it will spread. Little, perhaps, did this man suspect that the quarrel would end in his speedy death. Let the rivulet of contention be checked, ere it develop into a torrent I Men heated by a dispute will give utterance to sentiments of which in calmer moments they would be ashamed. 2. The remote cause was marriage iuith an unbeliever. This man's mother had espoused an Egyptian, and the son would appear to have followed the religion of bis father, for, wishing to taunt an Israelite, ho reviled the Name of Israel's God. Imprudent alliances are a source of continual grief and disappointment. The mother had the pain of beholding her son put to death with every mark of ignominy. The advice of the Apostle Paul with respect to marrying an ungodly person is based on religious principle, and its worth is confirmed by the dictates of common sense and the facts of experience. It is not desirable that there should be a difference of opinion on matters of religion between the husband and the wife. The loss of the children is great when they are not traiucJ in ways of piety by the hearty co-operation of their parents. Ill TBE PUNIBBJIENT. It is not surprising that the people should have been so astounded at snch wickedness that they requested J ohovah to instruct them concerning the penalty adequate to the offence. The punishment made known and inflicted was a,vere, revealing God's estimate of the enormity of the sin; swift, lest the conscience of the people now aroused should have time to slumber, and lest hope of a reprieve should In after-days lead to licence of language. It was inflicted by the whole ccngregat-ion, to ~d themselves of any guilt of tacit participation in the crime; the nation must avenge ~..e l.nault perpetrated upon its covenant Head. 'l'he penalty was not averted by 11:1)- 302 THE IlOOK OF LEVITICUS. [CR, XXV, 1-55.
tenuating pleas of rAce or passion. It gave occa.~ion. for the enactment of the law of retribution. 'l'he lea; talionis has a. rude justice a.bout it which appeals to the sentiment of uncivilized nations. King Bezek acknowledged its force (Judg. i. 7), This retribu- tion was allowed at first because of the hardness of men's hearts, but being permitted! to run side by side with the law of love to one's neighbour and the stranger, the way was prepared for the Christian rule by which the waters of the formerourrent are merged in the strength and beauty of the stream of loTe. Even under this dispensation, however, the law of love has its equitable as well as forgiving aspects.-S. R. .A. Vers. 10-23.-The law of death. Blasphemy, murder, wilful Injury, whether by Israelite or stranger, judged and punished on the principle of compensation without mercy (cf. Isa.. xii.; Rom. xi.). I. Here is the evil of a fa.lien nature and an apostate people set forth (see Rom. i., iL). "All have sinned." Israel itself is defiled. II. The contrast suggested between the law of death and the law of life (cf. Sermon on the Mount and Rom. vii., viii.). The true glory to the Name of Jehovah is not the death of the blasphemer, but the life of God's people. What the Law could not do, i.e. rest-0re the injured, heal the wound, give back the life, is done by the grace of the gospel. III. Historical illustrations of the insufficiency of the Law in the hands of a fallen race. Jesus accused of blasphemy. Stephen stoned. Paul treated as violator of tha Law. Through the Jews and their defection the Name of Jehovah blasphemed in the world. The ka: talionis no real protection either of the individual or society,-R.