The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 454

seventy years, and during that time the land of Israel rested. Therefore the land restoo just as many years in the Babylonish Captivity as it should have rested sabbatbs if the Jews had observed the law relative to the sabbaths of the land." (2) The longer term or "seven times" thrice repeated (vers. 21, 24, 28) is alw notable. These are the . "times of the Gentiles," during which Jerusalem is to be trodden down of them (Lnke ni. 24). 6. Meanwhile their land was to lie duolate (vers. 31-35). (1) Such has been its history, under the Romans, under the Saracens, under the Crusaders, under the Turks. (2) Who but God could have foreseen all this? How unreasonable is unbeliefl-J. A. M. Vers. 40-4.6.-Hopefor Iarael. The curses of this chapter have proved prophetic. So, may we infer, will the blessings prove. We may therefore hope to see the con• version of the Hebrews to Christ, their restoration to their ancient inheritance and tb~ sun of prosperity shining brightly upon them. ' I. THEY WILL CONFESS TBEm em. 1. Their perBO'TUJ,l inVJU,ity. (1) They will have many things to confess, as all sinners have. They will "humble their uncircum- cised heart" (see ,Ter. ix. 26; Rom. ii. 29). (2) In particular they will confess their capital sin in rejecting Christ. This crime filled np the measure of their fathers. 2. Thd iniquity of their /athers. (1) This was the same as their own. They will acknowledge- themselves, not in pride, but in penitence, to be the children of their fathers. (2)- Instead of attempting to extenuate their sin because of the example of their fathers, they will repent for the sin of their fathers as well as for their own. This is in accord- ance with the principle of the visitation of the iniquities of the fathers upon the children. 3. The justice of God in their punishment. (1) They acknowledge that they walked contrary to God (see Ezra ix.; Neh. i. 4; ix. 1, 2, 29; Dan. ix. 3, 4). (2) That he has therefore walked contrary to them. Afflictions do not spring out of the dust. II. THEN Goo WILL REMEMBER ms COVENANT. Therefore: 1. He wi1l not destroy them utterly. (1) His providence will be over them. What else could have preserved them now for nineteen centuries amidst untoward circumstances? They are, notwith- standing their sufferings, o.s numerous UHl.ay as they were in the zenith of their prosperity in the days of Solomon. (2) The remnant of them shall be saved. (3) How tender is the compassion of God I (Hos. xi. 8, 9). 2. He wi1l reinstate them in their land. (1) He will remember his land. For in the covenant they are promised. the land" for ever." (2) Remembering the land also implies that it will recover it.s ancient fruitfulness (see promises, vers. 4, 5, 10). (3) In that condition it will be the appropriate type and pledge of the heavenly country (see Isa. lx.ii. 4). 3. He will make them a blessing in the earth. (1) They will grow into a multitude. (2) They will rejoice in spiritual blessings. (3) The miracles of the Exodus from Egypt will be- repeated. (4) The heathen will be startled into thoughtfulness (ver. 45). (5) The heathen will once more learn the way of salvation from the lips of Hebrews. 4. 111 all this they are beloved/or the fathers' sakes. (1) This is distinctly stated (ver. 42; comp. Rom. xi. 28). (2) The patriarchs of the covenant are referred to in the order of ascent, viz. Jacob, Isaac, Abraham. Note: when the Jews in humility confess them- selves the children of their more recent sinful fathers, God will acknowledge them as the children of their earlier faithful ancestors. (3) It is an encouragement to faith that the memory of Divine mercy is far-reaching-everlasting.-J. A. M. Ver. 1.-Idolatry: our danger and our security. Knowing, as we do, how wide- spread was the idolatry of the age and how terribly tempted were the children of Israel to fall under its fascination, we do not wonder either at the repetition or the fulness of this commandment. God made it quite clear to his people, and impressed the truth on their minds with strong emphasis, that they muRt not permit any visible image to come between themselves and him. He would sanction "no idol, nor graven image, nor pillar, nor figured stone" (marginal reading). Respecting idolatry we may do well to consider- I. ITS NATURAL msTORY. Men do not descend at once into the blind and blank idolatry with which we are familiar. 1. The first step downwards is when men take some object or construct some image which shall remind them of Deity, or stand for God, or be a sign and token of his presence, so that when they see that they shall think  THE DOOK OF LEVITICUS. [CB. XXVI, 1-46.