The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 457

part is met by returning favour on his (Jer. iii. 22; Joel ii. 12-14; l11t1.. xliv. 22; Iv. 7). Let the prodigal son arise to return, and." while yet a great way off," the heavenly Father will run to meet and to welcome him (Luke xv.), IIL Goo's GOOD1'"ESS TO U8 WILL SEEM TO U8 TO VARY ACCORDING TO TBB REOTITUDB OF ot111 SOULS TOW ABD Hnl. As men seem to us to be just or unjust, kincl or unkind, according to the position we occupy toward them, so also does the Father oi spirits. "All the paths of the Lord are" (and are seen to be)" mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies n (Ps. xxv. 10). llut the ways of the Lord will seem "contra.iy" to the rebellious. With the merciful man God shows himself merciful; with the froward he shows himself froward (Ps. xviii. 26). The guilty will exclaim against the inequality of God's dealings (Ezek. xxxiii, 17). He will seem unjust because they are unholy, because their spirit is false and wrong (Matt. xx. 16). '!'hose who fear God and love his Son their Saviour, join in the p.sa.lm of the Church on earth, " The Lord is righteous in all his ways, ... his tender mercies are over all his works" (Ps. cxlv.); they anticipate the strain of the Church in heaven, "Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints" (Hev. xv. 3).-C. Vers. 14--39.-Divine retri"bution. The Divine Legislator of Israel knew well that he must contemplate disobedience as well as obedience to his laws. When he had intimated the fulness of the reward he would bestow on the faithful, he was compelled to pass on to "But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do," etc. It is sad to think that it did not need Divine prescience to foretell this issue. Human disobedience is too constantly occurring a factor in human histoiy to require that: it may always be t1a.fely assumed. We have now to deal with God's treatment of it; and we see- L THAT Gon PtJNISBES IT WITH VARIOUS EVIIA (Vers. 14--18.) God always says to us, "If ye will not do my commandments, I will set my face against you." To the lsni.el.ites he threatened specifically: (1) bodily sickness; (2) unprofitable labour; (3) defeat in battle; (4) subjection to a hated rule; (5) ignominious terror and flight. If we sin we must expect to suffer in mind, body, or estate. Guilt and misery are necessarily conjoined. Sin deserves to suffer: there needs no further explanation of suffering than that God's holy and righteous Law has been transgressed. Yet, while the Divine Law- giver vi.sitll sin with retribution because it is n"ght that it should receive this mark of his holy disapproval, it is also true- IL THAT GoD's PID."'ISHHENT IS J4EANT TO BE REMEDIAL, .. If ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me" (ver. 18). Then it is clear that these providential visitations would be meant to lead to a better spirit, to a disposition to hearken and to obey. God, when he punishes, not only does an act of righteous retribution, which his position as Supreme Judge demands of him, but he also does that which he desires shall lead to nenitence'and restoration. He smites us in one member that he may heal us altogether. He takes away a little that he may give very largely. He sends passing pain that he !Day give enduring joy. God's retributions are his" corrections," his paternal chastise- ments, his strong but kind admonitions. By them he lays his hand upon us and 11t1.ys to us, in tones we cannot fail to understand," Repent and return, and be restored." But we learn from these verses- liL THAT 11..Ui TOO OFTEN REFUSES TO HEED THE DIVINE COBBEOTION. "If ye will not yet for all this hearken" (ver. 18); "if ye will not hearken unto me" -.(ver. 21); "if ye will not be reformed by me by these ~hin~s" (ver. 2~). Often men .do listen and learn and obey when God comes to them lil sickness or in sorrow; but only too often they do not. They continue in or revert to their evil course, they fall again into crime, into vice, into unconcern, into indecision. IV. THAT Gon LAYS A HEAVIER HAND ON PERSISTENT A.ND OBDURATE IHPENITENCE. He gave to his people fair and full warning of what they were to expect at his hand. They knew that obduracy on their part would entail gathering and growing evils, leading on and down to uttermost destruction. There would come the enmity of the elements, with consequent disaster in the field (vers. 19, 20); desolation and bereave- ment (ver. 22); pestilence and famine (vers. 25, 26); revolting and unnatural cruelties wrought among themselves (vers. 28, 29); exile and dispersion (ver. 33); terror of soul (vers. 36, 37); national destruction and impending extinction (vers. 38, 39). T_hese .wlemn and fearful threatenings are, no doubt, directed against hrael, the specially OIJ, XXVI, 1-46.) THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 423