The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 460

Ver. 11.-God dwelling amongst men. All possible methods were employed to attach the Israelites to the Law. Solemnity of its promulgation, judgment executed on transgressors, enticing promises and terrifying threats. Chief among inducements to obedience was the promise of the text. I. SETTING lJl' A TABERNACLE Dll'LIEB. 1. Settled residences in the midst of the people. 'l'his was more than an occasional appearance on the mountain-top or in the wilderness. A tent is, e.t least for a season, a fixed abode. The Almighty would never be far distant from his lieges as he had seemed to be in preceding years. 2. Friendly, familiar intercourse with the people. He conuescended to their manner of life, inhabit- ing a home as t.hey did, passing as it were from one to the other. This is expressed in ver. 12, "I will walk among you." Naught of pollution was suffered for the reason given in Deut. x.xiii. 14, "The Lord thy God walketh in the midst of the camp.n A special revelation of God is intimated, that he would be known, not as omnipresent in space, but as peculiarly present, interchanging visits with his people. 3. The assurance of Divine blessing. Guidance, assistance, forgiveness,-all are herein included. God would be always near to be entreated. At the tabernacle sacrifices could be offered to purge away defilement. "The heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel. when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore" (Ezek. x:uvii. 28), God's presence is superior to any of his works; if we have him, we have all good things guaranteed. II. THE PEOPLE OF GoD MAY WELL WONDER THAT HE SHOULD DELIGHT IN THEM AND NOT VIEW THEM WITH ABHORRENCE. 'fo abide with m11.n would be impossible if disgust were continually uppermost in the mind of God. 1. Consider man's sinfulness. How repugnant to the pure and holy One of Israel is every thought _of iniquity, much less its overt commission I How often must he be shocked at the sights and sounds that gratify sinful creatures? Peter, a.wakened to a sense of his unworthiness, cried out, "Depart from me, for I e.m ~ sinful man, 0 Lord_." 2.. C?"l8ide~ ~an's imperfections. his ignorance and frailty, his dulness of percel?t1on, his u:~sens1b1hty to refin~d and elevated tastes and emotions. If one nurtured 10 good society revolts at the idea of close communion with those inferior in the social scale, whose manner of life and habits of thinking are so different, how great must be the disparity between heaven and earth! ¼26 THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [cH, llVI, 1-46.