The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 88

Vel"B, 1-9.-Tke wau,on11 for tM Levi.tu. This chapter deacribes two sets of gifts, one of waggons to help. the Levites in transporting the tabernacle, the other for the dedication at the anointing of the altar. The firat gift, when we look into it is seen to be peculiarly beautiful and significant. ' I. IT WAS VOLUNTARY. Jehovah had made no provision that these wagons should be got. The Levites had the bearing of the tabernacle assigned them, and there wo.s nothing to show but they must use their own backs and hands for the purpose. What wu essential bad been pointed out. But this did not prevent voluntary additions where such did not contradict commands already given. There were men enough- at least, so it '\\'Ould seem-among the Gershonites and Mernrites to have borne the heavy furniture. God luul not laid on them a work beyond their skill and ,t,rength. We may conclude, therefore, that the gift of the waggons was an act of pure food wil! from these princes to the Levites. It was II fresh bond in the umty o the nat10n. II. IT WAS SUIT.ADLE. Many gifts of good will are mere ornaments. Sometimes they are white elephants. It is a great deal when a gift shows both a loving heart and a sound judgment. These wagons and oxen were just the thing to help. Pro- bably there had been careful estimates, so as to secure a sufficient number. These waggons were well used (see eh. xxxiii.). Ill. IT WAS A UNITED GIFT. Something to express the intereitt of all Israel in the LeYites. The whole nation, in an indirect yet real way, had its part in the service of the tabernacle. It is a good thing to have many joined in a good work. It is better to have a hundred people interested in a hundred good institutions to the extent of a pound a piece, than oue man in one iru;titution to the extent of a hundred pounds. God sends down his clouds in the wide-scattering, tiny drops of rain. IV. IT WAS Dl7LY PROPORTION.ATE. Each tribe had its share in the gift and its ehare in the credit. It was such a kind of gift that each tribe might reasonably give an equal share. It was the gift of all and the gift of each. 'l'he niggardliness of the individual should not be hidden away in the munificence of the community. V. IT WAS .ACCEPTED OF Goo. A contrast with the way in which he treated the rashness and presumption of Nadab and A.bihu. God is glad to have us lighten burdens and help one another, when it does not lead to a mean shirking of personal duties. It was right for these princes to take care that the strength of the bearers of burdens should not be decayed (Neh. iv. 10). We see moreover a certain honour put upon the lower creation ; it was an honour to be used for sacrifice, an honour to bear the tabernacle furniture. VI. When accepted, THE GIFT WAS PROPORTIONED DY Goo. The prince& gave, but God arranged. It was not fit that brute be!!.!!ts should carry the vessels of the sanctuary, therefore the Kobathit.es co1dd not avail themselves of the waggons. The Merarites, we may presume, had more to bear than the Gershonites, and they had more in the way of help. If even among these minute specifications of God's com• mands to Moses there was this room for voluntary gifts, how much more under the gospel Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, a great deal more liberty in giving than most believers avail themselves of.-Y. Ver. 13.-Tke ,l,,,ekel of tlu .tanduarv- Mentioned several times in Exodus, Levit- icua, and N umbera. Was there a different standard for the sanctnary from that used in ordinary trade ? or was the sanctuary shekel the standard to which all were sup- posed to conform ? The very uncertainty teaches a lesson. One cannot err in being <>n the right side and taking the sanctuary shekel ae a standard. The mention of this weight may be taken to illustrate the following line of thought. The .f&;ed, t1t<Jndard of God as c<mtrtuwl witA tM jluctua.ting Bta.ndard, of men. We should Lave a fixed standard- I. IN DEALING WJTB Goo. Hie claims are first. He took the fird bom and &tie fuet frlit. The greet exactness that was required in all offerings as to quality and quantity. These sa<rifices, perfect after their fashion, were only va1uable as sym- bolising the entire consecration and genuine penitence of those who r:rought them. Wor&kip muat be according to the shekel of the sanctuary. We nut ioave a full sense of the reality of his existence, and adequate conceptions of all Jlft l;elongs to CH. vn. 1-89.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 65