The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 206

ftO hoJ?l (vers. 30, 31). The reference, no doubt, is, in the first instance, to deliberate- violations of the Mosaic constitution-the refusal to accept ciroumcision or celebrate- the Passover, or observe the Sabbatic rest. For such offences no sacrifice was pro- • vided. The person forfeit;ed his place in the covenant society. But this part of the law, like the former part, has an ultimate reference to offences considered as strictly moral. It suggests lessons regarding all deliberate and presumptuous sins. It is a most striking and significant fact, that for such sins the law of Moses provided no sacrifice. What are we to make of this? (1) It may remind us that there is such a thing as" a sin unto death," and for which "there remaineth no more sacrifice,. (Heh. x. 26, 27; 1 John v. 16). \Ve believe, indeed, that no penitent, however heinous his sin, will be turned away from God's door unforgiven; but there are dark admonitory text.s of Scripture, of which this in Numbers is one, which distinctly . warn us that God's mercy will not be trifled with ; that there is a point to which, if men go, in resisting the testimony of God's word and Spirit in their consciences, the Spirit will withdraw and give them over to hardness and impenitence. (2) But there is a brighter side of the matter. " By Christ all thnt believe are justified from ' nil things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts xiii. 39). David's great crime was a "presumptuous sin." The law prescribed no sacrifice for it. The law could suggest to him no hope. What then? He remembered the name of the Lord which was enshrined in the Pentateuch side b;r side with the law (Exod. x:n:iv. 6). He confessed and was forgiven.-In Ps. :nx. there occur a remarkable succession of meditations and prayers which, to all appearance, were suggested originally by this law in Numbers, and which mry be taken as expressing the thoughts and exercises to which the study of it gave birth in the soul of David. 'At all events, they so perfectly indicate the practical use to be made of the law that 'they cannot be too earnestly commended to your consideration. " Who can under- stand ki-s errors 1 (Who can make sure that he has noted, or can remember and . confess his sins in this kind ?) Cleanse tkou me from secret faults." " Keep back thy servant also from presumptU()u,s sins; let them not liave dominW11, over me : tlten shall I be upri,ght, and I shall be innocent from the great transgresSW11,."-B. Vere. 15, 16.-The impartiality of God. The treatment of foreigners among the Jews one sign of the impartiality of God. For-1. They were all "of one blood" (Acts xvii. 26). 2. The Israelites were "strangers and sojourners with God" in his own land (Levit. xxv. 23), as we all are upon earth (1 Chron. xxix. 15; 1 Pet. ii. 11). 3. All are involved in sin. The guilt of the favoured Israelites was greater than that of heathen strangers (Rom. ii. 6-12). 4. All are included in the one salvation (Rom. iii. 21-30). For further illustrations see outline on eh. ix. 14.---P. Vere. 30, 31.-Presumptu.om ,ins. I. THE GUILT OF PRESUMPTUOUS SINS. The transgressor sinneth "with a high hand " (Heb. ). It is not easy exactly _to _define sins of presumption or deliberate disobedience, for which there was no expiation hr sacrifice. Some crimes involved capital puni~hment (Levit. xx. 1, 2, _10; ~xod. xx1. 14; Deut. xvii. 12), or were followed by fatal 1udgments by God (Lev1t. xvu. 10; xx. 4-6). The impossibillity of drawing up a complete schedule of wilful, presumptuous sins suggests a caution. For their heino?-B guilt is described by the term II repr~ach- eth the Lord," i. e. blasphemes God m word or act. A presumptuous smner reproaches God in four ways. He acts ae tJ:iough (1) his comma1:1de we~e harsh; (2) his authority was of no account; (3) h!S fav?ur was to be little _pr~ed ; ( 4) his threats were to be still Ieee feared (Deut. xxix. 19, 20). Such guilt 1e aggra- vated under the law of the gospel, inasmuch as God's commands, authority, f~vour, and threats are invested with greater weight and sanctity through the revelation of his will and his love in Jesus Christ (Heh. ii. 1-3). II. THE DANGER OF PREBUllP1'UOUS BINS. 1. Under the law there was no sacrifice to expiate for sut:h sine but fatal punishment at the hand of man or of God himself. 2. Under the gospel a 'sacrifice even for wilful sin is provided. But as" the con- demnation" is for unbelief the neglect of the Saviour and hie sacrifice is the most terrible, though a most co~mon presumptuous sin, for which " there remaineth no more sacrifice" (Heh. L 26-29). There is a sin II unto death," which "shall not r.u. xv. 1-31.] TIIE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 187