The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 216

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 37-41.-The me and abuse of memorials. This law is one of the many illustrations of the minute particulars prescribed by the laws of Moses. We find other illustrations in precepts respecting ploughing (Deut. xxii. 10), sowing (Deut, xxii. 9), reaping (Levit. xxiii. 22), threshing (Deut. xxv. 4), killing (Levit. xvii.13) cooking (Exod. ::uiii. 19), clothint_(Deut. ::uii. 11), &c. All these lawa had certain' moral or spiritual significations. ·1'he precept respecting the fringes teaches us- I. THE VALUE OF MEMORIALS. 1. To remind us of spiritual truths. The peculiarity of the Jew's dress was a witness to him that he belonged to "a peculiar people" (Deut. xiv. 2) separated unto God. Possibly the blue colour (cf. Exod. ::a:viii. 31) was intended to remind him that he belonged to a kingdom of priests. 2. Such memorials are needed because of our treacherous memories, which, like- sieves, may let pare water run away, but retain the sediment and rubbish. 3. And they are valuable for the sake of others. The Jews taught that even a blind man must wear the fringe, because others could see it. Strangers may be impressed by oar memorial services, even if we are blind to their significance. Oar children and their descendants may learn by them. Illustrations-Passover (Exod. xii. 24-27); altar and stones on Ebal and Gerizim (Deut. ::u"ii· 1-8; Josh. viii. 30-35). The- Lord's Supper, by which we "show Christ's death till be come." II. THE DANGER OF THEIR ADUSE. 1. Because of our inveterate tendency to exaggerate the importance of what is external. Hence fringes were " enlarged '' (Matt. xxiii. 5) and phylacteries were invented (Deut. vi. 6-9). The simple supper- of the Lord has been developed into the pompous ceremonies of the mass. 2. And thus to stop at the symbol and thereby prevent it. Illustrations-The serpent o-t brass idolised (2 Kings xviii. 4) ; the ark treated as a charm (1 Sam. iv. 3). 3. And by so doing to '' come short" of the promise of salvation which is "in Christ Jesus," who is "the way, and the truth, and the life." Nevertheless, God does not take away symbolic memorials from us, but throws on us the responsibility of using " as, not abusing" tbem.-P. Vere. 37-40.-The /ri:nges: ever-present reminders. I. A NEED TO llE PROVIDED FOR. These numerous and all-important commandments must, if such a thing i& possible, be kept continually before the minds of the people. God has already provided for the need, in fact, by appointing an atonement for sins of ignorance. These would be very largely sins of forgetfulness, and so, as prevention is better· than cure, it was desirable to guard against forgetfulness. Sins of ignorance, wben committed, may be atoned for, but it is better, if such a thing can be, not to commit them at all. Hence God, knowing the natural forgetfulnees of the human heart, and bow many cares, pleasures, novelties, and objects of interest there are to draw it away from the consideration of his will, recognises a need to be provided for in a special way. The will of God, moreover, needed to be constantlv remembered. It bears on all our conscious life, and through that in many unknown ways on the unconscious life beneath. There was no action of an Israelite's life but could be done in God's way or in his own. A moment's incaution, and he might step into some great transgression. The law through Moses was a thing of details, and to, negl~ct the least detail was to impair the whole. Evidently this need has still to be pr<Mded for. The law through Christ for our life is also one needing to be constant].y. (JH, XV, 37-41.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 197