The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 255

miraculous ,rift, sach an intimation would have been easier to receive than the one actually made. That which has to come to us indirectly, gives occMion for a greater trial of fait~ th~n what has to_come directly. ~e food of these priests was to flow through a c1rcmtons and, to Judge by late expenence, not very promising channel. Ilad not these very people, whose offerings were to support thefriests, only lately sbo"''"Tl their contempt for Aaron and unbelief as to the reality o his office ? How then should they be the channels of God's providence? Thus the opportunity for faith comes in. Looking towards man, all is unlikely; looking through man to God all appears certain and regular. God will make his own channefa in places w~ think unlikely, for those who put their trust in him. He knew that stubborn and unsympathetic as the people now were, yet the day would come when' their offerings might be looked for with a reasonable confidence. We are very poor judges by our- selves of what is likely or unlikelr. The Divine !lrrang;enients, perplexing as they may appear on the surface, have in all cases a basis of knowledgo and power which it is our wisdom humbly and gratefully to accept. IV. This provision EVIDENTLY GUARDED AGAINST ANYTIJING LIKE EXTOirrION. The people themselves knew exactly bow the priests were to be provided for. And this was no small mat:er, seeing that in course of time the holy priesthood became in the hands of arrogant and grasping men an occasion for priestcraft. Priests learned only too soon the power of an ipse dixit over superstitious and timid minds. But God does not .allow the authority of an ipse dirci:t to any but liimself. The priest was bound by a written and definite commandment which lay open to the perception of every one who had to do with him. All these offerings, of which he had a certain part, were to be presented in any case. They were not presented in order that he ruigbt be pro,ided for, but, being presented, they ga.ve occasion sufficiently to pro- Tide for him. The people were to feel that he was being supported by a reasonable service. V. THERE WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE IN A BIGHT SPIRIT. If any one had a grudging and fault-finding disposition there was certainly oppor- tunity for him to exercise it. Ho could say, not without plausibility in the ears of like-minded men, that the priests were managing things very cleverly, eo as to be pro,ided for at the public expense. Misrepresentation is not a very difficult thing to achieve if certain considerations, and tb':lse alone, are brought into view. God's appointments for the support of the priesthood ,vere a standing trial of the people's views with respect to it. Misrepresentations cannot be escaped, but woe to those who, without troubling fully and honestly to understand the thing of which they speak, are the authors of misrepresentations. The priesthood itself was a Divine, a neces- sary, and a beneficial institution, and every devout Iara.elite would count it a joy to support it, even though particular holders of the office might be very unworthy men. We must honour and support every Divine appointment, and that all the more if the persons appointed show themselves insensible to the duties le.id upon them.-Y. Ver. 19.-.A wvenant of salt. God has defined the provisions for the priesthood, and indicated in what certainty and sufficiency they would come. He also indicates the perma;n.en,cg of the supply. The things given would be given to Aaron and to his sons and daughters with him by a statute for ever. Everything was done. to make and keep the priesthood separate, and prevent those who had it from being tempted into the ordinary business of life, by fear lest they should lack sufficient support. And still further to emphasise the solemnity of the pledge, God adds this peculiar and suggestive expression: "It is a covenant of salt for ever." Dr. Thom- son, in I The Land and the Book,' tells us that it is a habit still common among the Bedawm, and probably coming from the remotest times, for host and guest to eat together. This is said to bo bread and salt between them, a.nd constitutes a pledg& of protection, support, and fidelity even to death. Thus we may understand God fl&ymg to Aaron., and through him to the long succession of priests, "There is bread and salt between us." But we must also go back and consider Levit. ii. 18. All the meat offerings presented to God were to be seasoned with salt. When presented, a part wae bumt,-as it were, eaten by God himself,-and the remainder he returns to the prieBt. for his own use. Thus there are mutual pledges of fidelity. God i11 the oa. xvm. 1-32.J THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 239