The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 347

dices of the world. The claws of the lion rnuet not be clipped when it ie dealing with vested interests and established iniquities. As it ie not the way of the lion to make compromises with its prey, so neither must we make compromises with any evil. \Ve have nothing to do with evil, eave, in the name of the God of righteousness, to destroy it ae soon ae we can. Nor need there be any fear of carrying the com- parison too far. He who has taken in the meaning of those words, "Be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves," will well understand how to be ardent, enthusiastic, uncompromising, almost fierce and lion-like, against monster evils, yet at the same time gentle as the lamb, pitiful as God himself, towards the men whose hearts have been hardened and their consciences blinded by the way in which their temporal interests have become intimately mixed with wrong. Wilberforce was one of the most gentle, affectionate, and considerate of men, always on the alert to say a word or write a letter for the spiritual good of others, yet his greatest work took the form of destroy- ing evil. For many long yeRrs he had to look in the sight of the world o. combatant more than anything else. When the slave trade was abolished in 1807 it ie reported of him tho.t he asked hie friend Thornton, " What shall we abolish next? " a playful question, of course, but capable of a very serious meaning. No sooner does ono great evil vanish from the scene than another becomes conspicuous. Evil seems continually growing ae well ae good. It is perhaps not without significance that so many associations clamouring for the attention of good and patriotic men ha"'e in the names of them such words ae these: "abolition," " repreuion," "prevention." It must needs be eo, even to the end. The devil well knows how to make the selfish interests of one half the world dependent on the sufferings and miseries of the other half.-Y. Ver. 27-Ch. xxiv. 14.-.The third prophecy. I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH IT WAS UTTERED. 1. With regard to Balak. After hearing the second prophecy, and especially its menacing conclusion, he ie naturally much irritated. It ie bad enough to have been disappointed even once, but kings like worse to have threatening added to disappointment, and at first Balak makes ae if he would have nothing more said on the subject, one way or o.nother. If Bo.le.am cannot curse the people, neither shall he bless them. But becoming a little co.lmer, Balak determines to try a third time, and from a still different place ; eo little did he heed the solemn assertion of God's unchangeable purposes to which his attention had been specially called. The conduct of Balak is a warning to us to keep our heo.rte right at o.ll times with regard to the reception of Divine truth. Truths stated very clearly and emphatically, and in critical circumstances, may yet be utterly neglected. That which is necessary to be known will, we may be quite sure, have a clearness corresponding to the necessity. However clear and simple statements are in themselves, they must needs be ae idle breath if we refuse to give humble and diligent attention to them. 2. With regard to Balaam. He no longer goes out seeking for enchantments, although he still clings to the inevitable sacrifices. Thie forsaking of the enchantments and clinging to the sacrifices, ie it not a sort of testimony out of the very depths and obscurities of heathenism that God cannot be approached without something in the way of vicarious suffering? Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel. It had token him a long time and caused him a great deal of trouble to see this, and yet the sequel proves (eh. xxxi. 8, 16) that, after all, seeing, he did not perceive, and hearing, he did not understand. Nevertheless, at this time he saw sufficient to convince him how vain were Balak's hopes of a curse from Jehovah. If Israel was to be overthrown, it was not in that way. Observe that in uttering this prophecy Balaam is thrown into a higher state of receptiuity than before. When Balak refused to be satisfied with the first prophecy, he got a second one, specially addressed to himself, and fuller; more indico.tive of Israel's resources, varied, ample, and unfailing as they were for every possible need. But now he does not so much get a prophecy fuller in itself; it is rather a clearer proof that Balaam is indeed employed by God ILB a prophet. He is thrown into an ecstatic state. Hie eyes are c~osed to the outward world, but the mind's eye ie opened, and a picture, first beautiful, and then terrible, is presented to hie vision. We see from this how much God can do in controlling the JJowers of carnal and unsympatliising men. God not only puts his own words into  THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. [en. xxn. 41-xxiv.