The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 420

HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-54.-The extermination of si,,iful lmt8. The religious value of this chapter for Christian people must be based upon a " spiritual" interpretation • otherwise it can but excite abhorrence, and can only serve the negative purpose of showing by contrast with that darkness how fair is the light which now shineth. But "all these things," says St. Paul, writing of the events which followed the exodus (1 Cor. x. 11), "were written for our admonition;" and "all Scripture God- inspired is profitable " for some directly religious purpose. Those who reject all "spiritual" application (albeit directly sanctioned by apostolic example-1 Cor. ix. 10; GaL iv. 24, &c.) must in honesty deny that such a chapter as this is "profitable" for anything except to a1ford some data for the science of comparative morality an object valuable in itBelf, but certainly not worthy of Divine inspiration. If ther~ be here nothing for immortal souls beyond the details of a horrid slaughter and of an enormous booty, it might better be omitted at once from the Bible, But if the hosts of Midian represent in an "allegory" the "fleshly lusts which war against the soul," then may Samson's riddle be found true-" Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness" (Judges xiv. 14); and a passage which has given occasion to many fierce and dangerous invectives against religion may yield store of food and refreshment for the souls of the wise. Having, therefore, this clue in our hands to guide us through these dark paths, slippery with blood of slaughtered infants, and ringing with the cries of frantic women, we may see at once a profound meaning in the broad and apparently unwarrantable distinction drawn between Moab and Midian. As to fleshly sin, there was nothing to choose between them ; yet Midian only wa1, smitten, because he alone had practised with design against the life of Israel. Even so it is against "fleshly lusts which war against the soul," i. e. which are prepared and used by a malignant will to alienate the soul from God, and so to destroy it-it is against such that Christianity denounces bitter and implacable war. .Against "fleshly lusts," as they exist among the heathen, springing ont of the mere wantonness of natural life untrained to any higher aim than present enjoyment, Christianity (rightly understood) has no vindictive sternness. It may look with sadness upon a melancholy degradation; it may avoid with anxiety a most perilous contamination; but it neither condemns, nor seeks to repress, save by the gentle force of a better example and a higher teaching. Consider, therefore, with regard to the Midianite.8- I. THAT GOD HIMSELF PRESSED ON THE WAR WITH MIDJAN TO THE BITTER END, and that although there <lid not seem any present danger to Israel from that quarter. Even so in his holy word God ever urges us to wage nn implacable war with the lusts of the flesh, and not to be content because we nre not presently assniled by them, but to exterminate them wholly. Nothing is more striking than the urgency and the breadth of these exhortations. The Scripture assumes that all classes of believers (however respectable in outward life and position) have need to strive earnestly against their passions (Gal. v. 17-24 ; C'ol. iii. 6, and parallel passages). .And note that subsequent events fully justified the ~laughter then macle of Midian (Judges vi., vii., viii.). We have, and shall have, but too good Teason to know that fleshly sins are always a formidable danger. 11. THAT MOSES MUST FINISH THE DESTRUCTION OF MIDIAN ERE HE BE CALLED TO HIB REST, AND EllE lsnAEL MAY CROSS THE JORDAN. Even BO the moral law, the wrath of Gou against sin declared by Moses, must remain in force until sin be destroyed in our mortal members. When the lusts of the flesh are wholly mortified, then, and only then, shall there be II no law," but only grace and love and heaven close at hand (Gal. v. 23; 1 Tim. i. 9, &c.). :::.II. THAT WAR WITH MIDIAN WAS OOllllllABDED OJI' GoD IN ORDER TO "AVENGE THE CIIILDREN OF ISRAEL," DOT OJI' MOBBS IN OBDBR TO II AVENGE 'fHE LORD." Even so has OB. XXXI, 1-54.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 407