HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-15.-Bethel revisited. L JACOB's JOURNEY TO BETHEL. I. The occasion of the journey. The c1ime of his sons had made it necessary that Jacob shoulrl leave Shechem o.nd its neighbourhood; but it is doubtful if in the circumstance~ Jacob would have thought of going to Bethel without an express invitation from Heaven, which, however, he got. 2. The object of the journey. This was stated bv the Divine communication which Jacob received to be the fulfilment of the vo,~ which twenty years before he had made to erect an altar on the spot where he enjoyed the vision of the ladder and the angels. Vows do not lose their obligatory character by lapse of years. Men may, but God never does, forget the promises which are made to him. Hence the counsel of the Preacher (Eccles. v. 4, 5). 3. The preparati()'fl, for the journey. The removal of the strange gods-(1) Was needful if God wo.s to be sincerely worshipped by Jacob and his household. The necessity of having no other gods but Jehovah was nftenvards enjoined upon Israel as a nation. In the gospel the le.w is equally imperative, God and Christ demand the undivided homage of the human heart. (2) Was counselled by Jacob to his honsehold. It is well when heads of families have the ability as well as inclination to direct thei1 children and dependents in the duties of religion. (3) Was cheerfully assented to by Jo.cob's household. The silver and wooden images (the teraphim) that Rachel had abstracted from her father's tent, the idolatrous objects that the Shechemites may have brought with them, and the earrings that were in their ears, were at once and completely given up, and by Jacob's own hand buried beneath the oak of She- chem. (4) Was symbolised in ,Tacob's household by the acts of washing and putting on of clean apparel. Under the law corporee.l ablutions and beautified habiliments were typical of spiritual renovation and the putting on of the righteousness of the saints (cf. Ezek. x.xxvi. 25; Heh. x. 22; Jude 23; Rev. xix. 2). 4. 'l'he experi- ence of the journey. Wherever the travellers went they found themselves unmo- lested, and the cities round about them alarmed, and afraid to pursue. The terror of Elohim was upon the people of the land, and thus the care of Jehovah was around Ilia saints. 5. The completion of the journey. Jacob and all the people that were with him came to Luz m the land of Canaan, which is Bethel. Many journeys are begun that never end. Some that promiije well at the outset are ovenvhelmed in disaster before they terminate. It 1s only he who keeps Israel that can preserve a good mrn's going out and coming in. II. JAcoB's RESIDENCE AT BETHEL. 1. The building of an altar. This was on the part of Jacob (1) an act of obedience, since it was done in accordance with Divine instructions (ver. 1); (2) an act of justice, inasmuch as it was executed ia fulfilment of a vow ( eh. xxviii. 22) ; (3) an act of gratitude, being designed to give expression to Jacob's thankfulness for God's mercies (vers. 3, 7). 2. Tlte deatlt oj Deborah. (1) Her life-work: Rebekah's nurse. (2) Her death: this must have taken place o.t an advanced age. (3) Her burial : the place of sepulture was on the slope of Bethel hill, beneath the shadow of a wide-spreading oak. ( 4) Her memorial: the tree was named Allon-bachuth, oak of weeping. 3. Tlteappearanceof .Elohim. (1) The blessing renewed (ver. 9;) (2) the new name confirmed (ver. 10) ; (3) the promises repeated (ver. 11). 4. The erec,i()'fl, of a pillar. The old column having probably been thrown down, this was (1) set up as a memorial of the interview with God which had just been enjoyed ; (2) employed as an altar for the worship of Elohim-" he poured a drink offering thereon;" and (3) co11secrated as an object of reverential rt1gard by pouring oil thereon. 5. The renaming of the place. 'fhe name given twenty years previously is renewed, Bethel (ver. 15), with a slight modification, El-Bethel (ver. 7), to connect it with the altar Just erected. Leam-1. That good men sometimes require to be reminded by God of their duty. 2. That acts of Divine worship should be preceded by heart purification and lifo reformation. 3. That God is perfectly able to protect his people when they nre walking in his appointed paths. 4. That good men when serving God are not l'Xempt from the afflictions of life. 5. That faithful serrnnts should ho ten.Jcrlv c,lierished by their l'CIMters when olrl 1 dcccn!l,Y buried when ucn<i, ~q,l lovingly 41-l THE DOOK m' GENESIS. [en. XXXV, 1-15,
r<:mcml,ercd when entouibed. 6. That God never forgets either his promises or his people. 7. That G:id should not be forgotten by those whom he remembers.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS .AUTHCRS. Vcrs. 1-15.-God with us. Jacob's settlement with his family at Bethel. Thie was a solemn renewal of the covenant to the patriarch at the end of his pilgrimao-e. It .w~s the occasion for a 1;ew dedication of himself and his household by vows ind uffermg-s, and by separat10n of themselves from all heathen things and thouo·hts 0 around the newly-erected altar El-Bethel. _I. ~EVELATION the basis of fa\th. God went up from him ~fter he had spoken ,nth hun, and there he set up a pillar of stone, and poured a drink offering thereon and he poured oil thereon. ' II. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE the background of a consecrated life. We should make the memory of God's goodness the foundation on which we build up the monuments of our life. Mark the places by offerings. Let the Bethel of our worship be the Bethel of his praise.-R.