Ver. 8.-The peril of national irreligion. The conscience of Israel is here addressed. The coincidence of new idolatries with" war in the gates" was strikingly suggestive, It could not be accidental. There was nothing in which Israel had hacl more continued experience than in the connection of idolatry with national weakness and misery. I. DECLINE COMMENCES WITH THE FIRST DEPARTURE !!'ROM THE WORSHIP OF JEHOVAH. It was as they trusted in Jehovah and acquainted themselves with him that they were able to drive out their enemies. The weakening of this religious principle undermined the moral character and strengthened the force of sensuous influences. It is only as the soul anchors itself on the Eternal that it is able rightly to regard the outward and temporary affairs of life. II. THE ADOPTION OF OTHER GODS IS PUNISHED AS A CULMINATING AFFRONT. In this we see not so much the indirect results of idolatrom1 practice as the immediRte chastisement of Jehovah's own hand. The apostasy is deliberate; punishment must be proportionutely stern and extreme. Those who have known his character and will, and yet deliberately despise them, desorve the more condign punishment. We see this principle at work in many a life. There are sins which seem to im·ite a terrible vengeance. Do we provoke God's ang1or? Let us rem em be1 that he can bo JUDGES, B: 50 THE ROOK OF JUDGES. [en. ,,. 1--31.
R consuming fire. Delibernte rejection of God is a direct invitation l\nd challenge to his "-rath. III. THE FINAL RESliLT OF IDOLATRY IS EFFEMINACY AND ADJECT HELPLESSNESS.. This is proved by an RppeRl to history. The Israelites had an instance of it in their own experience. There m_ay have been weapons in Israel, but the idol worshipper had lost t~e cour~ge to Wleld them. ld~latry, a~ a ~egra~ed conception of God, degrades its Yotanes. It has ever been linked with licentiousness and vice. The i::onscience is gradually destroyed, and with it all moral strength disappears.-M. Vers. 10, 11.-Te,stimony and thanksgivi,iig the duty of the redeemed. The classes here addressed are representative of the entire nation-nobles judges or elders and common people. The deliverance affected all, and those specially benefited are called out. The h1md of God is to be publicly acknowledged and celebrated in song; and this was seemly and right. So it is the duty of the redeemed of Christ to reheRrse his marvellous works and ways with them. I. THIS OUGHT TO BE DONE SEVERALLY AND IN PARTICULAR. In the case of each there is so~e peculiarity. It will il~ustrate afresh ~od's manifold mercy. "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." II. IT. OUGHT TO. DE DON_E PUBLI<;LY AND_ COLLECTIVELY. The national recognition of God 1s a most 1mpress1ve and mstructive spectacle. It becomes the more so if spontaneous, and not the result of legislative enactment or meaningless tradition. III. THE REASONS FOR THIS ARE MANIFOLD. 1. It i,s due to him. The work of Christ is very great, involving vast effort and suffering. It is full of love n.nd wis- dom, adapted to our special need. And in all the work of redemption no credit is to be taken to ourselves; the merit is wholly his. " By the grace of God I am what I am." To withhold the praise is therefore worse than theft. 2. It i,s the liighest and most ble,ssed e,xercue of the religious nature. Man was born " to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.' In so doing his nature attains its highest end and complete spiritual development. The harmony of praise and prayer has its reflex influence upon the utterer, and as God in Christ is the most glorious object of adoration, the heart is expanded, uplifted, strengthened, and purified. There is nothing we are so liable to as forgetting God's mercies, and our dependence upon them ; and therefore it is well to rehearse them. 3. It i,s a benefi,t to others. The world is full of miscon- ceptions and low thoughts of God, and indifference towards the Divine. By such rehearsals the trne character of God is vindicated. Men are taught to trace all blessings to their real .Author. Doubters, &c. are counselled and directed towards clear, healthy, and health-giving ideas of God. Thus the gospel of the grace of God is preached most effectively. Others catch the contagion. Are we silent? What is the cause? Ingratitude; or it may be we are strangers to the grace of God. Let us yield ourselves to it now. Perhaps we too shall sing in a higher realm "unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood."-M.
Vers.14--23.-Nationaldefenua commonres?.onswility. We have here an interest- ing glimpse of the behaviour of the various tnbes in the war of freedom. Not all were summoned to battle; but of these only two answered to the call. I. WHO ARE FUMMONED TO THE GREAT WAR? .All the tribes whose interests were threatened in the first place ; but the others might have come from a feeling of :,rotherhood. Through Christ the solidarity of the race is revealed. We have nearer and further claims, a more and a less imperative call, yet the interest of each is involved in that of the whole. The debt we all owe to Christ binds us henceforth "not to live to ourselves." "Am I my brother's keeper?" II. WHO RESPOND? Two tribes and a friendly alien. This showed a lack of public spirit, and of a true national conception. The Captain of our salvation calls. Who are willing? "Will ye also go away?" A few, all over. In every Church one or two have to bear the burden and heat of tho day. Is this right? III. THE EXCUSES AND OCCUPATIONS OF THOSE WHO HOLD BACK. Very picturesque is the dcRcription-not a little satirical. How sorry the figure cut by those who tarry at ho;ne when the battle rages I the excuses of t~ose who were asked to follow CLriRt I OR. v. 1-BI .] THE BOOK OF JUDGES.
IV. STRICT ACCOUN'r WILL BE TAKEN OF THE CONDUCT OF EACH, AND THr: nr:WARD WILL DE OIVEN ACCORDINGLY. The sharp eye of the propheteAA Rcanned the host she accompanied. To each is apportioned the praise or blame. God sees the heart.-M.