The Pulpit Commentary — Judges — Section 110

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 6.-Recumng habits of evil,. The external peace and order do not break the entail of evil habit-" they continued to do evil." I. OBSERVANCE OF EXTERNAL DECENCIES 01" LIFE IS NO SAFEGUARD AGAINST INDRED DEPRAVITY. Only the hearty love and service of God. Probably the "whoring after other gods" began beneath the cloak of an orthodox worship. For a certain time material prosperity may consist with religious laxity. IL BESETTING SINS, UNREPENTED OF, ASSUME MORE AGGRAVATED PHASES. Like the man out_ of w~om the devil had been cast, whi?h, returnin~ from the "dry places," and findmg his heart" empty, swept, and garmshed," "brmgeth seven other devils'' &c. It_"':as an idolii;trous confus!on; there could_ be no rationale of these system's, harmornsmg them with the conscience, or even with one another. All sense of nice- ness has deserted Israel. It plunges heedlessly into a sea of obscurity and filth.-M, Vers. 7-10.-Immediate and effectual retribution. I. IN THE PUNISHMENT IN- FLICTED THE CALAMITY WAS CLEARLY CONNECTED WITH THE SIN. 1. The sin committed is at once followed by_ penalty. 2. The punuhment lasts w/iilst the transgression is unrepented of. 3. The seducers become the in,struments of punuhment. II. THE UNHELPFULNESS OF IDOLATRY WAS EXPOSED. The Ammonites, whose unholy practices they had copied, take advantage of their weakness, and pitilessly despoil and harass them. The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. Of all the gods they had served, Baal, Molech, Astarte, &c., not one could deliver them. Only Jehovah can hear, and to him they are at last driven. Even Gilead-the heroic land-is rendered helpless before the despised Ammon, as if to show that real bravery is a moral quality. And the old "fear of Israel'' which kept the heathen nations back was gone. The Ammonites wax bold, and cross the Jordan even into Judah.-M. Vers. 10-14.-God answering hardened t1'ansgressors. He seems to deny the petition. Is this capricious? There is surely not only cause for it, but a purpose working through it. I. THE AIM OF THE SEVERITY IS TO AWAKEN TRUE REPENTANCE. Inconvenience, dis- comfort, distress, humiliation may all be felt without true repentance. The latter ariRes from sorrow for and hatred of sin as sin. II. THIS IS SECURED by-1. An appeal to memor.71 of manifold deliverances and mercies. 2. Holding the sinner under the yoke <1/ his own clioosing when he no lo11ger chooses it. 3. The temporary horror and despair of rejection. " I will deliver you no more."-M. Vers. 15, 16.-" Works meet for repentance." A wonderful summary; an evan- gelical anticipation. I. IN WHAT THESE CONSIST. 1. Heartfelt sorrow and confession of sin. 2. Abso- lute yielding of onesdf into the hands of God. 3. Forsaking tlie sins that have deceived and destroyed. 4. Serving Jelwvah with new obedience and zeal. II. How THESE APPEAL TO THE MIND OF Goo. "His soul was grieved for (literally, endured no longer) the misery of Israel." The alternate hardening and melting of God's soul an accommodation to man's conceptions and feelings; yet with a reality corresponding to them in the Divine nature. They have a disciplinary effect, and their succession is impressive. So God ''repents." To our heavenly Fat~er the proofs of our sincerity are an irresistible petition. He welcomes the first signs of true repentance, and leads it forth into saving faith. The truly repentant were never yet rejected. In working this repentance in their minds he began to answer their prayer even whilst rejecting it.-M. Vers. 17, 18.-Faith restori'Tl:'J courage and_ might. _I: BY PRO_MOT!!i!G THE. U~ITY OF GoD's PEOPLE. The worship of Jehovah 1s the ur.1trng and. mspmng pr!nCiple • .All other worship disunites and weakens. The very site of their camp waH mstmct with solemn, Divine associations. II. ENABLING THEM TO FACE RESOLUTELY TlIE GREATEST TROUBLES OF LIFE. IAraf'l is in the field against Ammon, a circumstance full of meaning. When thll Spirit uf OB.~- G-18.J THE BOOK OF ,nJDGES. 117