The Pulpit Commentary — Judges — Section 123

be considered as specially for his honour. It was a " blank form " to be filled up by Providence as it would. II. THE UNEXPEOTED FORM THE SACRIFICE ASSUMED, How it astonishes men when God takes them at their word I Not that they do not mean what they say, but they do not realise all it implies. God ever does this that he may educate the heart in loving sacrifice, and reveal the grandeur and absoluteness of his own claim upon us. III. THE GRACE THAT INVESTED IT from-I. The mutual fove oj parent and child. They both sorrow because she is an only child, and they are all m all to one another. It was a keen, real sacrifice. 2. The unquestuming and cheerful obedienre of the child. Like Isaac and Christ. 3. The unwavering fidelity of Jephthah to his vow. It was the wisest course, and the one that proved best the fidelity and infinite love of God. There was sorrow, but who will say that there was not a compensating blessed- ness in the act, and a "more exceeding weight of glory" in the ages to come? Thi8 is what God expects. Have we ever vowed to him ? If so, have we paid our vows ? Negligence in this matter will explain much that distresses and perplexes us. Honesty towards God-how few practise it I Yet this is the true proof of him (Mai. iii. 10). IV. How AN ABSOLUTE PERSONAL SACRIFICE MAY BECOME A NATIONAL IDEAL A:-ID ATONEMENT. The circumstances were such that all Israel sympathised with the act of self-devotion. It fell in with the national mood and carried it to heroic pitch. The "custom in Israel" shows how profoundly the spirit of the people had been touched. The maiden offered to Jehovah is adopted as the offering of her people, a vicarious sacrifice of their repentance and faith. So does the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, become the world's atonement (2 Cor. v. 14, 15).-M. Ver. 29.-The Spirit of the Lord. 1. THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD I!! NOT A MERE INFLUENCE, BUT A LIVING PRESENCE. It is taught throughout Scripture that God does not only bestow graces, but also comes personally into our souls (John xiv. 16, 17). This Divine presence may not be perceived by the senses, as in the visions of the dove (Matt. iii. 16) and of the cloven tongues of fire (Acts ii. 3). It need not give rise to any ecstasy or visible excitement, as in the case of the Corinthian Church (1 Cor. xiv. 2). It may be without the immediate consciousness of the subject. But it will be proved by its effects. II. THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD COMES UPON A MAN TO INSPIRE HIM FOR SERVICE. God does not simply inhabit a man as a temple; he infuses his life into the very being of the man; transforms, elevates, enlightens, strengthens. Thus Jephthah found the Spirit to be the source of his power for battle. God's Spirit is always the spring of the Christian's highest energies. It is foolish to attempt to do any good work with- out the aid that is given by the indwelling power of God. Ill. THE SPECIAL FORM OF THE mFLUENCE OF THE SPIRIT OF Goo WILL BE DETER- MINED DY THE CAPACITIES OF THE RECIPIENT AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF HIS WORK. 'l'here is a variety of gifts. 1. God's Spirit affects us differently, according to our natural dijferences. To the thoughtful man he is a spirit of understanding. To him who hungers and thirsts after righteousness he is a spirit of holiness. To the sym- pathiser, the comforting friend, he is a spirit of love. To the active worker he is a spirit of power. 2. God's Spirit also affects us differently according to the needs of the times. God does not waste his influence ; he adapts it to requirements. There- fore we must not think that his Spirit is less with us than with men of old becauso the manifestation is different, nor that he is less with those who have not the form of spiritual influence which we esteem most than with those who possess it (1 Cor. xii. 6). IV. THE SPIRIT OF TIIE LORD DOES NOT ANNIHILATE TIIE INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERS 01,• MEN. Jephthah retains his natural characteristics, and still shows them. 1. God's Spirit does not supersede natural talent, but enlightens, purifies, and strengthens. 2. Goc:l's Spirit does not destroy human weakness. Jephthah has the Spirit of the Lord, yet he may be rash and may err. The spirit of wisdom does not necessarily accom- pany the spirit of strength. We may have the presence of the Spirit, and yet not be filled with the Spirit, so that human weakness may linger by the side of Divine power.-A. JUDGES. K  130 THE BOOK OF JUDGES. [CH. XI, 29~0.