The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 99

HOMILETICS. 1 er. 6.-Tht Divine Law based on a divinely revealed relations11ip. u I am the Lord thy God," etc. 'l'his little word thy, in this connection, gives us the basis on which the Law was set. Of the event called "the giving of the Law," we feel the thrill even now. That Law has in it four features, corresponding to one or other of the aspects in which the people to whom it was first given may be regarded. They were (l) memb.crs of the great human family, moral, responsible beings, amenable to the government of God. They were (2) a Church in the wilderness, with their own institutions, which embodied the worship appropriate to the religion enjoined upon them. They were{3) a people rescued from bondage, about to have a commonwealth of their own, for which sundry civil and political regulations had to be provided. They were (4) a nation which for years was to be in a wandering state, yet destined in the long run to find a home in Palestine. Adapted to them in this last-named aspect, they had sanitary laws; for them in the third aspect there were civil and political laws; for them in the second aspect there were religiollii institutions; and for them in the first aspect there was the great moral law. 'l'he set of rules having reference to health would be binding only so far as the laws of climate and modes of life necessitated their continued obser- vance. The civil law would be but temporary so far as it received its complexion from the idolatrous surroundings of the people. The ceremonial law would pass away in form, but the underlying principles of it are permanent. The moral Jaw is unchanging as man's nature, and enduring as bis relation to God. It is given in the ten com~ mandments, of which the first enjoins supreme love to the Divine Being: the second, recognition of the spirituality of the Divine nature: the third, reverence for the Divine Name: the fourth, care for Divine worship: the fifth inculcates religion in the home : the sixth, the religion of the temper: the seventh, the religion of the body : the eighth, the religion of the hand : the ninth, the religion of the tongue: the tenth, the religion of the heart. But antecedently to the Law in any of its aspects, there is a question of deep interest and importance, viz. From whom came it? The reasons for obedience to it come very largely out of the answer to be given to that question. Now, the words iq eh. v. 6, which precede the Law itself, are not merely a 1,reface to it, they are at once the basis of it and the reason for obedience to it. And tl,ese words should be opened up clearly in every case where the Decalogue is about t·J Lt txpounded. Tl,e Law is not set on law, bnt on grace I For observe- ]. lliRE 16 A SPECIAL VIEW OF Goo PRESENTED TO THE PEOPLE TO DBAW FORTH THElll ATTENTION AND WIN THEIR ALLEGIANCE. " 'l'hy God." 'l'he Hebrews were never expected to believe in, obey, or love an absol11tely unrelated Being. THBBE 18 CH. V, 1-33.] THE ROOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 87