The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 150

ros~F.~Ri0N OF TIIE LA'l\'1>, 1. There was a great covenant promise which hnd been handed down to them from preceding generations, and which involved results which would be far-reaching both as to time and place, touching every family of mau, throuuh <'nry age of time. In a word, it was nothing less than the Divine covell:lnt of hum~n redemption, in the fulfilling of which a Great Mediator should come, while in Isrnel the purity of the line of his descent was to be guarded, and by and for it there was to be held in rossession a tract of land on which the great work of the Me<liator should have its earthly basis and historic ground. 2. \Vith this far outlook in view, Israel was tc;, he a people "unto the Lord their God." It was to hold a 1ilace among the niitions which was unique. One of the smallest as to territory and numbers, it was to strike 1-he deepest as to its worth and power! 3. Hence lsrnfl was to be a }ioly people (,·er. 6). It was to bear a specific character 1·eligiously, as it ,vas to take a peculiar place historically. Hence its moral and spiritual elevation is the first thing to be secured. The revelation of God which the 1ieople possessed had no mean uplifting power. The eternal God was Israel's refuge, and underneath were the everlasting arms. The institutions of mediation, priesthood, sacrifice, were deep and solemn kssons in the c,il of sin and the righteousness of God. And the moral law which ]srael possessed was so pure, so complete, even in the infancy of the people, that to this day not the wisest men of the world can find a defect therein, nor can they suggest aught to supplement it. 4. Israel would, nevertheless, be in great danger (ver. 4). The land of Canaan, though beautiful, fruitful, and gay, was a nest of impurity. The foulest pollutions were debasing the people, and, apart from some special guard, they were far more likely to infect Israel with the virus of their idolatry than Israel was to cleanse them by the strength of counteracting virtue. And when we come to think of what rnst importance to the world was the choice of one people who should serve as leverage for the rest, we discern the reason for the imperative injunctions which follow as to the policy which Israel was to pursue with reference to the peoples of Canaan. 11. li.ERE IS A THREEFOLD LTh'E OF POLICY ENJOINED. 1. A policy of separation (ver. 3," Neither shalt thou make marriages with them"). Thus does the Most High, in the early training of a people for himself, let them see how completely they are to be the Lord's ; and that marriage, which from the worldling's point of view is so apt to sink into a mere union of bodies, is, from the point of view of one who would be holy to the Lord, to be at once regulated by God and elevated for him. Who cannot see the impossibility of married life being as blessed as it may be if husband and wife are dis- severed on the very matter on which joint sympathies should be fondest and strongest? 'l'he principle here enjoined is carried over into the New Testament, in such words as these: "Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers." In this stern interdiction of mixed marriages under the Law, our God would teach us for all time that life's dearest bond is to b~ formed only in subjection to his will whose we are, and whom we should serve. 2. A policy of religious intolerance (ver. 5). As Israel was to possess the land for God, so it was to suffer his worship alone to be observed. Whatever was contrary thereto was to be taken out of the way. An external religion is virtually destroyed when its external observance is made impossible. 3. A policy of extermina- tion in war. The Canaanites had had their day of grace (Gen. xv. 16). And now, lest they continue to pollute the land, they are to be swept away "with the besom of destruction" (see Homily on eh. i. 1-8). If Israel had no Divine command to this effect, no one would pretend to justify this part of their policy. If they had, it needed no justification. God may sentence a people to ruin in any way he pleases. And when a nation has given way to such nameless and shameless wickedness that its land groan~ beneaLh the burden of its crimes, it is mercy to the world when the evil is "stamped out." .And though such extenninative policy on the part of any nation can be justified only on the ground of a Divine warrant, yet the warrant having been given m this case, that policy does but illustrate a truth which the Most High has again and agai12. declared, that no nation has any absolute right in itself or its land. It holds its existence subject to God's will, and to that will alone; and if it is good for the world that it should give place to others, he will cause it to pass away, and will bring another 1...eople on the soil. Ill. Isu.EL's POSITION AND POLICY, SO BEGABDED, FURNISH UB WITH PRINCIPLER 01' ETERNAL AND UNIVERSAL APPJ,lCATlON. '.l'hey are these: 1. The actual value of any  CH. Vil. l-26.) 'l'IIE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY.