The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 185

op7,o.<ilio11. The unseen power is always greater than the seen. God's anows fiud I-heir war through the be~t-jointcd harness. 'l'ho simple breath of Omnipotence withers all opposition. \V-hatever we omit to take to the battle-field, let us not omit to take Goel, 2. Orcull forces often lead the t1an. In advance, even of their vanguard, unseen pioneers wou Id sap the foeman's strength. As fire devours the stubble, so would tho Cauaanites' ~trrngt h become ns rottenness. Hornets, pestilence, lightning, hail-a thousand agencies God employs as the real army in advance of the human host. 3. God's worlc and man's reciprocally interlace: God will never do our uart; we can never do God's part. There is scope e\"crywhere for human agency, but it must never invade the Divine province. "-e are to work because God works with us-in us. God promiseu that he " would bring ciown the enemy ;" Israel was" to drive them out." llI. ll!ARK THE GROll.DS OF GoD's AWARD. Ho fought on the side of Israel, nn,l against the Canaanites, for specific reasor.s. Some of these are mentioned for the instruction of men. Strong inducements disposed the Hebre"7s to regard themselves as ihe fa,·ourites of Heaven, on the ground of their superior goodness. '!'his was corrupt fruit from an evil tree. These were false flatteries, forged by Satan. Against these fortresses of self-righteousness Moses was directed to hurl the batterincr-ram of rcpr,,of. 1. Human righteousness not meritorious. It is not meritorious, bec~use it is deficient. All true righteousness has some merit; but if the unricrhteousness in a man's life exceed the righteousness, then blame must exceed approvat '!'he Canaanites were e\'ictcd because of moral rottenness, the fruit of gross idolatry. Loyalty to God alone could entitle the Hebrews to replace them. In this they had been signally wanting. 2. Material, possessions have often a t1icarious origin. They are given to one for lhe sake of another. The faith of Abraham had borne a long succession of fruits. There is a principle of moral solidarity in the human race. We are not distinct units, but component parts-members one of another. 3. We see the inviol,,ibility of God's promise. To our purblind eyes that promise often seems to fail; yet failure is abso- 1utely impossible. His time and man's time do not always correspond. God's words mnst be taken as expressive of God's conceptions. His words are expansive enough to contain an infinitude of meaning.-D. Vers. i-17.-Human memory a repository of guilt. The memory of man is a book of God: and, though the entries may be temporarily obscured, yet the light of eternity will make them all legible. The present tendency of sin is to weaken memory; its effect, to obliterate recollection, Our profoundest gratitude is due to the man that reminds us of our falls. I. REMEMBER SIN IN THE LIGHT OF ITS ODJEOT, VIZ. OF Goo. Discourtesy to a king is a graver offence than discourtesy to an equal._ Sacrilege is worse than common theft.. 1. This was sin against a known God. '!'he evidence of his existence had been made as clear to them as noonday. The main attributes of his character bad been plainly revealed, especially power and justice and goodness. They could not wear a mask of pretended i:,cnorance. 2. He had been to them a most generous God. For their release signal power had been displayed. The course of nature had apparently been inter- rupted. To deliver them hosts had been destroyed, and the majestic hand of God had supplied their daily meal. 3. He had been a much-suffering God. They hnd been like petulant, discontented children; and he had been to them a pitil'ul and indulgent Father. In the midst of needful supply they bad been basely unthankful. 'l'hey had wounded him in the tenderest parts of his nature, insulted his majesty, spurned his Jaws, and covered him with contempt. Yet he had spared them. He had imposed 011 bimstlf strong restraints, so that righteous anger should not break forth. 'l'he noblest features of human Jove are but feeble reflections of his patient compassion; and against such a God their sin was hurled. 4. lie Juul bum a God in covenant wit/I, them-their God. II. REMEMBER SIN IN THE LIGHT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. ,ve perceive things best when 1hctd in absolute contrast.. 1. There was the sin of inattention. God had deigned to .11,eak, but tl,ey "would not hear." 'l'he ear had been fashioned for this special end that , i.iey might bear God's voice; they bad abused and injured the delicate faculty. 'l'hey tliat will not hear shall not hear. 2. There was the sin of ingratitude. We can con- Cl:J \'e of no l.,aser sin than this. 'Tisa double crime-a violation of heart and conscience. Oil, IX, 1-29,] THE HOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 175