Vers. 7-29.-Jfumiliating memories. Following up the iden of their wnyw1Hdness, Moses proceeds to recall inst.ances of it. 'l'he remembrance 0£ sin is salutary, if it induces humili:ition; but detrimental, if it induces a repetition of tho sin. When :rnrnred of its forgivPness, we should forget it, so far as the remembrnnce would provoke repetition. l\fo8es here recalls sin, that it may be salutary in the remcmbrnnco. I. THEIB REnELLION HAD BEEN co~TINUAL. (Vers. 7, 24.) It would seem that the pilgrimage of the people had been one long rebellion-God manifesting his mercy, man manifesting his ingratitude. And may this not be said of all the Lord's people? They Lave b<"en rebellions in the midst of manifold mercy. II. THE SIN AT HonEn WAS A SPECIAL PROVOCATION. (Vers. 8-12.) So grievous had it been that God threatened them with destruction. It took place while the media- tor was, throu6 h fasting and prayer, receiving the Law. The circi.:mstanccs made it more aggravated. And it is well to remember onr special provocations of God, if we are tl:.ereby str<"ngthencd against a r<'petition of them. Ill. Tm: DANGER INCURRED BY ISRAEL WAS VERY GREAT. (Vers. 13, H.) God pro- posed to consume them in a moment, and to make of Moses e. nation greater nnd mightier than they. It was at once a testimony to the enormity of their sin and a. test of the magnanimity of Moses. Instead of accepting the great opportunity, he set himself to intercede for the pardon of their sin. . IV. IT Th'VOLVED THE BREAKING OFF OF COVE...'UNT RELATIONS. (Vers.15-17.) 'l'he two stone tabks were the sign of the covenant existing between God and them. l\loses had just been negotiating the settleme::it. But now one party had proved unfaithful, and so he bad them broken before their eyes. Their idolatry had broken the commandments, and so the relations between God and them were meanwhile at an end. V. THE INTERCESSION WAS PROLONGED AND SUCCESSFUL. (Vers. 18-21, 25-29.) 'l'he intercession of M~es was even more severe than the previous mediation. 'l'he second period of forty days and nights was e. most severe ordeal through which to pasir. It shows that intercession is most laborious duty, if adequately discharged. It shows, moreover, that the interr.ession of Christ, of which that of Moses was typicnl, is a most serious and severe service. It has been very properly called the prolongation of the atonement; just as the atonement is a most magnificent intercession (cf. Dr. Hugh Martin on • The Atonement,' pp. 104-168). 'l'he two are complementary. The agony of Moses on the mount must have been most severe and trying-death under ordinary conditions is nothing to it. y I. OTHER REBELLIONS OF A MINOR CHARACTER MUST ALSO BE NOTICED. (Vers. 22, 23.) Taberab, Massah, Kibroth-hattaavah, and Kadesh were all scenes of rebellion against the Lord. The history was a sad one, but the remembrance of it would humble them, and fit them for that complete reliance upon the Lord on which their triumph must rest. "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and he will exalt you in duo time." "He that humbleth l1imself shall he exalted." This is the law for nations as well as for individuals. Salvation and victory arc through paths of humiliation, which make all the sweeter the blessing when it comes. Sin is thus sanctified in the remembrance when it leads to humiliation and victory beyond it.-R. M. E.
EXPOSI'l'ION.