I. THAT GoD BE PREBENT WITH mB PEOl'LE. We meet in his Name. His presence ie promised (Matt, xviii. 20). Without that presence sought a.nd obtained, worship is in vain. II. THAT IT BE PURE AND B0RIPTURAL. Not "will-worship" (Col. ii. 23); not corrupted by the ingraning upon it of heathen superstitions. Christianity has often been thus corrupted. The papal mariolatry and worship of images, with the whole- sale importation into Christianity of rites and ceremonies drawn from paganism, is a glaring instance. God forbids any mixture of the old worship with the new. The very names of the gods of the Canaanites were to be destroyed (ver. 3). Worl<lliness, not less than superstition, may intrude itself into worship, and destroy its purity (John ii. 13-17; Jas. ii. 2, 3). III. THAT IT BE ORDERLY. (Ver. 8.) Paul pleads for order in the Christian Church (1 Cor. xi., xii.). IV. THAT IT GIVE EXPRESSION TO THE VARIED WANTS OF THE Rl!:LIGIOuS NATURE. (Vers. 6, 7.) The prescribed sacrifices constituted a complex medium for the expression of the complex life and aspirations of the nation. It is to be noted that, save on days specially devoted to the remembrance of sins, a predominatingly joyful tone pervaded the services. This tone of joy should characterize yet more decidedly the services of Christians, coming before the Lord, as they are commanded to do, "to offer up spiritual sacrifices" (Phil. iv. 4; Col. iii. 16; 1 Pet. ii. 5). v. THAT IT DE ASSOCIATED WITH REMEMBRANCE OF THE POOR. (Vers. 7, 12, 18; eh. xvi. 11, 14.) One of the first effects of Christ's love in a heart should be to open it up in sympathy and kindness to all in need (Acts ii. 45; iv. 34, 35; Rom. xv. 25; 1 Cor. xii. 26; 2 Cor. viii., ix.).-J. 0. Vera. 15, 16, 20-26.-The Divine regulation of food. All animals for food had formerly to be killed at the door of the tabernacle (Lev. xvi. 1-8). Probably the rule was not strictly observed (ver. 8), but in view of the occupation of the land, the prohibition is relaxed. Note- I. OUR RIGHTS IN THE USE OF FOOD TAKE THEm ORIGIN FROM Gon. This is taught in the account of creation (Gen. i. 29, 30), in the grant of flesh to Noah (Gen. ix. 3, 4), in the Levitical restrictions on animal food (Lev. xi.), and in passages like the present. II. OuR MANNER OF THE USE OF FOOD OUGHT TO BE GLORIFYDIG TO GoD. "Eating and drinking" is to be to God's glory (1 Cor. x. 31). 1. God's gift to be recognized in food. A motive for thankfulness. 2. God's ble~sing to be sought upon it. The example of Christ in this respect is noteworthy (Matt. xiv. 19, etc.). 3. Self- restraint is to _be exercised in the partaking of it. The blood was not to be ea.ten.-J. 0,
Ver. l!l.-The Levite. The dues of the Levites consisted mainly of the tithes. The value of this legal provision has been frequently exaggerated. The mistake has lain in comparing it with the average of income over the whole nation, instead of with the incomes of the wealthier and middle classes. Comparing it with these, it will be fouud to have been liberal, but not excessive, even supposing it to have been conscientiously paid. This, however, it would seldom be. No tribunal existed to enforce payment. All depended on the conscientiousness of the individual tithe-payer. It is easy to see that an income of this sort was in the highest degree precarious, and that in times of religious declension, the body of the Levites would be reduced to great straits. These facts sufficiently account for the reiterated injunctions not to forsake the Levite, but to inclnde him in every festive gathering. 'l'hree rea.sons for bis liberal support: 1. His calling deprived him of the usual means of livelihood. 2. His office was one of service for the people. 3. His relation to the altar made niglect shown to him a. dishonour done to God. Paul applies, in 1 Cur. ix. 13, 14, to the gospel ministry.-J. 0.
Vers. 29-32.-Unworthy inquiries. We have here- I. BALEFUL SUPERSTITION. The ground of these inquiries about the gods of the place was a lurking belief in their reality. There was a superstitious feeling that the woods, hills, streams, etc., must have their deities, whom it would be well to propitiate ,nd worshiJ?, The co~try as a w}lole, and &~ia.l districts of it, had gods, and, Jebov<\h 222 THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [on. :m. 1-32,
notwit.hstanding, the superstitious part or the community stood in dread or them, Superstitions are bard to eradicate. We have examples in the survival of the belief in witches, fairies, charms, omens, lucky and unlucky days, etc., among ourselves, Till a receut period, it was the custom in parts of the Scottish !Iighlands to sacrifice bulls to local saints. And the practice of burying a live cock for the cure of epilepsy is said to snrvive till the present hour. Born of ignorance, and acting as a check on all enlightenment and progress, superstition is the parent of innumerable evils, besides debasing and enslaving mind and conscience. Its influence should be comba.ted by every legitimate means. II. PmmIENT CURIOSITY, The superstitious motive did not act alone. This itchincr desire to hear about the gods of the place, and how the nations served them, wa~ symptomatic of a prurient disposition. There was, unfortunately, too much in the way in which these nations had "served their gods" to excite and interest the passions of the dissolute. It is a dangerous token when those who ought to know better begin to manifest a prurient curiosity about what is evil. It leads to prying into matters which had better remain hidden, to inquiries at persons whose very society is dangerous to the reading of obscene books, the visiting of bad places, the keeping of immorai company, etc. At the bottom of such inquiries there is invariably a secret sympathy which is bound, as time advances, to yield fruit in evil practices. ' III. SERTTLE IMITATION. The idolatry of the Israelites was signalized by a strange want of originality. They invented no gods of their own, '!'hey were content to be imitators. The nations before them had gods. The nations around them had gods. They wanted to be like the rest, and have gods too-hence their inquiries. A curious illustration of the force of the principle of imitation. It is one of the rnling principles in human nature. Imitation is easier than invention. The tendency invariably is to "follow the ·crowd." It matters nothing that it is "to do evil." The fashion of the time and place must be observed. There are people who would almost rather die than be out of the fashion. Yet what a weakness is this, and how opposed to all true and right manhood ! "Be not conformed to the world" (Rom. xii. 2).-J. 0.