The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 241

towards him, and reject evf!ry temptation to transfer our allegiance. We shall thus find ourselves going forward Rteadily in the exercise of spiritual purity and power.- H. M.E. Vere. 1-18.-God's executiomrs upon idolaters. No respecter of persons is God. The sin of all sins is idolatry, and such overt rebels against the supreme God shall be summarily punished, whether they be Amorites or Hebrews. As a rule, complete retribution is reserved for the future state; the full effect of evil ways is not seen in this lifo. Yet there are sins so flagrant-so mischievous in their present influence, that God employs bis agents, personal or impersonal, to execute his verdicts promptly and manifestly. It is not that infinite justice is not content to wait; it is that God is so solicitous for the good of the human race, that he puts forth his hand to arrest the moral pestilence. In this chapter we learn- I. THAT GoD HAD ASSURED IsaAEL OF ms UNITY, SUPREMACY, AND G0OD::>ESS, In that early a~e men bad not indulged in intellectual speculation touching the exi~t- ence of a God. Mind bad not yet formulated its proofs, nor its disproofs. The tendency of depraved tastes and instincts was practically to ignore a spiritual Deity, and to put a rash confidence in inferior beings or in intermediate agents. The demon- strations which God gave of bis supremacy, to Israel in Egypt, were demonstratious addressed to their practical experience. They bad been bondmen. They had long endured a crushing oppression. They were reduced to a condition of abject and dependent weakness. By whom had they been rescued from Pbaraoh's giant grasp? By whom? Not by any angelic champion, nor by any of the idols of the earth! Obviously, and without question, they had been recovered to freedom and to national jife by the arm of Jehovah and by none other! 'l'heir new condition was the manifest proof that God reigned, and that he had gloriously triumphed. The unity and supremacy of the true God was established upon a solid basis. This cardinal truth shone upon the nation with the clear radiance of noon day. If any- thing was known this was known, that Jehovah was absolute Monarch-God of gods and Lord of lords. Of this grand truth Israel was a witness to all the nations of the earth. II. THAT ISRAEL'S FAITH IN Gon WAS SOMETIMES PUT TO SEVERE TESTS BY THE PRETEXTS OF DIVINERS. 'l'he dream of fanatics would at times be verified. The arts of necromancers would sometimes succeed. Base motives of gain and renown would keep these pursuits alive. The specious successes may have been fortunate coinci- dences. They may have been specially permitted by God for wise and practical pur- poses. They served as a test for the faith of Israel. Faith never put to the proof would soon lose its tone and fibre. Granted that the prediction of a soothsayer found fulfilment, was this sufficient ground for sundering their loyalty to Jehovah ?-any ground for recognizing the power of an idol-god? Granted that something might be said on behalf of intermediate intelligencies-agents and servants of the Most High- did this warrant their offering to such, honours which were the prerogative of Jehovah alone? Had not Jehovah alone redeemed them from Egyptian misery, and led them through the wilderness? And did not every impulse of gratiturle, and every principle of reason, require that Jehovah alone should be worshipped? These artifices of sooth- sayers would serve to test their faith, and (if faith was sound) to brace and strengthen it. For this they should have rejoiced greatly, that the "trial of their faith, more precious far than gold, though it were tried by fire, might appear unto praise and honour and glory." 111. THAT GoD HAD APPOINTED ISRAEL TO BE HIS EXECUTIONER OF ALL IDOLATERS. The only reasonable ground on which the Hebrews could ,·indicate their possession of •~anaan was, that the foul idolatries of the Canaanites had made them a pest and a curse upon the globe. And if now the conquerors should yield to the habits and vices of the conquered, reason and right would require that they likewise should be displaced. The N emcsis of extermination had fallen upon the dwellers in Canaan, not because they were Canaanites, but because they were idolaters. Abraham had been called out of Charran, and received the promise of Canaan, that he might be a liviag and loyal witne:;s for God. And the special mission of Abraham's posterity was to stamp out idolatry, and to lift high the banner of Jehovnh. To do this effectually, no connivance with the cursed 286 '!'RE BOOR OF -DlWTl:mo:NOMY. tea. xm. 1-18.