Vers. 18-21.-Model/udges. I. JUDGES OCCUPY A HIGH AND RESPONSIBLE POSITI0X. 1. '£hey are necessary. They require to be set up "in all- thy gates . . . throughout thy tribes." 2. They represent God (eh. i. 17). 'fhey are called "gods" (Ps. lxxxii. 1). They are clothed with a portion of God's authority (Rom. xiii. 1). 3. They are set to uphold the sacred interests of justice. 4. 'l.'hey may, by wresting judgment, or by hasty and wrong decisions, inflict in-emediable injury on the innocent. 5. The right discharge of their functions conduces in the highest degree to the stability, happiness, and material prosperity of society. II. JUDGES ARE REQUIRED TO EXECUTE JUST JUDGMENT. 1. They are not to be swayed by private partialities-political, social, ecclesiastical. 2. They are not to make distinctions between rich and poor, i.e. "respect persons." 3. They are not to accept bribes. 4. They are, as administrators of a justice which is impersonal, to judge in every case according to absolute right.-J. 0.
Vers. 1-8.-The Passover, a memorial of deliverance. The institntion of the Passover (Exod. xii.) was preliminary to their deliverance from Egypt, just as the Lord's Supper was preliminary to the death of Jesus Christ, which it was designed subsequently to com~ memorate. On the first occasion it was a sacrifice presented at home, as was most proper. But when the central altar was set up in Palestine, it became the centre of the Passover festival, and to it the Jews in their multitudes repaired. This secured a national assembly under very solemn circumstances, and was an important element h sustaining the national spirit. I. THE DELIVERANCE OF TllE SOUL FROM THE BONDAGE OF snr SHOULD BE HELD IN PERPETUAL RE!lEMBRANCE. The Passover was the yearly celebration of national redemption. By it the Jews were annually reminded that they were a redeemed people. Gratitude to God would be elicited, and that self-denial and abstinence from evil which the unleavened bread typified. And it is evident that a similar memorial is contemplated in the New Testament dispensation. The Lord's Supper coming regularly round is intended to recall tho deliverance from sin and guilt which we believe God has wrought for us, and to foster that holiness of walk which shoul,1 characterize tbo redeemed of the Lord. II. THE DELIVERANCJE OF THE SOUL HAS BEEN THROUGH SACRIFICE. The Passo\'C\' taught this, if it taught anything. Egypt had to part with her firstborn before Uod's firstborn, Israel, could be redeemed (Exod. xiii. 15). This was evidently the i<lea-the 6.rstborn of Egypt must die to ensure the liberty of the Jirstborn of Go,1 (Exod. iv. 22. 280 THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [ctt, XVI. l--'22.