The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 313

IIOMILTES BY VARIOUS AUTHOilS. V ers. 1-S.- God's provision fo1' tlie priests and Levites. From the limitations of the monarchy, llfoses next turns to the provision for the" priests the Levites, and nil the trihc of Levi." They ·were not to receive any estate in Canaan beyond the suburbs of certain cities. They were to take "the Lord as their inheritance." \Ve have already seen that Palestine was a good land for training up a spiritual people; it was a Ian~ ":here dependence upon God was constantly enforced. But among this people, thus mnted to deper.d upon God, there was a tribe whose dependence upon God was to be further stimulated by the absence of any tangible inheritance. 'l'heir life wns thus to be a life of trust in God's continual care. 1n these circumstances the Lord made certain laws about the priests' due. He took good care of the tribe that trusted him. It has been supposed that the animals, of which the priests were to have a definite part, w_ere not merely sacrifices, but also those privately slaughtered, and the words (1'1::i:liJ •i:::;n) translated "them that offer a sacrifice " will bear the rendering "those who slaughter animals." Still, it seems more probable that it was by the central altar that the prie~ts and Levites were to live. Assuming this, then, the following lessons are here tau~ht. I. THOSE. WHO TRUST Gon SHALL NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED IN THEIR ALLOTTED PORTION. For as a matter of fact, "the shoulder, the two cheeks, and the maw" were deemed dainty portions of the animal. The best portions ascended to God in the altar fire, and then the second best were assigned to the priests and Levites, while the offerer was content with what was left. God and bis ministers were regarded as the guests of the Jewish worshippers, and, as the guests enjoy the best which we can offer in the exercise of our hospitality, the support of the priests and Levites w_as amply secured. 'l'hese dues of the priests and Levites seem to have been regularly paid while the people remained true to God; of course, their support would suffer in sinful and idolatrous times, yet, even when they suffered with the neglect of God's altar, it was suffering with God. And as a rule those who trust God are not disappointed with his provision. Even when it is limited in amount, be is sure to give sublime compensations. Though ministerial support is not what it ought to be, there is no class of men who enjoy life so much as God's servants. Il. THOSE WHO ARE THE Loan's CHOSEN SERVANTS ARE CALLED PRE-EMTh'ENTLY TO THE LIFE OF TRUST. There is a great temptation to encircle ourselves with so much worhlly possession as that t! ust in God will be difficult and seem superfluous. In other words, there is an effort to be able to live by sight rather than by faith. But the Master whom we serve is realized by faith, and his kingdom must be propagated by faith. Hence he so arranges the lot of his servants that a loud call for faith is alway11 ringing in their ears, and they should never neglect that call The priests and Levites were at liberty to purchase land and leave it to their children, and doubtless many of, tLem so far "made assurance doubly sure, and took a bond of fate." Yet the life of faith, the dependence upon God's altar, was better and wbolesomer than the life of sight. Jl]. THE PEOPLE IIAD NO RIGHT TO WITHHOLD THE PRIESTS' AND LEVITES' DUE DECACSE OF ANY PP..IVATE PATRIMONY INDIVlDUALS MIGHT POSSESS. A good deal of deficient ministerial support is due to the people very unfairly discounting private incomes and often exaggerating them, so as to save themselves. Ministers may inherit m~aus tLrougb the kindly consideration of parents and friends; but this is no reason wLy people shonlrl hold their hand in the matter of ministerial support. 'l'be Lord s1,ecially provid· d that the Levite (ver. 8) should have like portions to eat, beside that which cc,n,e:tL. of tl,e sa.le of his patriwony. The truth is that private means invariably <llt. xvnr. 1-22.J rnt BOOK or DEUTERONOM!. 311