The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 314

go to malrn n public ministry more effective, if the ministry is true at all. They are, uot selrishly utilized, but used as a maLter of stewardship. In such circumstances, instead of being a hindrance to libernlity, these private possessions should boa. stimulus, o.s they are so much more in the line of things devoted to the Lord. IV. DUE RESPECT SHOULD BE SHOWN TO A DEVOTED SPIRIT. The case of the Levite here referred to corresponds to a minister who ha.s responded to a Divine call, ngainst what one might call the dictates of worldly prudence. He has f.,llowed the inward impulse (ver. G), and come to aid the priests o.t the central altar from his snug patrimony at home. Such devotion is to be considered and rewarded. The Levite, who was so interested as to relinquish his country life and patrimony, deserved the payment of the dues at the altar. So with the generous devotion of the ministers of God. When men relinquish good worldly prospects for the Church, their doing so should be considercd.-R. M. E. Vera. 9-14.-Divination forbidden. The process of divination, in its different forms here referred to--" divination," "observing the heavenly bodies," "enchantment," "witchcraft,'' "charming," "consultation of spirits,"" sorcery," and "necromancy"- was an effort to discover secrets by unwarrantable methods. ll was man's longing for revelation undergoing degradation through the imaginations of men. It had been practisP.d by the predecessors in Canaan, and in consequence they were being cast out. 'l'hc Israelites were to deem it abomination, and unworthy of the people of God. From the succeeding verses, it is evident that it is to be contrasted with the Divine order of prophetical inspiration, and in consequence rejected with detestation. I. Oun IDEAS OF REVELATION SHOULD BE WORTHY OF Goo. ',Ve have no right to expect God to degrade himself in the methods of revelation. Our own instincts should lead us to abhor such processes as· have been adopted to secure the secret, of the Most High. All the mean and abominable ways which are here enumerated ought to have been renouncetl by thinking men instead of adopted. 'l'hey are all unworthy channels for God's messages. Astrology, enchantment, necroroancy,-all are miserable make,bifts for a decent mode of revelation. God has in "divers manners" certainly made known his will to men (Heb. i. 1). Ilc has used dreams (Gen. xxxvii. 8; Job xxxiii. 15), revealing to the soul, whose aveuues of sensation are temporarily closed, the information it needed. The dream was the condition of the communication (Gen. xxviii.12-22). God spoke when he had got man's ear shut to other things. And we= see this to be a most worthy way ! Th"n by angelic visits he oftentimes revealed bis will, instances of which are many in the Bible. This also was worthy. Last of all, by inspiring men, that is, through human nature, which is also eminently worthy of God. But the divination process is am.l should have been regarded as mean and contemptible. II. IT IS EVIDENCE OF THE GREAT CREDULITY OF MEN THAT DIVINATION H.I.S IMPOSED UPON THEM. In connection with "spiritualism," for example, we have examples of credulity now corresponding exactly to the divination of the earlier times. As if such mean methods would be adopted by the Infinite Majesty, who bas spoken in these last days by his Son! The power of belief is incalculable. Credulity is the believing power exercised on false objects and on insufficient evidence. "\Ve have ample faith iu the world, if we .could only get it rightly directed. And sometimes we fiud men who are most sceptical about religious matters, most credulous about the noveltieil of spiritualism. They yield to pbcuomena a. credence that they deny to the well- authenticated Word. III. Goo's PRESENCE IS To DETERMINE OUR CONDUCT. When Moses says, " Thou sbalt be perfect with (0V.) the Lord thy God" (ver. 13), the idea seems to be that t\,e overshadowing Presence is to determine our conduct before him. We will strive to be perfect as he is, and not look for mean methods from him.-R. M. E. Vers. 15-22.-Tlie promised Prophet. From speaking of the paltry expectations about divination, Moses goes on to speak of the ge!lernl plan of Divine revelation. The people had had the splendid cho.nce of direct communion with God, without any mediati0n. God spoke to them from heaven at Sinai; but so afraid were they of immediate revelatiou that they implored Moses to mediate the messo.go for them. He became consequeutly, 312 THE MOK or DEUTttRONOMt. Ccm. xvxtt.1-22.