The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 329

TrrE ruBLIO. It is too often supposed thllt revenge is such a gratification that men need no exhortation to take it,. But we find men that are too cownrdly to retaliate, men who would rather let the greatest ruffians escape than risk anything in giving them their desert. 1 Before the erection of public justice, therefore, as a recognized and well-wrought institution, it was necessary to sustain the courage of tho people against law]e;;sness by making retaliat.ion a public duty. 'l'he avenger was not a man thirsting for blood, but one who would very likely have remained snugly at liorue instead of risking his life in retaliation. Men have to be "whipped up" oftentimes to the requisite courage for public duty. III. RETALIATION, WREN FAITHFULLY CARRIED OUT, WAS A CHECK ON SELFISH CON• DUCT A'!,."D A HELP TO A IDGHER MORALITY. The golden rule of doing unto others as we would that they should do to us was the goal at which the morality of the Old Testament was aiming. One way of leading up to it is by carrying out its opposite, and gi,ing to the wrong-doer an idea of what it is to receive what we do not desire. "\Ye have to practise this in the correction of children, When they act a cruel part by others, they get a taste of suffering themselves, just to let them know what it is like. IT. AT THE BACK OF ALL Gon's MERCY THERE 19 THE ALTERNATIVE OF STRICT JUDGMENT IN CASE ms MERCY IS REFUSED. The gospel is the golden rule in its highest exemplification. It is God doing unto man as he would have man do unto him were he in such circumstances. But if men reject the Divine mercy, and will not receive God's love, then there is no other alternative but strict justice. A11d strict justice means retaliation. It is giving back to man what he dares to give to God. If man refuses God's love, and, instead of accepting and returning it, gives to God hate; then it is only right, eternally right, that he should receive what he gives. God can- not but hate as utterly abominable the soul that hates him who is essential Love, w·rath is the "love-pain of God" (Liebes-schmertz Gottes), as Schoberlein bas called it. It is forced on him by the action of his creatures. They have had the opportunity of love, but, since they refuse it, they must be visited by wrath. Hence there is nothing weak about the Divine administration. Its back- bone is justice; but special arrangements were made in the atonement of Jesus to allow of God being "justly merciful;" when, howev,er, this just mercy is rejected, God must return to the stricter lines, and deal with the ungrateful as they deserve. In the retaliation of God there is, of course, nothing mean and nothing selfish. HiR vengeance is in the interests of public morals, and a necessary part of a wise administration. '£here should be no trifling, then, with the Divine offer; for, if it be not accepted, men must prepare for wrath.-R. M. E. Vers. 1-10.-.The cities ef refuge, The territory of Canaan was- allotted to the Jews for this special end, that the principles of the heaveuly kingdom might be practically unfolded on earth. In the Divine treatment of men, as members of the body politic, justice and mercy were to be harmoniously blended. Human life was uniformly treated as precious, but righteousness was revealed as more precious still. I. SEVEilE INJURY TO MEN :MA.Y BE WROUGHT SIMPLY BY THOUGH'l'LESS INAD• YEilTEKCE. The physical laws of nature are stupendous forces, which man must well investigate and comprehend. if he would wisely control. They are evidently intended for the welfare of mankind, and prove very useful servants, but very dangerous ma.sters. In the infancy of science and technical skill, great peril arises to human life from gigantic forces which we have not learnt to command. Th\l fall of an axe, the course of a projectile, is according to the operation of fixed law. Careful observance of this law is life; heedlessness is death. "Evil is wrought by want of thought, as well as want of heart." II. THE DUTY OF THE STATE POLITIC TO PROVIDE FOR THE NECESSITIES OF TIIE UKFORTUNATE. Before the Jews entered into possession of the promised land, God gave them instruction how to fulfil responsible duties. If it was a claim of justice that refuge cities should be provided for unwary manslayers, then justice would equally require that provision should be made for all sorts of unfortunates and afflicted ones, To slay the hand of private revenge-to prevent the effusion of innocent blood- • Of. Mozley, ut ,upra, p. 185, en. XIX. 1-21.] 'l'HE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 3'l7