II. Tme 0IOANTIO BIN' BE0ETB A BERIEB 011' OIOANTIO EVILS. 1. ft bPgets Callon., selfishness in posterity. God did not forget that the Moabi tes and Ammonites refused tho common necessaries of life to the Hebrews, who sought nothing more than a friendly pnssnge through their territory. Although this sin was a branch and offsprine1 from the first, it wns something new, and demanded fresh chastisement. For every ~ffence in God's kingdom there is prepared a just measure of retribution. _2. It begets maliciou.~ opposition. 'l'bey hired, in their blindness, the services of Balaam, the sorcerer, in the hope that he would blast and ruin them with bis witchery and curse. The end was frustrated. 'fhe purchased curse was changed into blessing. Nevertheless, the intention was criminal. 'l'he hearts of the Moabites burned with hate for their kinsmen; and base intentions shall be scourged. 3. It begets idolatry and blind fanaticism. III. SUCH EVILS CULMINATE IN JUBTEBT l'UNISBMENTB. Suitable penalties begin to appear in this life. 1. There is the loss of external privilege. Such "shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord." What! not when the present generation has passed away? No; not to the tenth generation! No; not for ever. Possibly the culprits despised the privilege, mocked at the loss. But none the less was it an immeasurable loss, a terrible privation. It is not said that a penitent Moabite should not be forgiven -should not obtain eternal life. Yet the loss of external instruction and help lessened the probability that penitence would visit the soul. We do ourselves wrong when we contemn religious privilege. 2. There is the loss offriendly intercession. " Thou shal t not seek their peace nor their prosperity ... for ever." Prayer for such is interdicted. Brotherly sympathy is denied. The Hebrews were ordained to be a nation of priests. 'l'he intent.ion was that, by virtue of their growing piety, they should be, as an entire nation, the priests of the Lord, while foreigners should immigrate to be their husband- men and vine-dressers. By reason of the Jew's superior knowled~e of God, they might be successful intercessors for other nations. But from this gracious privilege the Moabites and Ammonites were permanently excluded. Despise not the prayers of the devout.-D.
Vers. 7, 8.-Terminable chastisements. The sting in God's curse is its irreversible- ness. The bitter draught is dashed with mercy when we have prospect that it shall cease. I. 'fHE CONDUCT OF SOME MEN IS A STRANGE ADMIXTURE OF GOOD AND BAD. There were some fine traits in Esau's character commingled with coarse and selfish obstinacy. Light was interfused with darkness. The treatment of Israel by the Edomites was not the most friendly, nor was it decidedly hostile. It was marked by haughty reserve rather than by malignant hostility. So also the Egyptians were not wholly antagonistic to Israel. For more than four hundred years the Hebrews had found sustenance nnd shelter in Goshen. If the last Pharaoh had oppressed them with bitter bondage, a former Pharaoh had blest them with unusual kindness. From desolating famine, Egypt had shielded them. This shall not be forgotten ; it shall temper chastisement. The remoter peoples shall "be admitted to God's kingdom, while those nearer at band shall be excluded. II. SUCH CONDUCT RECEIVES DUE MEASURE OF CHASTISEMENT. It is impossible to entertain the best feelings of affectiou towards such persons. Yet we are to be just in our estimate of them. 'vVe are not to fasten our eyes only on tbe dark side of their characters. As far as it is possible we shoulil be generous in feeling. "Thou shalt not abhor them." Tho present generation of such, and their children, shall be ex- cluded from the privileges of the righteous. But there the ban shall terminate. If children of wisdom, we shall endure such chastisement with patient resignation-
_• For patient suffering is the link That binds us to I\ glorious morrow.•
III. THE INHERITAN0E OF BLESSING IS IN REVERSION. "Weeping may endure for a night: joy cometh in the morning." The night is temporary; the day will be eternal. However dark be their present lot under the frown of Jehovah, the light of hope shines beyond-lights up the future. We live in our children, It alleviates our present burden when we are assured that ot1r chiltlren shall be exempt. More often 878 THE :BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. (os:. xxn:t. 1-2S.
8bould ,'l'e ~tRnd in awe of sin, if we did but perceive the miseries wo wero entailing on posl<'rit;v. The revelations of the future are a valuable guide for tho present.-D.