, ers. 1-8.-The stones on Ebal. This chapter is significant, as letting in light on the design of the Law, and on the nature of the Jewish covenant. We see from it: 1. That the Law could not give life. 2. 'l'hat it was not designed to give life. 3. That its real aim was to con'l"ince of sin, and so to shut men up to the faith that would afterwards be revealed (Gal. iii. 23). 'l'hree topics iu these verses- 1. THE EnECTION OF THE STONES. (Vers. 2, 3.) Stones were to be set up, coated with plaster (a custom of Egypt), on which were to be written, (< very plainly," "all 1hc wo1ds of this Law" (ver. 8)-either the Law in Deuteronomy, or the Pentateuchal laws generally. The stones were: L Significant reminders of the tenure on which the land i·as held. 2. Witnesses against the people in case of disobedience. 3. A testi- n,ony to the plainness with which the Law bad been made known to them. The last point reminds us of our own privilege in possessing a clear and full revelation of the will of God in the Bible. Copies of the Bible arc like these stones, witnesses against us if we disobey the gospel. "Light has come into the world" (John iii. 1!l). We are not left to the natural conscience, sufficient though that be to convict men of sin (Rom. ii. 14, 15). We are servants who know our Lord's will (Luke xii:"'4i). We have the light both of Law and gospel. Supremely great are our privileges, and equally great are our responsibilities. II. THE smi-.-Es ERECTED ON EBAL. (Ver. 4.) But why on Ebal? Why on the mount of cursino-? Had there been a Law which could have given life, " \'erily,'' Paul fays, "righteou~uess should have been by the Law" (Gal. iii. 21). In that case, the appropriate place for the erection of the stones would have been Gerizim-the mount of blessing. But the Law could not give life. In itself c0nsidered, as requiring perfect ul,edience, it could only condemn. Its principal function-its economic scope and purpose-was not to bless, but to give "knowledge of sin " (f!om. iii. 19, 20; vii. 9-14; Gal. iii.). Hence the appropriate place for the 1;tones being planted wan on the mount of cursing. Ill. THE ACOOIIP.UTYING SACRIFICES. (Vers. 5-7.) 1. As the Law testified to sin, so the sacrifices testified to grace-to the provision in mercy which lay within the covenant for the removal of guilt. Burnt offerings and peace offerings, as well as the sin offerings, included the idta of propitiation. 'l'his was shown at the first forming of the covenant by the action of sprinkling the blood (Exod. xxii. 6-8-; .cf. Heb. ix. 19-23). Without sacrifice, without tbe means of removing, or at least covering guilt, Israel's position under the Law would have been a mockery. 2. The altar of unhewn stu11es testifies to the subordinate place which art ought to have in the worship of God. There was a Fpecial suitableness in the altar of propitiation being built of undesecratcd OH. XXVU. 1-26.] THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. An-, 'j _,1
materials. Himself sinful, man's art would have pollnted it. Only when propitiati,, 11 had been made was art permitted to resume its function of ministerino- to the bcanl•· of Divine service. But art, in religion, needs to be carefully guarded. It is false a/t D