The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 428

shame be it spolwn) by Christian nations; and still remaining a distinct people thouah without a home" (Whntely,' Evidences'). (4) "To serve other gods" may ~~an ~- 0 more than to be banished from the territory of Jehovah, and to dwell in and be com- pelled to conform to the laws of a country where other gods are recognized (cf. 1 Sam. xxvi.17). It is also truo thnt, to shield themselves from persecution, the Jews have ton often been willing to dissemble and conform to worships which their hearts abhorred (saint and image worship: adoration of the host, etc.); while in idolatrous countrie 8 their religion is frequently so corrupted as to be scarcely recognizable. The Tieni- Israel, near Bombay, e.g. remain a distinct people, but, together with Jehovah, worship the gods of the Hindus. Predictions (1) so minute, (2) so extensive in their range, yet (3) so exhaustively verified by events, cannot be ascribed to accident., but coustitute an irrefragable proof of the inspiration that dictated them. Their fulfilment converts the very unbelief and rejection of the Jews into a powerful ar_gument for Christianity. II. LESSONS· FROM THE PROP!lECY. l. The severity of God. If the fulfilment of these predictions teaches anything, it is that God wil_l not shrink from the punishment of sin. We shudder as we read the details of these curses-" plagues wonderful, . . . great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance" (ver. 59), and ask ourselves, Can God really tolerate the sight of, not to say inflict, such incredible sufferings? Yet we find that not one of these curses failed of its accomplishment. So solemn a fact bids the sinner pause and ponder his chance of escaping in t-he great" day 'of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God" (Rom. ii. 5). 2. '1'11B self-ruinous character of sin. The fulfilment of these tbreaten- ings was largely, though not wholly, brought about by simply giving sin scope to work out its own evil results. The bitterest element in retribution must be the feeling whicl1 the sinner has of self-wrought ruin. "He that sowcth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption" (Gal. vi. 8). Like water, which, left to itself, will not cease 'running till it has found its level; iike a clock, which, left to itself, will not cease going till it has run itself completely down; like a tree, which, left to grow, cannot but bring forth its appropriate fruit ;-so sin has a level to seek, a course to run, a fruit to-mature, and "the end of those things is death" (Rom. vi. 21).-J. 0. Ver. 52.-The kigh and fenced walls. God's enemies will ultimately be driven from nil their defences. Cities" great and fenced up to heaven" will be no defence to them, any more thn.n they were to the Canaanites (eh.ix. 1). Horses and chariots (Ps. xx. 7), numbers, prowess, wealth (Prov. x. 15), arts of policy, leagues with foreign powers (Isa. xxx.), afford no protection when God is the besieger. Spiritually, the sinner will ultimately be driven out of every "refuge of lies." 1. Self-righteousness ; every mouth shall be stopped (Rom. iii. l!J). 2. False trusts (Matt. ill: 9; vii. 22). 3. Evasions and excuses (Matt. xxv. 2G; Luke xiv. 18).-J. 0. Vers. 56, 57.-Tlie delicate lady. (Cf. Isa. iii. 16-26.) The queens of select society have little reason to be vain of their excessive aa.d artificial delicacy. They need not pride themselves in it, or think that it entitles them to look haughtily on others. For- I. DELICACY IS NOT CHARACTER. It is consistent with a vain, light, scornful, wicked disposition. The tender and delicate lady in this verse is one of the enemies of God. The purest types of female character avoid those extmvaga.nces of delicacy which, indulged in, become second nature. Character alone entitles to respect. To be vain of beauty or breeding, when the heart is false and the life untrue to God, is to be vain of an ornamented husk withia. which lies rottenness. "'Tis only noble to be good." II. DELICACY· IS AN ACCIDENT OF FORTUNE. It is adventitious-an accident of posi- tion. Born in another sphere, she who boasts of it would not have had it. It is the product of artificial conditions, of which she reaps the benefit, but which she had no part in creating. It is ~ot gained by her own exer~io.ns, or attributab~e to her worth or merit. If she values 1t, let her at least not desp1~e others. She might have been the cott&~er, the cottager the lady. 111. DELIOAOY IS VALUELESS WHEN FORTUNE CEASES TO SMILE ON ITS POSSESSOR. No change of circumstances can rob of its value the possession of knowledge, talents, virtue, good breediug, or refinement. These will grace the humblest home, will 440 'rHE BOOK OF' DEUTERONOMY. tOH. nvlii. 1-Gg,