The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 446

imperfect apprehension of tl,e facts revealed-from the overlayinu of them with mistaken theories nn<l falso interpretations. This last class of dillicultics rlocs n1Jt concern_us here, If ~o nsk, Why should so much be left unrevealed in Scriptnrc? the answer 1s: 1. There 1s much that cannot be revealed-would not be intcllio-ible tfJ u~. 2. Tho purpose of Scripture docs no/ require more to be revealed than sulli~es for our guidance, 8. Tho existence of unsolved tliffic11lties acts as a moral lesl, an,J aicls the development of faith-faith, viz. as a practical principle, believing and trustino- in God on the strength of what is revealed, difficulties' notwithstanding (John xx. 2U). '!'his gives the key to our duty, in presence of these difficulties. We do nc,t forget: l. '!'hat things once kept secret are now revealed (Col. i. 26). 2. That in the conrsc of ages Goel is ever making his counsels clearer. 3, That it is the privilege and duty of the Church to be always making progress in the knowledge of God's will, as far as he bas chosen to reveal it (Eph. i. 17, 18; iii. 18, 19; Col. ii. 2). Nevcrthelc,rs, it is the condition of earthly existence that" we know" only" in part" (1 Cor. xiii. a). Our duty, therefore, plainly is, not to neglect the light we have in vain beating against the wires of the cage that confines us; but diligently to improve that light as the likeliest means of getting more, It is more important to ge_t a fire put out than to know exactly bow it originated; more important to escape from the burning building than to know exactly the course which the flames will take after we have left. We are not to forego prayer because it is mysterious to us how God can answer prnyer; to forbear fleeing to Christ because we cannot frame a theory of the atonernen t ; to renounce activity because we cannot reconcile free-will and Divine foreordination. Revelation resolves the central difficulty, bow God can be just, and yet the Justifier of the ungodly ; it gives light in abundance on the character of God, the way of salvation, the requirements of holiness; it makes much certain that to the natural reason must ever have remained doubtful. What folly, then, to make duty wait on the solving of speculative difficulties, many of which will probably never be solved on earth! II. DUTY, NOT ANXIOUS PRYING INTO THE FUTURE, The "secret things" in regard to that also belong unto the Lord. His Word teaches us in a general way the issues of particular lines of conduct, but it lies with God to determine the when, how, what, and where of the actual event. His providence is a mystery unfathomable by all but himself. This, however, need not disquiet the children of God. He is their Father, and they can confidently trust their future to bis wisdom and bis love (Matt. vi. 2G-34). Of little use is it to fret ourselves with fears and cares about what may possibly befall us. Do duty, and leave the issues to him who is above. Duty, not calculations of expediency, Those who steer by expediency rather than duty, in the hope to avoid evils, split on a worse rock than the one they shun.-J. 0. Vers. 1-13,-The renewal of God's covenant with brael. Every act of obedience is a step of •tbe soul upward, It leads us into clearer light and into purer air. The man is braced by the exercise. On the other hand, the neglect of a great occasion of blessing is an irreparable loss. I. NOTE GoD's GRACIOUS ACTIVITY ON BEHALF OF ms COVENANT PEOPLE, Ancient Israel was sadly prone to forget what God hau done for them. Ingratitude is base. 1t iujures greatly the man who is guilty of it. We lose immensely by our obliviousness of God's kindness. For the Hebrews, God had exerted his power anu pity in methods unprecedented. Almost every act of bis for their deliverance was a miracle. 'l'he crops of Egypt were blasted in order to rescue the sons of Abraham. The firstborn of Egypt, of man and of beast, were slain to emancipate Israel. The king, bis courtiers, and Egypt's military were submerged in the sea to deliver the Hebrews, For forty years they had beeu miraculously led and miraClllously fed. For forty years their clothes had resisted all decay, and their sandals had not yielded to wear. Without ordinary bread-without wine-they bad been kept alive; yea, had betowe robust and irresistible. C()nquest over foes was already theirs, and Canaan itself ·.vas, in part, possessed. Never before-never since-has God so set aside bis ordinary methods of providing for men, and revealed himself as the personal Friend of his people. !I, THIS GRACIOUS AOTIVlTY CONTAINED PREGNANT PLEDGE OF HIGHER GOOD. Wondrous as were these acts of Divine kindness, they did not terminate in themselves. 'l'hey were the enrnests of something more-something higher. Every gift in the 158 THE DOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [OH, XXIX, l-29.