The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 448

II. WE LEARN THE GREAT UBEB OF EXPERIENOE. "Yo have seen their abomina- tions." To e. generation that had not seen the obscenities, impurities, and social corruptions of illolatry, it would be difficult to convey an adequate idea of Lhc evil. It was, therefore, of the first importance that the experience of tho Hebrews who ha,! come up from Egypt should mould and inspire the convictions of the youn"'er "'Cncra- tion. '!'hose who had seen tho e.bominations of Egypt, felt its oppressions~ and taken part in uprooting the corrupt races of Canaan, ought to have cherished a deep sense of the value of this covenant with God. The evil against which they solemnly leagued they knew to be a curse to men and an abhorrence to Jehovah. If only the t.reasurcs of experience were garnered and utilized, they would be worth more than mountains of silver and gold. • III. WE LEARN THE DECEPTIVE FLATTERIES OF BIN. "I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart." 1. The transgressor is intensely selfish. He plots for himself, and thinlts only of his comfort. "I shall have peace." 2. T!,e transgressor is essentially blind. He imagines that although all others may be de- tected, he shall escape. He sees no immediate danger. He vainly fancie~ that his evil course is sagacious, and will bring prompt returns of advantage. 3. The trans- gressor is a practical atheiat. Because human magistrates or human witnesses may not discover his crime, he concludes that God will pot. In fact, he leaves God out of the calculation. He lays his plans and ca1Ties them as if there were no God. The great sin of men is this, viz. that" God is not in all their thoughts." Sin seldom appears in its true colour in this life. It is ashamed of its own fruits. It promises its dupes the fruits of righteousness. The creed of this world is that men " may gather grapes from thorns, and figs from thistles." IV. WE LEARN THAT GoD's DETECTIVES NEVER FAIL. "The Lord will not spare him." The secret conspiracy of the heart shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. If the culprit hide in the darkest den of a populous city, thence will Jehovah's arm dra;; him forth. "He besets us behind and before." If be be alone in his guilt, he is the more to blame, since he has no help or encouragement from others. All social influences have been deterrent from evil; but he has resisted them all with his obstinate folly. He has been singular in his sin; he shall be singular in his suffering. Against him the anger of Jehovah will burn with a white heat of justice. All the vials of righteous wrath shall be emptied on that guilty head. His name shall perish. He shall be "separated unto evil." The nation shall loathe him. 'rhe universe shall be banded together to punish him. V. WE LEARN THAT THE EFFECT OF PUllLIO RETRIBUTfON IS TO MA.KE LUMTh"017S GoD's RIGHTEOUSNESS. God delights in earth's fertility. He finds pleasure in fruits and flowers. But his delight in the fruits and flowers of the soul is so much greater, that he will blast all the beauty and fertility of earth in order to produce in men the fruits of holiness. His police force is enormous. Pestilence and earthquake, volcanic flame and electricity, human armies and microscopic insects, execute his judicial word. Aiid the effect upon mankind is to excite inquiry. Wherefore this demolition and curse? Some solid reason must exist for this complete reversal of former blessing. The contrast is eloquent with meaning. The flames of Sodom shed a lustre on the Divine righteousness. The barren hills, with mute yet mournful tongue, declare God's faithful- ness. A broken covenant explains it all I 'l'he hills shall flee ; the stars shall fade ; but not a word from Jehovah's lips shall ever miscarry. The sleepless sword of judicial vengeance shall pursue to the death every false thing.~D. Ver. 29.-Tlie purpose of Divine revelation. Taught by God's good Spirit, Moses discerned that the purpose of Divine revelation was not to gratify intellectual curiosity, but to qu,!Llify for practical obedience. I. llEVELATION IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE FOB GUILTY lllEX, Knowledcre of God, his attributes, and methods of operation may be obtained from investigation of man and naturo. But the special knowledge of God's merciful disposi- tions and purposes respecting sinners can be acquired only from the direct revelation :1e is pleased to make. Whether rebellious men can be reconciled to God, and ~y what method; how the iujured nature of man is to be renovated; whether any e:x:1steuce, or service, or promotion is possible beyond the grave ;-these and other vital questiona can be answered only by the voice from heaven.  460 THE DOOR OF DEU'I'EltoNOMt. [ctt. XXI:i., 1-29,