0 ye nations-hie people." 1 The former assures us that all the various processe~ of jnclgmcnt to which tho seer's eye looks forward are in the hands of God. The seconrl calls upon tho nations to rojoico therein. Between these two, the varied ,letails in the paragr,1ph fall naturally into place. Our Homily will, therefore, be mainly an answer to onu inquiry, viz. What materials for Joy are here given us 1 It is useless to bid any one to be glad unless a reason is given- them why they should be so. A somewhat careful study of the paragraph in hand will show at least eirrht 0 rensons for holy and grateful joy. I. It is matter for joy that God reserves in his own hands the judgment of his people (ver, 36). When;, else could it safely be? Who else has the power, the wisdom, the justice, tho kindness, tho knowledge required? If the sceptre of power were in any other hands, the guaranteo of righteous administration would cease. II. We mny rejoice that in hi~ judging processes God will convince his people of the folly of relying on any but on himself (vers. 37, 38). The reason of the peculiar imngery in these verses every student knows. The underlying thought is clear. It m:iy be a sharp, but it is a. necessary discipline, that every prop should give way which would prevent us from leaning on God a.lone, III. We mny rejoice in the severity with which a righteous God will deal with sin. Severity against sin is mercy towards the sinner (ver. 42). In the early conquest of Canaan, severity towards Achnn and his accomplices was mercy towards Israel. In the early Church, judgment on Ananias and Sapphira was mercy to the Church. In both cases the canker of dishonesty and hypocrisy needed to be cut out by a. strong and firm hand. IV. We may rejoice that the ruling motive and the ultimate intent of God's dealings are love and mercy (ver. 43). Beyond the blackest cloucl.s Moses sees in the horizon light and glory. 'fhe twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth chapters of this book, with all their threateniugs, are followed by the thirtieth, with all its promises, Wrath in the process, mercy as the product. V. Let us rejoice that in this law of recompense there is mercy in the educational process therein ensured (see Ps. lxii. 12). There is a wide difference between a fatherly correction and the inflict.1.on of a legal penalty. It is the former which God metes out towards his people, Their relation to him is one of grace, not of bare law. VI. Let us rejoice that mercy will regulate the mode, the time, and the result of the chastisement. 'J.'he mode: "Their power is gone," i.e. their false props are destroyed. The time: "He will repent himself," i.e. he will not be wrath for ever; when the infliction hns answered its end, he will change his dealings. Though God never changes a plan, he may plan a change. The result : "He will be merciful unto his land," etc., i.e. he will be propitious. When his people are brought back from their wander- ings, he will "cover" ail their sin in eternal forgetfulness. VII. Let us rejoice in the clear and perfect discrimination which will mark all the Divine dealings with his people and with his adversaries; ver. 43, "vengeance-mercy." Both Corm part of God's governmental methods. How can it be otherwe in a world of sin ? The perfections of Jehovah guarantee that neithe, will infringe on the other. 'l'enderuess will never weaken vengeanco. Vengeance will never lessen tenderness. God alone knows the absolutely perfect ndjustmeut. VIII. Let us rejoice that the eye of the seer beholds brightness in the far distance. The gloom does but intervene; it does not cover tho whole canopy of heave □, nor darken all the outlook. " Light is sown for the righteous." "Joy cometh in the morning" (ver. 43). Let all these several particulars be woven together, and they will make one glorious pattern-at the sight of which we may well shout aloud for joy. Learn-I. In such a review of the methods and outcome of God's providential denlinas only those who are at pence with God through our Lord Jesus Christ are in a positio~ to understand them. Enmity cannot understaud love. And where men arc 1 The Hebrew has not the word "with." It reads," Rejoice, all ye nations-his people.'' Is it not possible that here tho aged law~iver's propb~tio eye was gifted ~ith superuo.turnl strength, and that he foresaw 11 time when "1111 n11tions should come lD, and ma.kc one uadi vid~d fold '' ? ri12 THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [err. xxxu. 1-5~
'' enemies in their mind by wicked ,vorks," they nrc certain to misunderstand God's n ,tnrc, anrl to misinterpret his ways. Man'sfir.,t rluty is to repent of sin l\nd obey G,,d. Till he <loes this the mysteries of G,,d will not be unveiled to him. 2. When II'<' un,krsland son e':11ing of the rcdempLion which is in Christ Jesus thou the true l,c'y to tbe interpretat.ion of providence is in our hands (Hom: viii. 34),' llence wo cnn '.: rcjuice in ~he Lord" (Ps. xxxiii. 1; Phil. iii. l i i,·. 4;. P~. xcvii. 1; xcvi.; xcvi~i.). "· l I: prop()1t1on to. th~ greatness of the love ~vlnch .furmshes the key for unlocking prnndentrnl mystenes 1s the greatness of the sm which turns away from and finally r,·jPcts Goel. (Sec the me of this paragraph in Heb. x. 30, 31.) However deep the glnom which Moses rlepicts, he sees a rim of golden f?_lory in the horizon, as if anothor ,fopensation were to follow. But the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews sees no after. li,c:lit for those who turn away from Christ. "For if wo sin wilfully after wo have rt'Ccil'c<l the knoll'lc<lgc of the truth, there rcmaineth no moro sacrifice for sins, bnt a CL'rlain frnrful looki~g for of jurlgment and fiery inrlignation, which shall dnvour the adn•rrnncs .•.• It 1s a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." 1'he c"nle,t of the sinner with God must end in the guilty one's icrnominious nnd hopeless d<'r<'at : Amos iv. 12, "Because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel."