The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 536

Ver. 2.-A fiery Law. The fieriness of the Law, significant: 1. Of the holiness from which the Law emanated. 2. Of the fiery sanctions by which it is guarded. 3. Of the threatening aspect which it wears to sinners. 4. Of the purifying effects which it exerts in the hearts and consciences of believers.-J. 0. Ver. 3.-God's saints. - 1. Their happiness-loved of God. 2. Their safety-in God's hand. 3. Their attitude-sitting at God's feet-at the feet of God's Son (Luke x. 3, 9). (1) Willing to know God's will. (2) Seeking instruction in it. (:3) Wait- ing on God for that instruction. (4) Their duty-to receive of God's words. The receiving to be of the practical kind of hiding God's words in the heart, and going on to put them in practice (Matt. xiii. 23).-J. 0. Vers. 6, 7.-Reuben and Judah. The tribe without a destiny and the tribe with one. J. THE PRESERVATION AND Ill'CREASE OF EVERY PART OF THE CHURCH IS OF ITI'EREST TO EVERY OTHER. Reuben's sins had incurred the forfeiture of privilege. His numbers were diminishing. It had been predicted of him that he would not excel (Gen. xlix. 4). But Moses desires that his tribe should not perish. He prays for its preservation and revival. Or, on another view, he prays that, though its numbers are few, it may not utterly die out. So ought we to pray for any part of the Church that seems in a dwindling condition. II. 'fHE STRENGTH OF THE STRONG IS STILL TO BE BOUGHT FROM GoD. Judah, though strong, with great promises behind and great hopes before, was yet to recognize that his help and sufficiency were of God. That there may be strength, there must be prayer, "Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah," etc.-J. 0. Vers. 8-11.-Levi. The priestly tribe. Its curse (Gen. xlix. 7) turned into a blessing. Repentance e.nd zeal cut off the entail of a curse, or so transform it tha.t out of the very curse God evokes a blessing (cf. Exod. xxxii. 29; Ps. cvi. 31). I. THE GROUND OF THE BLESSill'G. 1. Levi's fidelity (ver. 8). "Among the faithless, faithful only he." Tlie zeal and constancy of the tribe on critical occasions had been remarkable. Learn how the wicked, returning to God and proving zealous in his service, may retrieve past forfeitures and win great honour. !al. Levi's renunciation of earthly ties (ver. 9). Christ also requires that no earthly tie be allowed to stand between his disciples and the allegiance they owe to him (Matt. x. 37). II. THE BLESSING ITSELF. 1. Great privileges were conferred. (1) Levi was to be the medium of God's revelation.~. Urim and Thummim (ver. 8). This privilege of the tribe receives its highest fulfilment in Christ-God's •• Holy One," by pre-eminence, and the Revealer of all his counsel to men. Note : The U rim and Thummim is attributed to_t'he whole tribe, equally with burning incense and offering sacrifice (vcr. 10), though 652 TIIE DOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [oil. x.txm. 1--20.