The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 544

Vers. 8-11.-The priestly tr{be. The abuse of the priestly office has brought the name of priest into contempt.. Best things, when corrupt, become the worst. Sour milk nnd·rotten grapes and stained snow are things most obnoxious. Yet a true priest is the nohlcst forru of man-the groatest benefactor of his species. A pompous hedizcned, arrogant ecclesiastic, is not a true priest, God's priest is meek, self-forget: ful, saint]\,, Christlike. I. PURITY AND CONSECRATION ARB THE ESSENTIAL QUALIFI0ATIONB FOR THE PRIEST• HOOD. Le,i is here described as "thy holy one." This was God's icleal, though nllvor folly realized except in Christ. If there was not perfect purity of character, there was the nascent germ within-the inner yea.ruing and desire after holiness. Levi was the rude type, the rough outline of the perfect priest. •.A further qualificatiou was con- secration. This personal righteousness was to be practical. It was required to be actirnly devoted to the service of God. Regard for God was to dominate regard for earthly relatives. When called to God's service, the Levite was to regard his parents as if he had them not; he was to forget his brethren and his father's house; yea be must love his children as though he loved them not. God first; every one els~ must find a subordinate place (ver. 9). Here we have tbe forecast of Christ's axiom, "' He that lovcth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me." Further, lhis character was a tested one. To an office so responsible, God does not admit a novice. Mere innocence is not a qualification. There must be tried and tested character- character tried in the furnace of temptation. So wit-h respect to this tribe of Levi ; him "thou didst prove at Massah," with him "thou didst strive at the waters of Meri bah.'' II. PRIESTLY CONSECRATION 1B A CO:!-'DITION FOR RECEIVWG REVELATION FROM GOD. " Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one.'' .Although it is confessedly difficult to determine precisely what the Urim and the Thummim were, it is obvious that it was God's ancient method for revealing his will to Israel. In emergencies, whether personal or national, it was the practice to ask counsel of God by means of the Urim and 'l'hummim. It is a necessity that there should be internal fitness in order to receive and transmit the will of God. Light can only circulate through a fitting medium. Music can only be transmitted by a specific conductor. .As it" is in the natural world, so in the spiritual, only the pure in heart can see God. His will is revealed only to the dutiful. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him." On this account, God's piiests have often been God's prophets; e.g. Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Samuel, and John the Baptist. Moses too belonged to the tribe of Le,i. III. PRIESTLY CONSECRATION INCLUDES SERVICE GoDWARD AKD lllANWABD. (Ver. 10.) Every true priest is a mediator between God and men. He receives of God and imparts to men; be receives from men and presents unto God. The onlr perfect Me~tor is the " Son of the Highest;" but, in a humbler sphere, earthly priests are also mediators. They receive God's Law from the fountain of bis lips, o.nd they convey it unto their brethren. Every real teacher is a real mediator. He delivers unto others that wl,ich he has first received. The priest bas also a service to perform Godward. He bring~ human offerings before the MosL High-the offerings of gratitude and praise. But men have sinned, and this sad fact must be recognized. 'l'hey stand in urgent need of Divine mercy. Hence substantial proofs of penitence and confession are required. God has a !)roper and prescribed method for conveying his mercy. He will be approached in the way of sacrifice, and it is part of the priest's vocation to presez:t " whole burnt sacrifice upon God's altar." IV. CoHPLETE CONSECRATION ENSURES COMPLETE SALVATION. Salvation is many- sided; it is negative and positive. It embraces deliverance from every evil, prese!lt e.nd future ; it em braces every good that can enrich and ennoble the man. Wh1 OU, XXXIII, 1-29,] THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 661