The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 23

. Ver_. 19.-The divided earth. Here a m~n'.s_name is e~p_loyed to fix an important historical fnct. The word Peleg means "d1v1s10n," but 1t 1s uncertain whether allu- sion i~ _intended to th_e dis~rsion of the people from Dabe!, or a later separation of the 8_hern1t1c race to which this_ Peleg belonged. "The two races which sprang from Eber ~oon separated very widely from each . other-the one, Eber and his family, spreadrng north-westward towards llfosopotam1a and Syria; the other, the Joktanides, southward into Arabia." We dwell on the general facts of the division aaain and again, of the human race, and endeavour to understand how by this th; Divine dealings with the race are illustrated. It is important that we should apprehend what may be called the experimental character of the Divine dealinas with man. There is a true and reverent sense in which we 'may speak of God as e°xperimenting. lf it pleased him, in his infinite wisdom and goodness, to make men, autl. to entrust them with a measure of independence and free-will, then God designed to leave it to be seen how men would act under these conditions ; and he must have intended to leave his relations with them open to modification, so that he might meet their varying requirements. God is said to "repent" when he thus graciously adapts his dealings to new circumstances which man, in his self-will, may have created. Such a view of God's dealings is quite consistent with his foreknowledge. Man, in his most wilful ways, can never " take God at unawares," for he "seeth the end from the begin- ning." But he may see and know all without active interference until his own gooci time. I. MAN 1s ALONE-A SINGLE PAIR. What, may we say, is the experiment here? It is this: given every surrounding condition helpful; no others to confuse the mind or the choice; sufficient knowledge of what their God will have them do and not do; -will man use his independence aright? Will he set his will on God? Alas ! he failed, "serving the creature more than the Creator." Man's moral trial could never be set ,mder greater advantages; and it becomes evident, in the very first instance, that free-willed man's only hope rests on his receiving into his will the grace and the strength of the Spirit of his God. And this lesson is further pressed home by every experiment, whether it be made by the race, any portion of the race, or the individual, The issue is to convince us that it is "not in man that walketh to direct his steps." He must learn to say, "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." 'l'he next form of the experiment iH- IL MAN IS IN ONE GREAT SOCIETY. Virtually dwelling together, in large and ever- increasing masses. What comes of this experiment? Utter lawlessness, such wild riotings, such debasing vice, that mankind is utterly and hopelessly corrupt, and God can but cleanse the earth of their presence and their defilement. Man is no stronger for moral right when he is found in masses than when he is found alone. .Nay, aagreaation only gives man's will more terrible possibilities of evil-power to develop c~ime~ that debase to the uttermost. '.l.'he third experiment is the one which God has been pleased to continue through the long ages- III. MAN IS IN A NUMBER OF SOCIETIES, VARIOUSLY LOCATED AND VARIOUSLY RELATED. God never lets these grow too large; famine, pestilence, war, and emigration are always putting limits on excessive populations. 80 humanity repeats its moral trial under all possible natural conditions, in plains, on mountain sides, at sea-boards. etc., ever proving again and again its absolute need of the Divine strengthening of the will for the attaining of all moral good. Impress these points. I. God presides over the moral culture of not too large communities. 2. God works by the special genius with which he is pleased to endow particular nations. Illustrate by Rome, Greece, J udrea, etc. 3. God works by the mutual relations of the divided nations. Show how these are maintained in the interests of commerce. 4. God works to secure the per- manent moral unity of the race in its dependence on him, and to this end he has graciously introduced hi6 redemptive agency.-H. T. CII. 1. 1-G1.] 'l'HE FIHST BOOK OF THE CHRO~ICLES. 13