V ers. 40, 41.-The sin of trying to malu terms with God, " The people asked, and l,e brought quails." The sin of this does not immediately strike the reader. It is not said that the people asked for quails. What we are to understand is, that God was graciously and wonderfully providing their staple food for the people: manna-food from the skies, spring waters from the rocks. But the people were discontented with what God, in his infinite wisdom and love, provided, and wanted to arrange with God what he should provide. They wanted to make terms with God; and that meant taking the arrangement of their affairs out of the hands of God, and managing them for themselves; or, rather, making God manage them at their dictation. From this point of view we see their sin plainly enough. God met their desires, but brought upon them a most humbling judgment through the very obtaining of what they wished. He showed them how utterly incapable they were of managing for themselves, and ordering their own lives, by giving them the meat they desired, in plenty, and letting them do what they would with it. See the consequence. Quails were wholesome enough when eaten in moderation. The people devoured them unrestrainedly; they showed no sort of moderation; and the consequence was a disease which became epidemic, and swopt away multitudes. On the monument for those dead men this inscription might well bave been put, "Never try to make terms with God." I. SEE THIS SIN IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT Goo IS. Take the attributes, and show tbat God must both know, and be able to do, what is every way wisest and best, Who understands our real needs as God does? Who controls all things as God doeij? 'l'ake the Father-name which ,ve are permitted to use for God, and show how wrong children are wlw attempt to dictate to their father as to what he shall provide. IL SEE THIS SIN IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT Goo HAD DON!':. All Jehovah's relations with his people had been gracious and considerate, They had never wanted any good thing. Defence had been close alongside danger, and provision ready for all need. Signs of distrust and murmuring were most unbecoming. III. SEE: THIS SIN IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT THE PEOPLE wm:m. Had they any right to the confidence that they knew what was good for them better than God did? 'l'Leir past should have taught them submissiveness and humility,-R. 'I'.
Vers. 1-6.-Godin history. "The mighty acts of Jehovah for his people from the first dawn of their national existence are recounted as a fitting subject for thankfulness, and as a ground for future obedience." . I. Goo HAS WONDERFULLY REVEALED HIMSELF IN IlISTORY. 1. By his marvellous work of love. To tLe Jews and to the world. Christianity a grand historical embodi- ment and exhibition of the love of God. 2. By his everlasting faithfulness. As •u.itues8ed in the fulfilment of bis promises and threatcnings to tho Jew11 and the PB. OVI. 1-48,] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 425
Christian Church. God depar~s neither from his word nor his plan, 3. By his n1ht~ous judgments upon the wiclcedness of men and nations. His righteousness is the guarantee both for bis rewards and his punishments. Doing right is as much a part of the Divine character as doing good; i.e. justice and beneficence are both necessary to a perfect being. 4. By the publication of his law to mankind. (Ver. 5.) "The judgments of bis mouth" are the utterances of his moral law which he has given by the deliverances of Moses and of Christ. II. How THIS REVELATION SHOULD BE RECEIVED. 1. With refoicinq gratitude anrl, thanksgiving. This one of the highest parts of the worship of God. Joyful gratitude is love, and when this is followed by obedience, then God is worshipped most acceptably. 2. With devout meditation. Thought, meditation, is necessary to understand the smallest fact of life; but infinitely necessary to interpret the stupendous facts of redemption. 3. With a spirit of earnest inquiry. We have only just begun to understand the Divine work, and if "the angels desire to look into these things," bow much more eager should we be to bend over them with inquiring thought I We are only in the incipient stages of spiritual intelligence.-S.