V ers. 10-17.-The memory of the wilderness of Sinai. The circumstances employed bv the Most High to make Israel a nation were of the most marvellous and romantic kinds. Psalmists and prophets, nay, even Christian apostles and deacons, looking back upon the events of early lsraelitish history, felt the fascination of the ancient story, of the emancipation from Egypt, and of the lengthened discipline of the wilderness, by which the tribes were welded into a nation and fitted for the posse~sion of the land of ·promise. . L THE GIFT OF THE LAW. Men, especially in their corporate capacity, need some- thing more than exhortation, dissuasion, sentiment. They need law. And this necessity was met, when Israel was led into the wilderness, by the giving of the Law at Sinai. In this gift must be included the ten cc;mmandments, the precepts for family and personal life, the institution of the ceremonial, sacerdotal, and sacrificial dispensation, the confirmation aI!.d sanctification of the sabbath, by their observance of which the Jews were so well known by their neighbours. This last-named institution was, how- ever, regarded by the God of Israel in a higher light-as "a sign between himself and them." The people were by these means placed under authority. Sanctions were attached to the Law, and life was assured to the obedient. IL THE REBELLION oF THE SUBJECTS. 1. The season and scene of this rebellion should be noticed ; it took place, as the prophet reminds the elders, and as the record itself informs us, in the wilderness, i.e. immediately after the great deliverance and the promulgation of the Law, and whilst the people were still dependent in an especial manner upon the bonnty and the protection of the Most High. 2. '!'he offensive form of this rebellion i, noted : "They walked not according to my statutes, and despised my jndgments "-a. course which showed their failure to appreciate the privileges bestowed upon them, and the dishonour which they dared to offer to their Deliverer and King. 3. Their inexcusable neglect of the provision made in the weekly sabbath for their true we\1-beincr. 4. Their treachery. "Their heart went after idols." IIL THE JUDGMENT ~ THE MERCY OF THE KING AND LAWGIVER. 1. The immediate punishment inflicted upon the rebellious generation was the refusal to permit them to enter upon the land of promise. 2. The forbearance and mercy of God were displayed in that he did not make an end in the wilderness of those who had rebelled against him and defied him.-T.
Vere. 18-26.-The memory of the wilderness of the wanderings. At. th!s point the transition is made from the generation who received the Law at Sma1 to the generation which followed, and to whom another probation was afforded. I. THE DIVINE LAW WAS REPUBLISHED. I!. 'l'RE REBELLION AND IDOLATRY OF THE PEOPLE WERE RENEWED. Ill. THE MOST FLAGRANT FORMS OF IDOLATROUS PRACTICE WERE ADDED TO WHAT HAD PllECEDED. In ver. 26 mention is made of the causing the firstborn to pass tbrou;;h the fire in the service of Moloch. IV. ADDITIONll AND SEVERER THREATS WERE UTTERED, In vcr. 23 threats of OH, XX. 1-10.J 'l'HE nooK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 3fi7
scnttering ancl dispersion among the heathen were added to the more general clen nncintions. V, STA'l'UTEB AND JUDOMEN'TB WERE 'l'URNED TO THE CONDEMNATION OF THn: JIEIIELLIOUB. VI. SPARING MERCY WAS AGAIN EXERCISED TO PRESEIIVE THE NATION FROM DESTRUCTION', APPLICATION. The lesson is very impressively taught in this passage that repentance o.nd o.mendmont by no means follow ns a matter of course upon either punishment or forbearance. The discipline through which Israel passed partook of both characters; yet it left the people; as a people, still disposed to rebellion againHt God, and to contempt of his Law. It is the -~pirit in which God's dealings with us are received which determines whether or not they shall issue in our highest good.-T.
Vers. 27-31.-The memory of offences in the land of promise. Notwithstanding the variety of incident and circumstance in the history of the chosen people, there was much sameuess in their experience, in their discipline, in their errorn and faults. This may account for the brevity with which the later epochs of national history are treated by the prophet in this passage. Yet there is a consciousness on his part of the aggra- vation of Israel's guilt which is apparent in the tone of this portion of this remarkable chapter. I. ISRAEL'S REBELLION AND IDOLATRY WERE AGGRAVATED BY THE FACT THAT THEY WERE PERSISTED IN NOTWITHSTANDING PAST ADMONITION AND CORRECTION, IJ, ISRAEL'S REBELLION AND IDOLATRY WERE AGGRAVATED WHKN THEY OCCURRED IN THE LAND OF PROMISE, Ill. ISRAEL'S REBELLION AND IDOLA'rRY WERE AGGRAVATED BY THEIR COEXISTENCE WITH THE SANCTUARY OF JEHOVAH, IV. ISRAEL'S REBELLION AND IDOLATRY WERE AGGRAVATED BY THEIR JUXTAPOSITION WITH THE PURE SERVIOES AND FESTIVALS OF THE •rRUE RELIGION, V, ISRAEL'S REBELLION AND IDOLATRY WERE AGGRAVATED BY THE FACT THAT THE CHOSEN PEOPLE ADOPTED THE RELIGION AND THE PRACTICES OF MORALLY INFERIOR BAOES, VJ. ISRAEL'S AGGRAVATED REBELLION AND IDOLATRY PREVENTED THEIR REPRE- SENTATIVES FROM ENJOYING THE FAVOUR AND RECEIVING THE RESPONSE OF THE LORD.-T.