_Thou shalt not raise a false report._ SLANDER CHARACTERIZED, PROHIBITED, AND PUNISHED I. Slander is characterized. 1. Originating a false report. It may be from-- (1) Envy. (2) Carelessness. (3) Hasty conclusions. 2. Listening to false reports. 3. Circulating a false report. II. Slander is... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not fellow a multitude to do evil._ FOLLOWING THE MULTITUDE PROHIBITED I. Explain the nature of this precept. 1. It is here assumed that the multitude do evil. This may be inferred-- (1) From the review of past ages. (2) From the cruel persecutions which have been raised against the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thine enemy’s ox._ ON DUTIES TO ENEMIES I. That duties to enemies are enjoined (Proverbs 24:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:15). 1. It is our duty to protect the interests of our enemy. (1) If they are damaged, we should endeavour to retrieve them. (2) If they are in danger of damage, we should endeavou... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not wrest the judgment._ DUTIES OF JUDGES I. That judges should be impartial. 1. In particular towards the poor (Exodus 23:6). (1) Because the poor are most open to the oppression of the powerful. (2) Because the poor are often at a disadvantage for the want of technical knowledge o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not oppress a stranger, for ye knew the heart of a stranger._ THE LOGIC OF LAW The argument is that our conduct is to spring out of our experience; we are to go back upon our own history and consciousness for the law that shall guide us in the treatment of our fellow-men. Why, could we... [ Continue Reading ]
_The seventh year thou shalt let it rest._ THE SABBATIC YEAR This law was intended-- 1. To show the fertility of the land of promise. Every seventh year, without skill or toil, the land would produce of itself sufficient for the poor and the beasts of the field. 2. To encourage habits of thrift... [ Continue Reading ]
_On the seventh day thou shalt rest._ LABOUR AND REST I. That rest is needful--“May be refreshed.” 1. Rest is needful that the exhausted faculties may repose after past work. 2. Rest is needful that those faculties may be invigorated for future service. 3. Rest is needful that work may not beco... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be circumspect._ CIRCUMSPECTION I. In general. “In all things.” Moses is drawing to the close of these precepts, and looking back upon them, he says--“Be circumspect.” The original suggests-- 1. That we should be fully awake to the importance of the Divine commands. (1) Give them intelligent an... [ Continue Reading ]
_The feast of harvest._ THE FEAST OF HARVEST I. The instruction it communicates 1. It exhibits the wonderful power of God. 2. We have an establishment of the faithfulness and truth of God. 3. We have a manifestation of the goodness and bounty of God. 4. It displays the mercy and forbearance of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not seethe a kid._ CHERISH THE FINER INSTINCT The prohibition suggests the duty of cherishing the finer instincts of our nature. The act here forbidden could hardly be called cruelty, the kid being dead, but it was unnatural. It is beautiful to see the ancient Law inculcating this rare... [ Continue Reading ]
_To bring thee into the place which I have prepared._ LIFE’S PILGRIMAGE The angel, the way, the prepared place. It is the Divine key to the mystery of life. Life is emphatically a way. Not by the way of the sea--a prompt and easy path--but by the way of the wilderness, of old God led His pilgrims.... [ Continue Reading ]
_By little and little I will drive them out before thee._ THE GRADUAL PROCESSES OF GOD It is important, not only to see, but to love, the gradual processes of God. There is more love in doing the little thing than in doing the great thing. A great mind is never so great as when it is throwing itsel... [ Continue Reading ]
_They shall not dwell in thy land._ LESSONS 1. God is the sovereign boundmaker to all nations on the earth. 2. Among all God hath promised to set the bounds of His Church on earth. 3. God’s suppression of His adversaries is a token of His settling His Church’s habitation (Exodus 23:31). 4. No c... [ Continue Reading ]