CHAPTER XXIII.

Q. Verse 4.-Show that the first clause of this verse accords with the feeling and experience of the people of God in all ages.

A. This expression of Abraham was undoubtedly descriptive of his own feeling and experience in regard both to his sojourn "in the land of promise, as in a strange country," and to the term of his sojourn on earth. He was emphatically a stranger among the children of Heth, in whose idolatry he neither sympathized nor participated; while they, on their part, were practically strangers to the worship of the one true God. But it was not in this limited sense alone that Abraham styled himself a stranger and a sojourner. "For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." (Heb. xi. 14-16.) By the Levitical law the Lord makes this feeling binding upon all the descendants of Abraham, even after they should be in possession of the land of promise: "The land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me"; (Lev. XXV. 23) and accordingly we find this sentiment and conviction expressed by David in the very moment when he and his people rejoiced together before the Lord over the magnificent provision which they had been permitted to make for the building of the temple: "Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on earth are as

a shadow, and there is none abiding." (1 Chron. xxix. 14, 15.) In Ps. xxxix. 12 this acknowledgment is most touchingly repeated; and where the actual acknowledgment is not to be found, the experience of this truth may be traced in the history of all God's servants. St. Peter twice uses the same form of speech as did Abraham and David. In the first instance he exhorts us to " pass the time of our sojourning here in fear;" and in the second he beseeches us, strangers and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." (1 Pet. i. 17; and ii. 11.)

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This is indeed the true, practical use which it behoves us to make of that solemn conviction which the passing incidents of every day are well calculated to bring home to our minds. Continually do those incidents remind us that "here we have no continuing city." Continually do we see some fellow-pilgrim, whose pious care it has been to "seek one to come,' (Heb. xiii. 14) entering the promised land through the gates of the grave, and so passing on triumphantly to that "city which hath foundations, (even the triune foundations of adopting, atoning, and sanctifying grace) whose builder and maker is God." (Heb. xi. 10.) Woe unto those with whom "the day goeth away, and the shadows of the evening are stretched out," (Jer. vi. 4) while yet they "lay up treasure for themselves, and are not rich towards God;" while yet they say unto their souls, "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." (Luke xii. 15. 21.) Of such it is written, "When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish." (Prov. xi. 7.)

Q. Verses 5-20.-What is the instruction to be gathered from this interview between Abraham and the children of Heth?

A. We may gather from it some valuable lessons of humility, courtesy, liberality, and justice. Abraham was, (according to their own acknowledgment) "a

mighty prince" among the children of Heth, and he must have been fully conscious of his own superior privileges as the favoured servant and friend of God. Yet it is twice written in the narrative, that he "bowed himself down to the people of the land." They, on their part, conducted themselves with an equal degree of humility, courtesy, and liberality; offering, but not rudely pressing upon him, a free gift of the land, and at length permitting him to have it (as he desired) at its estimated value.

It is by the exercise of similar graces of character that Christians are permitted to "adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things;" (Titus ii. 10,) and innumerable are the exhortations of the Gospel to this effect: "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." (Rom. xii. 10.) "In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." (Phil. ii. 3, 4.) We might multiply references such as these, but one more shall, in this place, suffice: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you." (Phil. iv. 8, 9.)

CHAPTER XXIV.

Q. Verses 1-6.-What practical lesson is conveyed by the anxiety of Abraham concerning his son's marriage

A. It teaches us that the children of God may not choose their nearest and dearest connexions from among those who are aliens to Him: a lesson which is thus explicitly taught by St. Paul, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Cor. vi. 14-18.)

Q. Verse 12.-Show from this, and other scripturak examples, in what manner the believer ought to commence all his undertakings.

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A. The believer should commence all his undertakings in the same prayerful spirit that Eliezer did, saying, from the heart, "O Lord God, I pray thee send me good speed this day." Like David, he should go forth, "in the strength of the Lord God;" (Ps. Ixxi. 16) and, like Solomon, confess, "I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in." (1 Kings iii. 7.) So little, indeed, are we qualified, or able to choose our own path in life, or even to follow out that which God's providence appoints for us, without his aiding and directing presence, that we should pray earnestly to be kept back from any way wherein we may not hope to recognize it. If we thus faithfully commit our way unto Him, and go forth upon our daily path of duty, in the spirit of humility, submission, and faith, it is not possible that any overwhelming bitterness of disappointment can meet us there. Some check, indeed, to our own

preconceived desires may and must often occur; but this will be but the blessed realization of that most blessed prophecy, "Though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." (Isa. xxx. 20, 21.)

All the appointments of the Lord, for his believing children, proceed equally from his wisdom and his love. They may be (and very often they are) painful to the flesh and trying to the spirit; but the true child of God knows that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps;" (Jer. x. 23) and he also knows that "all things work together for good to them that love God." (Rom. viii. 28.)

Q. Verse 26.-In what spirit ought we to receive temporal mercies ?

A. In a spirit of thankful humility; bowing down the head and worshipping the Lord. We are unworthy of any of the mercies vouchsafed to us; and it is only through the free grace of God's adopting love, that we are permitted to look up to Him as our Father. But, unworthy though we be, we are the objects of his unceasing care. All our blessings flow from Him; and it should therefore be the habitual movement of our hearts to turn towards Him in thankfulness, and to bow down before Him in grateful acknowledgment upon the receipt of every ordinary as well as extraordinary blessing of our lives.

Q. Verses 14, 44.-What instruction may be gained from the remarkable repetition of the word appointed, in these verses?

A. The example of Eliezer, as it is here recorded, agrees well with the declaration of the prophet, "In the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited