Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Numbers
Book: Numbers
Chapter: 9
Overview:
Of the
Passover.
(1-14) The removals of the Israelites.
(15-23)
1-14 God gave particular orders for the keeping of this
Passover, and, for aught that appears, after this, they kept
No
Passover till they came to
Canaan, Jos 5:10. It early showed
that the ceremonial institutions were not to continue always, as
So soon after they were appointed, some were suffered to sleep
for many years. But the ordinance of the
Lord's
Supper was not
thus set aside in the first days of the
Christian Church,
although those were days of greater difficulty and distress than
Israel knew in the
Wilderness; nay, in the times of
Persecution,
the
Lord's
Supper was celebrated more frequently than afterward.
Israelites in the
Wilderness could not forget the deliverance
out of
Egypt. There was danger of this when they came to
Canaan.
Instructions were given concerning those who were ceremonially
unclean, when they were to eat the
Passover. Those whose minds
and consciences are defiled
By Sin, are unfit for
Communion with
God, and cannot partake with comfort of the
Gospel Passover,
till they are cleansed
By true
Repentance and
Faith. Observe
with what trouble and concern these men complained that they
were kept back from
Offering to the
Lord. It should be a trouble
to us, when
By any occasion we are kept back from the
solemnities of a
Sabbath or a sacrament. Observe the
deliberation of
Moses in resolving this case. Ministers must ask
counsel of
God's mouth, not determine according to their own
fancy or
Affection, but according to the
Word of God to the best
of their knowledge. And if, in difficult cases, time is taken to
spread the matter before
God By humble, believing
Prayer, the
Holy
Spirit assuredly will direct in the good and right way.
God
gave directions in this case, and in other similar cases,
explanatory of the
Law of the
Passover. As those who, against
their minds, are forced to absent themselves from
God's
ordinances, may expect the favours of
God's
Grace under their
affliction,
So those who, of choice, absent themselves, may
expect
God's wrath for their
Sin. Be not deceived:
God is not
mocked.
15-23 This
Cloud was appointed to be the visible sign and
symbol of
God's presence with
Israel. Thus we are taught to see
God always near us, both night and
Day. As long as the
Cloud
rested
On the
Tabernacle,
So long they continued in the same
place. There is
No time lost, while we are waiting
God's time.
When the
Cloud was taken up, they removed, however comfortably
they were encamped. We are kept at uncertainty concerning the
time of our putting off the earthly
House of this
Tabernacle,
that we may be always ready to remove at the command of the
Lord. It is very safe and pleasant going when we see
God before
us, and resting where he appoints us to
Rest. The leading of
this
Cloud is spoken of as signifying the guidance of the
blessed
Spirit. We are not now to expect such tokens of the
Divine presence and guidance; but the promise is sure to all
God's spiritual
Israel, that he will guide them
By his counsel.
Ps 73:24, even unto
Death, Ps 48:14. All the children of
God
shall be led
By the
Spirit of
God, Ro 8:14. He will direct the
paths of those who in all their ways acknowledge him, Pr 3:6.
At the commandment of the
Lord, our hearts should always move
and
Rest, saying,
Father, thy will be done; dispose of me and
Mine as thou pleasest. What thou wilt, and where thou wilt; only
let me be thine, and always in the way of my duty. In applying
general precepts to particular circumstances, there should be
good counsel and fervent
Prayer. When any undertaking is
evidently wrong, or doubtfully right, and yet the mind leans
that way, in such a case "the moving of the
Cloud," as men
sometimes miscall it, is generally
No more than a
Temptation
Satan is permitted to propose; and men fancy they are following
the
Lord, when they are following their own wayward
inclinations. The record of his
Mercy will conduct us with
unerring
Truth, through
Christ, to
Everlasting peace. Follow the
Pillar of the
Cloud and of
Fire. Lay the
Bible to
Heart, and
receive with
Meekness the ingrafted
Word, which is able to save
your souls.