The Covenant in its Relation to Nations and Individuals
J. M. Gibson, D. D. Leviticus 27:34 These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai. The last chapter of the book is taken up with directions for individual worship, on the details of which we cannot enter; but this general thought is suggested, that though the nation as a whole may lose its covenant standing, the way is always open for individuals. There is much comfort in this thought, in view of such dark times as those to which the prophetical part of the preceding chapter points. The door of mercy is never shut, however dark and degenerate the times may be. However wickedness may abound in the world, and coldness and deadness in the Church, God will always have His witnesses, and they will always have their opportunities. This word is never changed, "Whosoever will, let him come." In all times religion in the last resort must be an individual matter between the soul and God. No man can be saved in a crowd; but neither can any man be lost in a crowd. And sometimes, when the great multitude seems to carry all before it, God still may have His seven thousand men, known to Him alone, who have brought their individual offerings to Him, and "never bowed the knee to Baal." Remember the comfort that was given to Daniel, when his spirit was ready to faint in the prospect of the dark days which the prophetic vision had disclosed. "Go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." "Go thou thy way" — in times of apostasy and darkness, it is for the individual believer to leave the destinies of the world and of the Church in the hands of Him who "doeth all things well," and seek only to be faithful to his own duty. As for others: "shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" And as for thee, "thou shalt rest" — there is the fulfilment of the Sabbath and all the sabbatic series — "and stand in thy lot at the end of the days" — there is the fulfilment of the jubilee and all the eighth day series. Amid all the secularities and unbelief and disobedience of the times, let us seek to maintain communion with God, and bring our individual offerings, however "singular" they be, and we shall certainly find that "the joy of the Lord is our strength," and that His thoughts of love expressed in the feasts of the old covenant will be fulfilled for us, and then at the end of the days we shall enter on our sabbath of rest, and our jubilee of joy eternal. (J. M. Gibson, D. D.). Parallel Verses KJV: These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai. WEB: These are the commandments which Yahweh commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai.