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Numbers 9:15-23

The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:15-23

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

DIVINE GUIDANCE

In this section we have, spiritually, the Divine guidance of the faithful through the wilderness of this life. Consider, therefore—

I. THAT THE THEOPHANY, OR DIVINE APPEARANCE UPON THE TABERNACLE, WAS AS A CLOUD BY DAY AND AS FIRE BY NIGHT. Even so is the Lord unto his people both shelter and illumination,—shade that they faint not, light that they wander not astray (; ; ; ; ; ).

II. THAT THE CLOUD WAS UPON THE TABERNACLE OF WITNESS, WITHOUT, AND-YET IN A MANNER CONNECTED WITH THE "TESTIMONY" ENGRAVEN UPON THE TABLES OF STONE. Even so the comfort and illumination of the faithful, albeit not of themselves but of God, are yet vitally connected with the law of holiness which is enshrined in their hearts (, ; ).

III. THAT THIS THEOPHANY WAS THE INFALLIBLE GUIDE TO THEIR MOVEMENTS, WHETHER TO REST OR TO ADVANCE. Even so the Lord himself, even God made manifest in Christ, is our only guide along the way to heaven (; ; ; ).

IV. THAT THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE CLOUD WAS APPARENTLY ARBITRARY, SOMETIMES LINGERING LONG AS THOUGH IT HAD FORGOTTEN HOW TO MOVE, SOMETIMES HASTENING ON WITHOUT REST. Even so the Divine guidance, whether of the Church or of the individual, is often unintelligible and sometimes apparently perverse: how unequal are the advances of the Church, or of the soul, towards perfection (): what need of

V. THAT THE PEOPLE WERE STRICTLY OBEDIENT IN THIS, THAT THEY JOURNEYED NOT EXCEPT BY THE DIRECTION OF THE CLOUD, BECAUSE THEY FEARED TO BE WITHOUT IT. Even so the faithful will follow him that leadeth them as obediently as they can, because away from him and his guidance they would neither be able to endure, nor to progress (; ; ; ).

VI. THAT WHEN ONCE, AND ONLY ONCE, THEY PRESUMED TO GO ON WHEN THE CLOUD BID THEM NOT, THEY MET DISASTROUS DEFEAT (, ). Even so if any will presume to go beyond the command and permission of his Lord (even in zeal) he will be overthrown of Satan (cf. b, sq.; b).

HOMILIES BY W. BINNIE

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Matthew Henry on Numbers 9:15-23Numbers 9:15-23 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryThis 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 con…The Pillar of Cloud and Fire. (b. c. 1490.)Numbers 9:15-23 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleTHE PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE. (B. C. 1490.) We have here the history of the cloud; not a natural history: who knows the balancings of the clouds? but a divine history of a cloud that was appointed to be the visible sign…The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:15-23Numbers 9:15-23 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION THE SIGNALS OF GOD (Numbers 9:15-23).The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:15Numbers 9:15 · The Pulpit CommentaryOn the day that the tabernacle was reared up. Here we are sent back again to the great day of Israel's sojourn at Sinai, when God took visible possession of his dwelling in the midst of them (Exodus 40:34). Everything a…The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:15-23Numbers 9:15-23 · The Pulpit CommentaryTHE GUIDING PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FLAME This pillar served more purposes than one; but without doubt the purpose noted here by Moses himself was that principally intended. It was the signal by which the Lord guided the ma…The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:15-23Numbers 9:15-23 · The Pulpit CommentaryTHE CLOUD UPON THE TABERNACLE There is a fuller account of the rearing of the tabernacle and the descent of the cloud upon it in Exodus 40:1-38. Note— I. THE CONNECTION OF THIS CLOUD WITH PAST EXPERIENCES. It is spoken…
commentaryMatthew Henry on Numbers 9:15-23This 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 con…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pillar of Cloud and Fire. (b. c. 1490.)THE PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE. (B. C. 1490.) We have here the history of the cloud; not a natural history: who knows the balancings of the clouds? but a divine history of a cloud that was appointed to be the visible sign…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:15-23EXPOSITION THE SIGNALS OF GOD (Numbers 9:15-23).Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:15On the day that the tabernacle was reared up. Here we are sent back again to the great day of Israel's sojourn at Sinai, when God took visible possession of his dwelling in the midst of them (Exodus 40:34). Everything a…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:15-23THE GUIDING PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FLAME This pillar served more purposes than one; but without doubt the purpose noted here by Moses himself was that principally intended. It was the signal by which the Lord guided the ma…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:15-23THE CLOUD UPON THE TABERNACLE There is a fuller account of the rearing of the tabernacle and the descent of the cloud upon it in Exodus 40:1-38. Note— I. THE CONNECTION OF THIS CLOUD WITH PAST EXPERIENCES. It is spoken…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:16So it was alway. This supernatural phenomenon was not transitory, like the glory-cloud within the tabernacle (Exodus 40:35; cf. 1 Kings 8:10), but permanent, as long at least as the Israelites were in the wilderness.Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:17When the cloud was taken up. This verse and the following to the end of the chapter are an amplification of Exodus 40:36-38 (cf. Exodus 13:21, Exodus 13:22; Nehemiah 9:12; Psalms 78:14). It would appear from Exodus 13:2…Joseph S. Exell and contributors