The presentation of the first fruits.
This interesting ceremony:
1. Reminded the individual that the land and its fruits were God's.
2. Required from him a devout acknowledgment of the fact, with a gift in which the acknowledgment was suitably embodied.
3. Threw him back on the recollection of God's former mercies to his nation.
4. Secured a confession and rehearsal of these from his own lips.
It served:
1. To create and deepen religious feeling.
2. To quicken gratitude.
3. To encourage free-will offerings. Two main points—
I. GOD'S MERCIES ARE TO BE GRATEFULLY REMEMBERED. These mercies are many and wonderful (Psalms 40:5). The points dwelt on in this declaration are God's fulfillments of his promises in the increase of the nation (Deuteronomy 26:5), the deliverance from Egypt (Deuteronomy 26:6-8), and the bringing of the people into the land of Canaan (Deuteronomy 26:9), part of the firstfruits of which the worshipper now presented (Deuteronomy 26:10).
We have here:
1. National mercies. Since in Israel Church and nation were one:
2. Church mercies.
3. Personal mercies.
A similar review befits every Christian. What causes of thankfulness has he, not only in the remembrance of God's loving-kindness to him personally (Psalms 40:1-4; Psalms 116:1-19), but in the review of God's dealings with his nation, and still more in the consideration of his mercies to the Church! On the one side, our noble constitution, our just laws, our civil and religious liberties, our immunity from war—the fruits of long centuries of struggle and progress. On the other side, the facts on which the Church's existence is founded—the Incarnation; Christ's life, death, resurrection, and ascension; the gift of the Spirit: and. the events of her extraordinary history—the progress she has made, God's goodness in preserving and protecting her, in raising up teachers and leaders, in purifying her by persecutions, in granting revivals, times of reformation, etc.; with the consideration of how in all promises have been fulfilled, prayers answered, deliverances vouchsafed, blessings bestowed, increase made.
II. GOD'S MERCIES ARE TO BE SUITABLY ACKNOWLEDGED.
1. By recital of them before God himself. Acknowledgment of mercies is as much a part of devotion as praise, confession, petition, or even adoration. The value of liturgical forms (within due limits) for purposes of prayer and acknowledgment, is not to be disputed. They
Like hymns, they testify to the Church's catholicity amidst diversities of creed and polity. Their disadvantage, if preponderant in worship, is that they check too much the element of spontaneity. They discourage freedom and naturalness in the expression of the heart's feelings. The best form of Church order would probably be a combination of the liturgical with the free and spontaneous elements in worship-the latter decidedly predominating.
2. By free-will offerings. These are needed more than ever. The sphere of the Church's operations is yearly widening.
3. By hospitality and clarity (Deuteronomy 26:11). Underlying all there is, of course, to be personal consecration in heart and life. It is self God wants—the love, reverence, service, devotion of self; not a mere share in self's possessions. Confession (Deuteronomy 26:3), gifts (Deuteronomy 26:10), worship (Deuteronomy 26:10), joy (Deuteronomy 26:11), have their rightful place after that, and as the outcome of it.—J.O.