"The spirits of just men"—The words are expressive, plainly implying that none who allow themselves in injustice are the children of God —that all the saints will eventually be found, to be "Israelites indeed in whom there is no guile."
Thus did Balaam instruct Balak, or remind him of what God required. Balak did not regard him. He could not be persuaded to make such sacrifices as these. He would give all the treasures of his kingdom, and even the fruit of his body, to procure the favor of God; but to sacrifice his corruptions, and put on the temper of a saint!—These were hard requirements—he must be excused! Therefore did he dismiss his instructor, who hitherto had "spoken only the word which God had put into his mouth"—and went away though he went sorrowing!
The same is the temper of too many others. We may do much which God requires, may even go beyond and do much which he doth not require, and yet be nothing in religion. There must be the spirit and temper of true religion. There can be no commutation—Nothing will be accepted as a substitute. We must do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God, or have no part in him. Nothing without it will be accepted; not even "giving the body to be burned."
People may also have a good speculative acquaintance with religion and yet remain devoid of it. Such cases sometimes occur. Such an one occurred in him who spake so well in our text. Balaam appears to have had a perfect knowledge of the nature of religion; to have understood what it was and wherein it consisted. He was sensible also of the importance of being found at last to have lived under the influence of it. Therefore when looking forward to the period of his dissolution did he utter that earnest wish or prayer—"Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." Yet he was not a good man! his knowledge resided in his head: It never reached his heart. "He loved the wages of unrighteousness;" lived and died under the government of depravity and wickedness! He dared not indeed to go in direct opposition to the letter of the divine command—dared not curse Israel with his lips, though he longed to do it, and wished the curse to fall upon them, while he was blessing them and forefilling their future greatness. But he dared privately to advise Balak "to cast a stumbling block before them"—To send among them the women of Moab, and seduce them to uncleanness and idolatry, in order to bring the curse of heaven upon them! His advice was followed and partly succeeded! Not to procure a victory for Moab, but to bring the judgments of God upon Israel; twenty four thousands of whom fell by the pestilence which was sent to punish "their sin the matter of Peor." And more tragical events would probably have followed, had not Phinebas stood up and executed vengeance on some of the principal offenders, and thus turned away the anger of the Lord from his offending people. [69]
Who can contemplate these things without astonishment! Who consider the character and conduct of Balaam and not be amazed! That a man so instructed respecting the divine character, the nature of religion, and the consequences which will follow human conduct here, should dare to set himself deliberately to evade the divine law, as wicked and artful men do human laws, surprises and confounds us! Yet so it certainly was in the case before us!
We are not left ignorant of the consequences: To him the "end of those things was death," eternal death, for he died in rebellion against God. And he seems to have anticipated the event; when speaking of the divine being, the true God and Redeemer, he breaks out into that language—"I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not nigh."
We can form no judgment of a person's moral state by his speculative knowledge of God and religion. Knowledge in divine things is important; on many accounts it is so; but it does not ensure goodness of heart, without which we cannot be saved; we may have "all knowledge," yet perish in our sins. So it happened to Balaam, and probably to others beside him. "If ye know these things happy are ye, if ye do them."
But we are chiefly concerned at home—to know our own state. Do we do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God? If these are found upon us, happy are we; but if any of them are habitually wanting to us, we "are yet in our sins, and the wrath of God abideth on us."
If any are disposed to inquire with Balak, Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Let them attend to the answer given by Balaam—if we add, reliance on divine grace in Christ no better answer can be given.