Chapter 17
Chapter Outline
All sacrifices to be perfect, Idolaters must (1–7)
be slain.
Difficult controversies. (8–13)
The choice of a king, His duties. (14–20)Verses 1–7
No creature which had any blemish was to be offered in sacrifice to God. We are thus called
to remember the perfect, pure, and spotless sacrifice of Christ, and reminded to serve God with the
best of our abilities, time, and possession, or our pretended obedience will be hateful to him. So
great a punishment as death, so remarkable a death as stoning, must be inflicted on the Jewish
idolater. Let all who in our day set up idols in their hearts, remember how God punished this crime
in Israel.
Verses 8–13
Courts of judgment were to be set up in every city. Though their judgment had not the Divine
authority of an oracle, it was the judgment of wise, prudent, experienced men, and had the advantage
of a Divine promise.
Verses 14–20
God himself was in a particular manner Israel's King; and if they set another over them, it was
necessary that he should choose the person. Accordingly, when the people desired a king, they
applied to Samuel, a prophet of the Lord. In all cases, God's choice, if we can but know it, should
direct, determine, and overrule ours. Laws are given for the prince that should be elected. He must
carefully avoid every thing that would turn him from God and religion. Riches, honours, and
pleasures, are three great hinderances of godliness, (the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and
the pride of life,) especially to those in high stations; against these the king is here warned. The
king must carefully study the law of God, and make that his rule; and having a copy of the Scriptures
of his own writing, must read therein all the days of his life. It is not enough to have Bibles, but
we must use them, use them daily, as long as we live. Christ's scholars never learn above their
Bibles, but will have constant occasion for them, till they come to that world where knowledge and
love will be made perfect. The king's writing and reading were as nothing, if he did not practise
what he wrote and read. And those who fear God and keep his commandments, will fare the better
for it even in this world.