Gods Three Arrows, Section 24
§. 24. Of the expoſition and obſervations of the laſt part of the 45. Verſe.
NVMB. 16. 45.And they fell upon their faces.
A Remedy for the fore-mentioned calamity is here ſet out in the practice of Moſes and Aaron. For this Relative THEY hath reference to them two eſpecially. For these rebels aVerſ. 41, 42, 43, 46, 47.murmured, and gathered themſelves againſt theſe two: and they two are ſaid to come before the Tabernacle: and after this theſe two take order for cure of this Plague. bSee more of theſe in the Churches Conqueſt on Exo. 17. 9, 10.Moſes was the ſupreme Governour and Prince over this people. Aaron was their chiefe Prieſt.
By falling upon their faces, is meant their humble and hearty prayer to God for this people. cMetonymia Adjuncti, vel Signi.The outward geſture whereby their inward intention was ſet out is put for prayer. It is in effect all one as if he had ſaid, They prayed. But yet this Tropicall ſpeech is not without its emphaſis. For it implieth,
1. A reverend reſpect to the Divine Majeſty. For of old when men would teſtifie reverence to excellent perſons, at ſight of them they fell on their face, as dRuth 2. 10.Ruth before Booz, e1 Sam 25. 23.Abigail before Dauid. Thus did fGen. 17. 3. 17Abraham teſtifie his reverence to the All-ſufficient God.
2. An holy aſtoniſhment at, and admiration of ſurpaſſing excellency and glory. In which reſpect gEzek. 1. 29.Ezekiel fell on his face.
3. A feare, which at the apprehenſion of Gods terror, and our wretchedneſſe perplexeth the ſoule. So *Dan. 8. 17.Daniel was afraid, and fell on his face.Luke 5. 8.
4. An humble mind in regard of ones ſelfe. This h1 Sam. 20. 41.David manifeſted when he fell on the ground before Ionathan. And i1 Cor. 14. 25.they that are effectually wrought upon by the Word, and have the ſecrets of their heart made manifeſt, in humility falling downe on their faces worſhip God.
5. Shame and confuſion of face for great provocations of Gods wrath. k1 Chr. 21. 16.This moved David, when he ſaw the fierceneſſe of Gods wrath for his great ſinne, to fall downe on his face before the Lord.
6. Earneſt and ardent deſire of obtaining what we pray for. In this reſpect lIoſ. 7. 6.Ioſhua and all the Elders of Iſrael fell to the earth upon their faces, before the Arke of the Lord.
7. An agony whereinto one is caſt thorow ſome inward trouble of ſoule, or ſome outward fearefull ſight. In the former reſpect mMat. 26. 38, 39.Chriſt fell on his face and prayed. In the latter reſpect nDan 10. 9.Daniel lay on his face as in a dead ſleepe.
Moſt of theſe may be applied to Moſes and Aarons falling on their faces here in this text. For oVerſ. 42.The glory of the Lord appeared: and the wrath of the Lord was manifeſted: and the people had committed a great ſinne; and a Plague was already begun, therefore without all queſtion, in reverence to the Divine Majeſty, in admiration of his glory, in ſome feare, yet in an humble ſubmiſſion to God, in ſhame of the peoples in gratitude, and in earneſt deſire of pardon for their ſinne, and removall of the judgement, they fell upon their faces. So as this geſture implieth an extraordinary manner of prayer.
Sixe Obſeruations hence ariſe: whereof three concerne the action performed, and three the Perſons that performed it.
I. aSee The Saints Sacrifice on Pſal. 116. 4.Prayer is a ready remedy for a deſperate calamity. Such a calamity was the peoples here. And this remedy is here with approbation uſed.
II. bSee The whole armour of God, on Eph. 6. 18. §. 95, &c.In extraordinary need extraordinary prayer muſt be uſed. The ſinne of the people and the threatning of God ſhewes the extraordinary need. Their geſture in falling on their faces, argues their extraordinary prayer.
III. cSee The Churches Conqueſt on Exo. 17. 11. §. 29.Inward devotion of the ſoule must be manifeſted by an anſwerable outward dispoſition of body: Such a diſpoſition was this falling on their faces.
IIII. dSee the whole armour of God, on Eph. 6. 18. §. 36, &c.Prayer is to be made for others in their neceſſities. God bids theſe that fell on their faces get them away, that they might be ſafe, yet they for them that were in danger, fell on their faces.
V. eIbid §. 51.Prayer is to be made for ſuch as wrong us. This people for whom the prayer is here powred out, murmured, and gathered themſelves together against Moſes and Aaron, who here in their behalfe fell on their faces.
VI. Magistrates and Ministers are eſpecially to pray See the Churches Conqueſt on Exo. 17. 12 §. 40.for averting publique judgements. Such were they who here fell on their faces. Moſes was a Prince, Aaron a Prieſt.
Theſe Obſervations are all of them worthy our due obſervation: but I have handled them elſewhere, as the places quoted in the margent, ſhew.