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23. Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. {a false...: Heb. balance of deceit}
Here let us search into the mind of God. Thrice does he bring home one point of practical detail. (Verses 10, 14, 23.) Yet doubtless this is not a “vain repetition.” (Matthew 6:7.) There is a “needs-be” for it. Instead of “precept upon precept, and line upon line” (Isaiah 28:10), the infinite “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” might have poured forth endless variety of instruction. We wonder not to see the apostolic ministry once and again upon the same argument of a sinner's justification before God.† And we gather from this repetition the primary importance, and the peculiarly offensive character of the doctrine. (Romans 10:2, 3.) Does not then this continuous inculcation similarly teach the great weight of the principle involved, and the innate resistance to its full operation? If we feel, that we cannot be too often gladdened with the manifestation of the grace of God; and yet shrink from a frequent and probing application of practical obligation; if we love to be told, what we owe to God on the Sabbath, but revolt from the minute detail of a week, the market and the shop; we do not receive the whole revelation of God, and therefore do not savingly receive any part of it. Ours is not “the wisdom that is from above, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17.)
Most palpable is the need for this particular illustration. The evil runs throughout our commercial system. The divers weights, though continually declared to be abominable — yea, an abomination (Chapter 11:1. Micah 6:10, 11) — to God, yet how often are they palliated, as of daily occurrence, perhaps even of necessity! But ‘the scant measure will fill up a full measure of guilt, and the light weights bring upon the soul an heavy weight of judgment.’† If Job was fearful, lest his “land and furrows cry against him” (Job 31:38), let the trader beware, lest his weights and measures bear witness against him. Cause, indeed, have we for watchfulness! What means this cumbrous and expensive machinery of administration, with all its checks and counter-checks, its fearful multiplication of oaths, but the humiliating declaration, that man cannot trust his fellow-man? Oh! let me not forget, that of all this deceit my heart is the native soil; that nothing but the culture of Divine principle keeps down these poisonous weeds, and nourishes in their room “the fruits of righteousness to the praise and glory of my God.” (Philippians 1:11.) ‘The love of God constrains his servant. God is true to him; and he will not be false to others. God is merciful to him, and he will not be unjust to others.’† This is the practical influence of the Gospel.
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