If you come across a bird’s nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young. You may take the young, but be sure to let the mother go, so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life. Deut 22: 6,7
I. The minuteness of divine law is here very beautifully illustrated. God does not finish great breadths of work and leave the details to be filled by other hands. He who guards planets, guards bird's nests, though in the latter case His defence may be broken down by wanton hands. Our own life to be exact in detail. Not enough to keep the law in great aspects which appeal to the public eye, and by keeping which a reputation is sometimes unjustly gained, but by attention to minute and hardly discernable features of character which indicate the real quality of the man.
II. The beneficence of divine law is illustrated by protection of bird's nests. God kind in little as well as great things. Love is one whether shown in redemption of the race, in numbering hairs of our head, ordering our steps or giving His beloved sleep. All law benificent; the law of restriction as well as liberty. Man to have dominion over fowls of the air, but dominion to be exercised in mercy. Power uncontrolled by kindness becomes despotism. Power belongs to God—unto God also belongs mercy; this is completeness of dominion, not only a hand to rule, but a heart to love.
III. A prohibition of this kind shows that there is a right and wrong in everything. A right way of appropriating bird's nests and a way equally wrong. Morality goes down to every root and fibre of life. In offering a salutation, opening a door, uttering a wish, writing a letter, in every possible exercise of thought and power.
IV. The principle of the prohibition admits of wide application in life. He who wantonly destroys a bird's nest, may one day cruelly break up a child's home. We cannot stop wantonness when we please. Little tyrannies of childhood explain the great despotisms of mature life. Kindness an influence that penetrates the whole life, having manifold expression, upward, downward, and laterally, touching all human beings, all inferiors and dependants, and every harmless and defenceless life.
V. Beware of the possibility of being merely pedantic in feeling. A man may be careful of his horse and cruel to his servant. Some would not on any account break up a bird's nest, yet would allow a poor relation to die of hunger. What with all carefulness for dumb animals, if we think little of breaking a human heart by sternness or neglect!
VI. Kindness to the lower should become still tenderer to the higher. This, Christ's argument in bidding us behold the fowls of the air, that in their life we may see our Father's kindness. "Are ye not much better than they?" If careful for cattle, "How much is a man better than a sheep?" How does the case stand with us, who have completer inheritance of liberty, who have passed from the latte the spirit? We are no longer true, noble and kind, because of literal direction guarded by solemn sanctions, but because the Holy Ghost has sanctified us, and made our hearts his dwelling place.
—Dr. Parker.
I. The minuteness of divine law is here very beautifully illustrated. God does not finish great breadths of work and leave the details to be filled by other hands. He who guards planets, guards bird's nests, though in the latter case His defence may be broken down by wanton hands. Our own life to be exact in detail. Not enough to keep the law in great aspects which appeal to the public eye, and by keeping which a reputation is sometimes unjustly gained, but by attention to minute and hardly discernable features of character which indicate the real quality of the man.
II. The beneficence of divine law is illustrated by protection of bird's nests. God kind in little as well as great things. Love is one whether shown in redemption of the race, in numbering hairs of our head, ordering our steps or giving His beloved sleep. All law benificent; the law of restriction as well as liberty. Man to have dominion over fowls of the air, but dominion to be exercised in mercy. Power uncontrolled by kindness becomes despotism. Power belongs to God—unto God also belongs mercy; this is completeness of dominion, not only a hand to rule, but a heart to love.
III. A prohibition of this kind shows that there is a right and wrong in everything. A right way of appropriating bird's nests and a way equally wrong. Morality goes down to every root and fibre of life. In offering a salutation, opening a door, uttering a wish, writing a letter, in every possible exercise of thought and power.
IV. The principle of the prohibition admits of wide application in life. He who wantonly destroys a bird's nest, may one day cruelly break up a child's home. We cannot stop wantonness when we please. Little tyrannies of childhood explain the great despotisms of mature life. Kindness an influence that penetrates the whole life, having manifold expression, upward, downward, and laterally, touching all human beings, all inferiors and dependants, and every harmless and defenceless life.
V. Beware of the possibility of being merely pedantic in feeling. A man may be careful of his horse and cruel to his servant. Some would not on any account break up a bird's nest, yet would allow a poor relation to die of hunger. What with all carefulness for dumb animals, if we think little of breaking a human heart by sternness or neglect!
VI. Kindness to the lower should become still tenderer to the higher. This, Christ's argument in bidding us behold the fowls of the air, that in their life we may see our Father's kindness. "Are ye not much better than they?" If careful for cattle, "How much is a man better than a sheep?" How does the case stand with us, who have completer inheritance of liberty, who have passed from the latte the spirit? We are no longer true, noble and kind, because of literal direction guarded by solemn sanctions, but because the Holy Ghost has sanctified us, and made our hearts his dwelling place.
—Dr. Parker.
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