What, then, was to be done in reference to the person who was unable to rise to the height of the claims set forth by the representative of divine righteousness? Hear the consolatory answer--"But if he be _poorer_ than thy estimation, then he shall present himself before _the priest_, and the priest shall value him; _according to his ability_ that vowed shall the priest value him." (Ver. 8.) In other words, if it be a question of man's undertaking to meet the claims of _righteousness_, then he must meet them; but if, on the other hand, a man feels himself wholly unable to meet those claims, he has only to fall back upon _grace_, which will take him up just as he is. Moses is the representative of the claims of divine righteousness: the priest is the exponent of the provisions of divine grace. The poor man who was unable to stand before Moses, fell back into the arms of the priest. Thus it is ever. If we cannot "_dig_," we can "_beg_;" and directly we take the place of a beggar, it is no longer a question of what we are able to _earn_, but of what God is pleased to _give_. "Grace all the work shall crown Through everlasting days." How happy it is to be debtors to grace! how happy to take, when God is glorified in giving! When man is in question, it is infinitely better to dig than to beg; but when God is in question, the case is the very reverse. I would just add that I believe this entire chapter bears, in an especial manner, upon the nation of Israel. It is intimately connected with the two preceding chapters. Israel made "a singular vow" at the foot of Mount Horeb; but they were quite unable to meet the claims of law--they were far "poorer than Moses' estimation." But, blessed be God, they will come in under the rich provisions of divine grace. Having learnt their total inability "to dig," they will not be "ashamed to beg;" and hence they shall experience the deep blessedness of being cast upon the sovereign mercy of Jehovah, which stretches, like a golden chain, "from everlasting to everlasting." It is well to be poor, when the knowledge of our poverty serves but to unfold to us the exhaustless riches of divine grace. That grace can never suffer any one to go empty away. It can never tell any one that he is too poor. It can meet the very deepest human need; and not only so, but it is glorified in meeting it. This holds good in every case. It is true of any individual sinner, and it is true with respect to Israel, who, having been valued by the lawgiver, have proved "poorer than his estimation." Grace is the grand and only resource for all. It is the basis of our salvation, the basis of a life of practical godliness, and the basis of those imperishable hopes which animate us amid the trials and conflicts of this sin-stricken world. May we cherish a deeper sense of grace, and more ardent desire for the glory.