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I. In the first place observe THAT THERE IS NO TIME OF MAN'S LIFE WHEREIN HE MAY NOT BE TEMPTED, or may not be in danger of falling off from God and goodness; which should be AN ARGUMENT TO US FOR CONSTANT CARE AND WATCHFULNESS OVER OURSELVES. Even those whom God hath favoured in a very particular manner, and with heavenly gifts and graces, are no more secure than others, if they take not proportionable care.

II. Observe HOW DANGEROUS A THING IT IS SO MUCH AS TO ATTEND OR LISTEN TO THE CHARMS OF WEALTH AND HONOUR. For a gift will sometimes blind the wise, and a bribe will beguile their hearts. Balaam looked too much upon the golden presents, and was too sensibly struck with the sound of honour and preferments; which made him the less consider upon how slippery ground he stood, and how dangerous an affair that was to concern himself in.

III. Observe, that when God sees men leaning too far to ambitious or covetous desires, and not wise enough to take such gentle hints as might be sufficient to call them back, HE THEN LEAVES THEM TO PURSUE THEIR OWN HEARTS' LUSTS, AND LETS THEM FOLLOW THEIR OWN IMAGINATION.

IV. Observe next, HOW FOOLISH A PART A MAN ACTS, and how he exposes himself to contempt and scorn, as well as danger, WHEN HE TAKES UPON HIM TO FOLLOW HIS OWN WAY AND HUMOUR, AND WILL NOT HAVE GOD FOR HIS GUIDE.

V. Observe, further, that when once willful men have run such lengths in opposition to the will of Heaven, GOD THEN GIVES THEM UP TO A REPROBATE MIND, AND LETS THEM FALL FROM ONE DEGREE OF WICKEDNESS TO ANOTHER. So it was in Balaam.

VI. One thing more we may observe from his history, which is this: THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD MAY SOMETIMES VOUCHSAFE TO COME UPON A VERY WICKED MAN (so far as concerns the extraordinary gifts) WITHOUT REFORMING OR INFLUENCING THE SAME MAN AS TO HIS LIFE AND MORALS, in the way of ordinary operation. These two things are very distinct, and may often be separate, as in Balaam at that time, and in Judas afterwards.

(D. Waterland, D. D.)

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KJV: And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

WEB: Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.