The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 78

Ycrs. 5-9.-Nationa7 g1·eatness deJ)endent on obedience to God. In theee vcrsce wo ba,~ a continuatio~ o_r the add_ross of Moses to the people. He had previously reminded them of mc1dcnts which had occurred. He hero points out to them tho a(h·antagcous position they arc privileged to occupy, and shows them how to maiutaiu and perpetuate it. He reminds them of the following points :-1. 'l'hat theirs was the very spl'cial pri,ilcge of having God nigh unto them a.s the Lord their God (see also vers. 32-34). 2. That they would occupy a prominent place among the nations round about (cf. Exod. ix. 16; xv. 14; Numb. xiv. 13-21; eh. xxviii. 10). 3. '!'hat the corner-stone of their national life and honour was the worship of God and the practice of righteousness. Their" statutes and judgments" were characterized by this S['ecial mark-they were righteous above those of any other nation 1 (vcr. 8). 4-. 'l'hat the carrying out into action of these precepts was their only wise course (ver. 6). 5. That such wisdom would be their true greatness, and such greatness would win them regard and honour from surrounding peoples (ver. 6). [This was actually the case to a ,·cry large extent. Our space will not allow us even to touch on the matter here; but careful research will show the student how Israel's greatness bas manifested itself in the influence exerted by them in modifying the religion, philosophy, litera- ture, politics, i11~tit,utions, and moral judgments of the world. First, among tho Egyptians, Canaanites, and Pbccnicians; and then among the Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, and Homans. See Wines, Gale, Stillingfleet, and others.] 6, 'l'bat it behoves them to" keep and do" these precepts, to retain them in their heart, to band them down to their children, and to take constant care of themselves. In turning all this to pulpit use for modern times, observe- !. 'l'rrEnE AI:E CERTAIN PRINCIPLES, TllE APPLICATION OF WHICH WILL SECURE THE -:·nuE GREAT:1-.:ss OF A PEOPLE. It is becoming to a true patriot to think of bis country as being renowned among the nations of the earth. Jehovah evidently meant the people to be moved by such an ambition. It is far more healthful to direct natural desires into a right channel than to try to suppress them. Let e. man cherish the most fervent wish to see his country unsurpassed among the people. God promises this as the result of his blessing. Thou shalt be "the bead, and not the tail." But observe: No con- spicuousness is so much to be desired as that arising from wisdom and understanding. The prominence which arises from moral influence is that alone which is worth striving after. Any influence by which we help to lift up other nations in virtue and power, is worth infinitely more than that which comes of martial valour, or diplomatic tactics, or such supremacy over a people as shall simply make them stand amazed at the length of our purse, or the precision and deadly fire of our arms. To be known as the wisest people, so that others seek in friendly emulation to learn from us-this is an eminence any patriot well may desire for the land he loves. But observe: 'J.'his wilt depend on the amount of moral culture in a people, i.e. on the degree of clearness with which a people see what iR right, on the measure of force they put forth in the pursuit of it, and on the firmness with which they insist on the right being paramount to any consideratiol:!8 of power, expediency, or gain. "The throne shall be established in righteousness."' "Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." Not only in the individual, the family, and the social life must righteousness lie the chief corner-stone of a common weal, but in those acts in which a man has to play the part of a citizen, and in which a nation has to do with other nations. Higbt- eousness may not be eliminated from politics, nor may it play a subordinate part. lcniversal, eternal, unchangeable, are the laws of righteousness, and by whomsoever they are violated-by individuals, families, Churches, or nations-such violation will surely be followed oy remorse and shame, The truest form of moral culture is loyalty to tluJ Divine Being and his commands. No nation ever has or ever can thrive without the recognition of a Great Supreme. It is only the fool, the "nabal," the withered one, who 1 Should the difficulty here suggest itself, whether the comme.nd to exterminnte the <:~,.,umites we.a rigbt, see the suggtstions in I-lomily on eh. i. 1-8, by wny of reply. Vil, IV, 1-24,] THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY.