Vers. 6-10.-.A nation's glory. I. A NATION POSSESSING Goo's WoRD IS SUPREMELY FA".o_URED. (Ver. 8.) Even to have such a Law as Israel possesse~ exalted her to a po~1t~on of unique greatness. The knowledge of the true God-light on the gr~at prmc1ples of conduct-equitable statutes-institutions adapted to promote m~tenal, moral, and spirituCll well-being. Our own nation is exceptionally favoured Ul the 70 THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. (<111, IV, 1-24,
plentiful cn_ioymcnt of religious privileges-Bil1les, churches, enbbath schools, evangel- istic agencies, Christian literature, etc., bringing the highest knowledge within the reach of the humblest; while the laws, institutions, etc., under which we live, ns the fruit of e. Christian civilization, are not surpassed by any on the enrth. God hne indecll, favoured us to an unexampled degree in every religious respect. 11. A NATION ENLIGHTENED BY GoD's VvoRD IB SUPREMELY WISE, To hnve Is much hut to be truly "a wise and understanding people," we must "keep and do" (ver. G): It is not in knowing, but in adopting, the wise course that·we show ourselves trnfy v.;se. °"'isdom is the course that conduces to the formation of e. brave, noble resolute happJ·, and contented people; and the nation that loves God's Word, fears God himself and applies the teaching he has given it in the various spheres of domestic, social, com~ mercial, and political existence, is indubitably in possession of that wisdom. It is to be regretted that the nations most peculiarly privileged do not always set that store upon their pririleges which they should do, or make a good use of them. The amount of irreligion, infidelity, and general indifference to the Word of God in our own land is a startling omen for the future. Britain's greatness will soon wane if she abandons her respect for the Bible, the sabbath, and the guiding principles of revelation. lil. A NATION ORDERING ITSELF BY GoD'S WORD IS SUPREMELY EMINENT, (Ver. 7.) Its prosperity: 1. Rests on a solid foundation. 2. Is built up under 'condition8 that ensure its permanence. 3. Is secured by a special blessing of God. And this is a matter admitting of ample historical verification. Compare: 1. Pngan nations with Christian. 2. Unbelieving nations with believing (France: Britain). 3, Roman Catholic nations with Protestant (see Laveleye on 'Protestantism and Catholicism in their bearing upon the Liberty and Prosperity of Nations'). 4. Sabbath-desecrating nations with sabbath-keeping. It will be found that the Bible-loving, Bible-obeying, sabhath-keeping nations exhibit: (1) an intellectual superiority; (2) an ethical superiority; (3) a superiority in political institutions; (4) a superiority in matedal respects (trade, commerce, wealth, etc.). IV. A NATION OBEYING Goo's WORD WILL HAVE THE SOURCE OF ITS GREATNESS AC~OWLEDGED BY OTliERS. (Ver. 6.) They will not only own to its eminence, but they will discern its true cause, and acknowledge that it springs from its religious faithfulness. Numerous testimonies of this kind exist to the source of the national greatness of our own country. Lessons-I. Value our religious privileges. 2. Seek the furtherance of religion in the community. 3. Be diligent in the training of our children (ver. 9), 4. Extend our blessings to others.-J. O.
Ver. 9.-The religious educati,on of children. 1. God's way .;(handing down the fruits of present privilege. 2. God's way of maintaining his witness in the world. 3. God's way of extending his Church. 'l'he natural law of the increase of population leads, where parents are faithful, to a constant increase in the number of the godly.-J. 0. Vers. 10-14.-11ie revelation at Horeb. A revelation- L OF THE SPIRITUALITY OF GoD's NATURE, "Ye saw no similitude" (ver. 12). A wonderful truth to be impressed on the minds of a people fresh from contact with the debasing idolatries of Egypt. A truth : L Difficult to grasp. 2. Elevating in its influence. 8. 'l'he apprehension of which is necessary for spiritual worship (John iv. 24). II. OF THE HOLTh'EBB OF Goo's CHARACTER. The lightnings that played about the mountain, the fire burning in the midst of it '(ver. 11), the fiery law that was given,-all bespoke the awful and terrible holiness of him whose voice was uttering words of dread- ful import to transgressors. • III. OF THE VERITIES OF Goo's LAW, 'fhen were spoken the ten commandments (vers. 10, 12)-the sum and substance of moral duty-the rule of life to believers- the Law which condemns and slays transgressors. Ghrist is "the end of the Law of righteousneBI to every one that believeth," and only in him can we escape from its condemning power (Rom. viii, 1; x. 4). IV. OF THE TERBORB OF Goo's lrlAJESTY, God surrounded himself with these signll CIT, lV, 1-24.] 'HIE IlOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 7l
of his greatness, power, w,ath, and holiness: 1. That we may reverenoo and fenr him. i. 'l'hat we rno.y be kept from presumption in onr approaches to him. 3. That we may feel the nwfulncss of his Word. ltecalling this scene, the Israelites should have been proserved from ever trifling with it. God's Word should be hnmlled and rend with a deep feeling of reverence. 4. These terrors suggested that the Lnw, in itself considered, is not a saving, but a destroying power. Tb,, whole manifestation was overco.st with tbreatening.-J. 0.