The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 171

lnko in by ono gl11nco tho effect of the whole. So, amid the whirl and excitement of pnssing event~, wo do not cfocern t_ho dc~nilo purpose Go:l has in ~iew. Wo must get a binl'~-cyo view from 11 new olovnt1on. To re,luco tho pmle of mnn 8 heart, to persimdc him that God rules, nre lnudnhlo purposes of Divine len,lings. 2. The remembran~8 of aw past exhi/Jils the fatherly disciplines of God. Mingled teno.erness and severity is conspicuous in God's denling~. We cnn. soe now that we had the suMhine of his Jiwonr when wo l<cpt Lhe pnthwoy of obedience, and that as often na wo became way- worcl, tho rod of his indignation fell. \Ve can sec now the likeness between God'~ trel\tmont of us, nnd our fatherly treatment of our children. Faithful discipline iH bolter every way than roolish fondness. 3. Memory revealed to them the/act that O,A was malcing in thei,r life a great experiment. The vicissitudes ancl hardships an,l surprising clclivcrnnccs iu the wilderness were now seen to be tests, by which God would discover whether tho people were worthy of Canaan, competent to be the de- pository of his truth. 'l'he object was to f.rove them, whether they coul,l be entrusted with this Divine mission. So, every man M life is God's experiment. The question to be solved in each of our lives is this," Are we worthy a place in God's eternal kingdom?" Every effort is made by Goel to make this experiment successful. 4. ..d review of the past serves to show that man has a nobler life than that of the body. 'l'be main purpose why the.Hebrews had been feel for forty years on manna was this, viz. to demonstrate that our well-being is not dependent on material things. Man lives not by bread, but by tho Divine word. Even bread itself is a product of God's word. All the processes of mastication, digestion, assimilation, are the effects of Divine command. Our entire life is nourished by the word of God. Practical obedience is to the soul's life what dige~tion is to the life of the body. "My meat and drink is to do the will of my Father in heaven." III. THE BENEFICENT EFFECTS OF A MEMORY DEVOUTLY EXERCISED. If we re- member "all the way "-its subtle and intricate windings, and thE: faithful leadership of our Guide; if we appreciate the vital value of "every word" of Jehovah; we shall resolve henceforth to lrnep "all his commandments." 1. Remembrance will excite gratitude. Our gratitude is l11rgely deficient, because we do not consider and reflect. If memory will (ulfil her office well in supplying fuel for the altar of the heart, the flame of love will burn with a more constant glow. 2. Remembrance of Divine favours will convince us that God's interests and ours are identical. It is the natural effect of sin to persuade us that God is our enemy. We say, "Depart from ns." But, when with ,unbiased mind we ponder the proofs of God's kindness, we yield to the evidence that he is a true Friend. Experience teaches us that it is our interest to obey. 3. Remembrance of past favours aids the operations of conscience. The conscience becomes hard before it becomes blind. Whatever keep:1 alive feeling in the conscience beucfits the whole man. If there bo light and life in a man's conscience, he will resolutely say, "I must not sin. I will fear God and keep his commandment~." 4. Vivid remembrance of God's r,ast goodness is a vigorous incentive to obedience. A sense of obligation for the past cannot fully express itself, except in acts of hearty obedience. When we realize fully that our every step has been under God's guidance, that every good thing has come from our Father's hand, and that every word of his is empowered to give us joyous lifc,-then are we constrained to say, "All that the Lord commandeth us will we do."-D. Vers. 7-20.-Wealth perilous to piety. God's policy in the government of men is to win by prodigal kindness. A churlish parsimony has never been found with him ;- the very opposite. An open eye discovers widespread muuificence-a royal banquet. '!'he present is only n sample of the future. The full inheritance is always the object of hope. The children of a king hnve large expectations. This passage contains- I. A N0'rADLE INSTANCE OF DIVINE MUNIFICENCE. 1. The herituge of Israel was a "good land." Iloth climate and soil were suited to every variety of natural production. 'l'ho fruits of the North, and the fruits of the Tropics, might alike find a home there. Untold ages hnd passed, during which God bad been slowly preparing that land for Israel, and storing it with elements of fertility, and wealth of minerals. 2. Others had be~n employed to bring the virgin soil under culture. 'The harder and mo_re unprofitable tu1\ had been accomplishcil. '!'he house of lsrnrl was already well furnished, as when  THE DOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [en. vm. 1-20.