The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 198

eubstituto. 4. The requirement of lcindness-" for thy good." 5. A reasonable requirement. 'l'his love nnd obedience were due from Israel fnr God's mercic~ to them. As in tho goHpel, gmce precedes, obedience follows. Saved by grace, we MO to make such return n~. is possible by_ lo:ing ~ncl fenring ..God, and diligently keeping his commands (Luke v11. 47; Hom. v1. L,; v11. 6; Eph. 11. 8-11).-J. 0. Vers. 14-22.-T/ie supreme persuasive. The revelation of God's character in its donblo nspoct of exalted might and of condescending gract>. I. Goo EXALTED, YET STOOPING. (Vers.14-16.) The wonrler of revelation: I. That Oru so exalted should stoop at all. The wonder is not abated by reflecting that infinite perfection must include infinite mercy with every other attribute. It fills us with amazement to think of the Possessor of heaven and earth stooping to bold friendly converse with his creature, man. The Bible dwells on the thought with astonishment (1 Kings viii. 27; Pa. viii. 3, 4; cxlvii. 3-6; faa. Ivii. 15). Modern science indirectly testifies to the wonder in objecting that, with our enlarged conceptions of the universe, it is impossible to believe that God should feel the special interest in man which the Bible says he does. 2. That Oae so exalted should stoop .so far. God's depth of condescension seen peculiarly in the gospel. (1) In sending the Son. (2) In surrendering him lo death. (3) This for enemies. (4) In dwelling by the Spirit in imperfectly sanctified hearts (,Tohn iii. 16; Rom. v. 6-10; viii. ai; 2 Cor. vi. lU-18 ; Gal. v. 17). 'l'he persuasiveness of the revelation lies in its blending of majesty with grace. II. Goo MIGHTY AND EQUITABLE, YET TENDERLY SYMPATHETIC. (Vers. 17-20.) Another aspect of the Divine greatness, blending with lowliness, which :ittracts the heart. 'l'he corn bi nation of great strength with great gentleness ; of judicial sternness with humane consideration of those in distress, are sufficiently rare to be always striking. vVe marvel when, in the hero of a hundred battles, we discover a heart of woman's tenderness; when in the judge whose strictness on the bench every one remarks, we light on a spring of deep and genuine corn passionateness. It is this combinlltion we see in God. A God of gods, a Lord of lords; great, mighty, terrible, sternly just; yet, what might seem incompatible with this, tenderly aud touchingly compassionate. His might and equity, so terrible to evil-doers, he throws as a shield around the fatherless, the widow, and the stranger. He executes their judgment. They are his peculiar care. Them, above all others, will he not allow to be wronged (Pd. lxviii. 5). III. Goo OMNIPOTENT, YET HIS OMNIPOTENCE EXERTED IN DEFENDING A~ BLESSING ms CHURCH. (Vera. 21, 22.) Power in itself awakens fear; power known to be en~aged in our protection and for our good inspires the highest confidence. Moses recalls to the Israelites, ns a reason for fearing and loving God, his acts of fOWer on their behalf, especially his power as exerted in their extraordinary increase. God's power may be viewed as displayed: 1. In the Church's redemption (Col. i. 13). 2. In the Church's increase (Acts v. 38, ·39). 3. In the Church's protection f,·om her fves (Matt. xvi. 18 ; Acts iv. 24, 31). The individual Christian will have rt'ason to rejoico in the same power as exerted in his conversion (Epb. i. 19), in his upholding (Jude 2-1), in his protection (Rom. viii 35-39), in his ultimate salvation (1 Pet. i. 5).-J. 0. Ver. 16.-Heart circumcision. I. HEART CIBCU:MCISION rn ITS IMPORT. I. Betol.·ens the existence of natural impurity. 'l'he rite of circumcision, as the initiatory rite of the covenant, taught that roan, in his natural, unpurified state, is unfit for fellowship with God. "In us, that is, in our flesh, dwells no good thing" (John iii. 6; Rom. vii.18). It was a symbol of the putting away of '.!.the filth of the flesh "-a truth now si~nitied _in baptism (Col. ii. 11; 1 Pet. iii. 21). 2. Illustrates the painful nature of the renuncia- tion of fleshly lusts. 'l'he operation was sharp, painful, bloody. It vividly set fo1th at once the necessity of renouncing the lusts of the fl~sh, and the pain attend~ut ~~ the net. \V c arc called on to mortify our membtrs which are upon the earth (Col. rn. 5). 'l'be process is described as a crucifying of the flesh, with its affections and lusts_ (Gal. v. 24). 'l'he deepest form which this renunciation can assume is the renunciation of the principle ol self-will in its entirety, the sharp excision of evil (n. its r?ot. 3. Implies 1 the grace of the covenant. 'l'he reception of Gods grace as exhibited m the covena.n\ 188 THE BOOK or DEU'l'ERONOMY. (cm. x. 1-22.