Vers. 26-29.-The great alternative. I. GoD SUMMONS us TO DECISIO~. 1. His revelations lay the ground for it. "Light is come into the world" (John iii. 19). 2. 'l'hey demand it. Men would trifle, but God says, "Now" (2 Cor. vi. 2). Men would put off, but God urges to decision (Josh. xxiv. 15). 3. They shut men up to it. When light comes, decision is inevitable. We must settle what our attitude towards it will be. In decreeing not to choose, we in reality do choose. IT. 'l'HE DECISION TO WHICH GOD SUMMONS us TURNS ON A SINGLE POINT. The point is obedience. Will we obey or will we not (ver. 27)? It was so under the Law, and it is so under the gospel. What the gospel asks from us is " the obedience of faith" (Rom. xvi. 26). This tests our disposition thoroughly. True faith carries with it the surrender of the will to God and Christ. It is the root and principle of all holy obedience. Men will not come to Christ ; why? The reason is that they cannot bring themselves to yield up their wills to him as he requires. They " love the darki: ess rather than the light" (John iii. 19-22). Refusal to decide for Christ is equivalent, for the time being, to deciding against him (Matt. xii. 30). III. THE DECISION TO WIIICH GOD SUMMONS US INVOLVES THE ALTERNATIVE OF A BLESSING AND A CURSE. That was what it came to then, and it is the same still. Blessing or curse; life or death. Whether God is to be our God, blessing us, renew- ing our inward life, enriching us with his Spirit, bestowing on us grace here and glory hereafter; or whether we are to live beneath his frown, witbering up under it in body and soul, and vanishing at last into outer darkness. It is an old question whether a man can voluntarily choose what is for his hurt. Possibly he cannot without first listening to the tempter who bids him believe that the course he pursues will not be for his hurt. But none the less is every sinner taking the path which ends in destruc. tion (Matt. vii. 13). His interest, did he but see it, or would he but believe it, is entirely in the line which God wishes him to follow. The terminus of the one road i~ death (Rom. vi. 21), of the other life everlasting (Rom. xi. 22).-J. O.
Vers. 22-26.-Vastness of promise. An inspiring statement of what God would do for the obedient nation. Shining through it we see the promise to the Church. God promises- I. VICTORY OVER ALL ENEMIES, (Ver. 23.) The strongest spiritual foes will go down if we cleave to God. Though greater and mightier than we, they shall be overthrown. • II. ENLARGEMENT OF BOUNDS. (Ver. 23.) They would grow numerous, fill the land, ~nd spread beyond it. A wider prospect is held out to the Church. Her possession 206 THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY, [cB, XI, l""-32,
is lh<' earth. If faithful, she has the me11.ne within herself to spread nbroad her c-011q11ests, and occupy from sea to sea, III. M:oRAL SUPREMACY, (Ver. 26.) Israel's power would be ncknowled.,ed-her influ!'nce felt. Men would dread her hostility, The felt presence of God in; man, or 111 a Church, has a power to inspire fear, Its awing effect is felt often where it is not acknowledged.~. 0.
Vers. 29, 30.-Geriz,:m and Ebal (cf. eh. xxvii.), This put.ting of the blessing and the curse on Gerizim and Ebal had significance- I. As A SOLEMN TRANSFERENCE OF TllK DLESSING AND TOE CURSE TO 'l'BE LAND OF POSSESSION. Blessing and curse, representing the aw.ard of eternal righteousness mnst follow us so long as disobedience is possible. "If ye live after the flesh y~ shall die" (Rom. viii. 13). "That which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, 'aud is nigh unto cursing; '1•,hose end is to be burned" (Heb. vi. 8). In heaven tl,er1:1 is "no more curse" (Rev. xxii. 3), but only because, confirmed in holiness, God's scr"<"ants can no more fall away. II. As A SOLEMN REMINDER OF THE TENURE ON wmcB THE LAND WAS HELD, '\Ve cannot render perfect obedience, but our duty is to aim at it. 'l'he condition of inheritance is that we are doers of the Father's will (Matt. vii. ~l). III. As COJ\,-~CTED WITH A SOLEMN RENEWAL OF vows. Fitting on such occasions that both blessing and curse should be remembered.-J. 0.