The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 513

the swan is s11id to sing swoctly only in the act of dying, so, on the eve of his departure Moses sings his noblest strains. ' I. OnsEI\VE 'l'IlE POET'& AUDITORY. He summons heaven and earth to hear. W c read in_ 11nciont story that when Orpheus made music with his lyre, the wilt] beasts listened, and the trees and rocks of Olympus followed him_ about. This may servo as a just reproof to some men, who, having ears, act as if they had them rn,t. 1. Ileaven and earth may denote both angels and men. For even "the principalities ,,f hoaven learn from the Church the manifold wisdom of God." 2. Heaven and eadh may denote all classes of the people, high and low. Frequently in Scripture great mc11 11re represented as tho stars of heaven. The man of ambilion is said to lift his hea,I tu tho slam. 'fhe righteous are to shine as the brightness of the firmament. 3. Hea i-en and earth may denote the intelligent and the material creation. On account of mnn',; sin, "the whole creation groaneth;" and the effect of ma;:i's obedience will be J"e' t benefici~lly on the material globe. It will increase its fertility, its beauty, its fragra,1ce, its music. "Truth" shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look "du11 u from heaven." "Then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice." II. THE POET'S BENEFICENT INFLUENCE. "My doctrine shall drop as the rain," e:c. (ver. 2). This imagery teaches us: 1. The silent, unobtrusive power of truth. J , finds it way, quietly and unobserved, to the roots of human judgment and feeli11µ:. 2. It is refreshing. What a draught of clear water is to a thirsty man, truth is tr, " healthy, active soul. 3. It is fertilizing. It nourishes all good affections, a,,,\ ~trengthens every virtue. 4. It is most suitable. No fitcess can be more manifest than dew for tender grass. Poetic truth is suited to every grade of human understand.in;:. III. THE POE'r's LOFTY THEME. His theme is God; but God is only known as lie revet1ls himself in his Name. l. He descants upou his majesty, his supreme power, and the splendours of his state. 2. He touches upon his eternal stability. What t l,e unchanging rock is amid the shifting sands, God is-unalterably the same. 3. IJc dwells upon the perfections of his character(" just and right is he"); upon the perfoctiun of his works, which are incapable of any improvement; upon the perfection of bis government (" all his ways are judgrnent "); and upon the perfection of his speech. He is "a God of truth." He alters nothing, retracts nothing. IV. THE POET'S MORAL PURPOSE. To restore harmony between man.and God. 1. He proclaims man's fallen state : " they have corrupted themselves."· Human nature is not as it was when it came from the hands of God. Man holds this tremendous power of ruining his own nature. 2. The mark of sonship has disappet1red. "Their spot is not the spot of his children." Childlike docility and submissiveness form the family lineament. 3. This depravity has spread like the virus of disease. The whole race is infected. "'!'hey are a perverse and crooked generation." 4. Such conduct is suici<lal folly. It is most antagonistic to self-interest. No madman could have acted worse. 5. Such conduct is the basest ingratitude. "Do ye thus requite the Lord?" Consider his claims. Did he not create thee? Has he not been a Father to thee? Has he not redeemed thee? '!'ender expostulation with the conscience is the poet's mission. For this vocation he has been specially inspired by God. A heavenly spirit breathOI! through his every word. No higher honour can man attain on earth.-D. Vers. 7-14.-History's testimony for God. A defective character often results from mental indolence. Men do not use their faculties. Did they consider, reflect, o.nd ponder, they would be better men. 'l'o call into activity all our powers is an imperative and sacred di;ty. For this purpose God has given them. Whose am I? whence have I come? what is my business in life? what are my obligations to my Maker ?-these are questions possessing transcendent interest, and are vital to our joy. .Ask intelligently and thoroughly; then act upon the ~swers. God's careful p,ovision for Israel had been long-continued, thoughtful, special. No less, probably greater, has been his considerate and far-seeing provision for us. I. WE NOTE A SPECIAL HABITATION PREPARED BY Goo. 1. Our earth has for untold a"eB been underuoinu preparation as a suitable dwelling-place for man. Rocks have b~en formed for°ma;;'s use, treasures of coal and metals have been stored up for his advantage. The soil has been pulverized to receive his seed. A marvellous and pains- taking preparation has been made. 2. Equally conspicuous is God's wisdom in  628 TIIE IlOOK 01'' DEUT!i:IlONOMY. [err. XXXII. 1-62.