The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 529

nnd mndc Rctui\l through the dcstrnction of sin by the power of tho Holy Ghost (l John iii. 9). Hence in the perpetuity of this relationship there is matter of constnnt joy (Rom. viii. 38, 38). JI]. IN CONKECTION WITH THIS RELATION THERE IS A CORRESPONDING OARE ON THE l'AIIT OF JEHOVAH. The father carries the child "between his shoulders," not only hccnusc the child is too young or too weak to go alone-true enough though that mny he-but bcrause be feels that the child's safety is its father's co.re. And the po.rent ,,ould feel it a reproach to himself if the weal of the child were not the care of his heart. No11·, we know how our Lord permits, yea, teaches us to look up from human tenderness to the Di,ine, RS if the lower were but the reflection (and couscquently the image) of the higher (Matt. vii. 9-11). And St. Peter directly teaches the positive truth, "he carcth for you" (1 Pet. v. 7). And so does Peter's Lord, in Luke xii. 6, 7, 22-30; Matt. xxi. 32, 33. How much of loving care is indicated in John vi. 38-JO; x. 1-28, words would fail to tell. The believer may meditate thereon to his heart's delight, but be will fiud no words adequately to express the glories revealed to bis faith in the infinite care for him of God the Father and the Son. IV. HEKCE 'l'llE nELOVED OF THE Lonn ARE IN PERPETUAL SAFETY. "The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in sarety by him"-" upon him" the word is: God bears him up; he rests surely on God. God is bis" Shelterer" all the day long, without let or pause. The Old Testament saints felt this, or they could never have penned Ps11lms xxiii., xci., and cxxi. 1. They are safe in Divine love. None can wrest them thence. 2. They arc safe at all hours. " He that kccpeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." 3. They are safe from all plots, snares, and fiery darts. 4. 'l'hey are safe under all circumstances of duty, care, trial, affliction, bereavement., death. They may be tossed about on the Rock, but never from it. fa CONCLUSION. 1. Let the l:>eliever rejoice in the Lord; yea, let him shout aloud for joy (Ps. xxxiii. 1 ; Phil. iiL 1; iv. 1). 2. If any ask us this question-" If the believer is so safe, how is it that one like Paul can write as he does in 1 Cor. ix. 23-27? "-the answer is, This is one way in which God secures the safety of loyal souls, by giving them to see the danger they are in from themselves, that they may look ever to the Rock that is higher than they are. For: 3. No such security is ever enjoyed as to warrant any departure from duty's path, or any presuming on God's providence. To a. temptation in this direction, even our dear Lord was exposed, and his followers must not expect to be free thercfrom yet awhile (see Matt. iv. 5-7). 4. The great reason why God takes our cares on himself is that he may set us free for the one business of life, which is in loyalty and love to do the work of the day in the day, and to leave all else in his hands. Let ns say- " I he.ve no cares, 0 Blessed Will ; My cares thou makest thine. I live in triumph, Lord, for thou He.st made thy trinmphe mine I" And sooner shall heaven and earth pass than one such beloved one of the Lord shall ever be put to shame. Vers. 13-17.-The blessing of Joseph; or, God's favour the mercy of mercies. We may see here a reflection of Ja.cob's blessing, both as in Gen. xlviii. 19 and also Gen. xli:x. 25, et seq. In Dean Stanley's 'Sinai and Palestine,' pp. 226-250, there is much interesting information as to the correspondence between this prophecy of Moses on the one hand, and the extent of territory, the beauty and fertility of the district, the dignity, valour, and advance of the trib<:11 of Ephraim and Manasseh on the other. (For an elucidation of each clause in this somewhat lengthened blessing, see the Exposition.) By way of" opening up," however, the theme of our Homily, we must call the rea<l.ere' attention to the structure of the verses. \Ve regard them as a blending at once of prophecy and prayer. Both the beginning and the close are prophetic. The beginning, from ver. 13 down ~to the word "thereof," in ver. 16; the ending in ver. 17. In the intervening clauses we regard (so Calvin, Keil, et al.) the word 1,:.:7 (retzon) as a nominative case. We read thus: ".And may· the good will of Mm that dwelt in the 'bush come upon the head of Joseph," etc. It will be observed that in tbA OH. xxxm. 1-29.] THE COOK OF DEUTERONOMY.