III. HISTORICAL INTERLUDE: PREPARATION FOR THE COVENANT TEXT 4:41-49Having completed his address that reminded the Israelites to look backward and remember God’s faithfulness so they would remain faithful in the future, Moses next turned to a reminder of what God’s will for His chosen people involved. He prefaced this second speech with instruction concerning cities of refuge in the land. read more
B. Introduction to the second address 4:44-49These verses are similar to Deuteronomy 1:4-5. They summarize and introduce with historical references what follows. In a larger sense these verses summarize all of chapters 1-3. These verses contain narration about Moses, not a discourse by Moses."This address, which is described in the heading as the law which Moses set before the Israelites, commences with a repetition of the decalogue, and a notice of the powerful impression which was made,... read more
Exhortations To ObedienceThis chapter contains the practical part of the discourse. Having briefly rehearsed the experiences of the Israelites in the wilderness up to the present point, Moses closes with an eloquent appeal not to forget what they had seen and learned, but to keep the commandments of the Lord. The argument is quite evangelical. Jehovah of His own free grace has chosen and redeemed this people, they ought, therefore, to love and serve Him alone: cp. Joshua’s exhortation in Joshua... read more
SECOND DISCOURSE.(44-49) These words form an introduction to the second discourse, which occupies the larger portion of the book—from Deuteronomy 5:1 to the end of Deuteronomy 26:0. There is no real break between. The present introduction differs from what we find in Deuteronomy 1:1. There is no intimation that this portion of Deuteronomy was a repetition of what had been delivered between Sinai and Kadesh-barnea. What follows is said to have been spoken in the land of Sihon and Og, after the... read more
Remembering the Past (for the Last Sunday of the Year) Deuteronomy 4:9 I. How far ought we to Remember the Past, and how far ought we to Forget it? It may indeed be said that remembrance and forgetfulness are largely independent of our control. We are naturally endowed with strong or with weak memories, and ardent or placid temperaments, and our fortunes in life are only to a small extent within our own determination. Whether we shall pass through experiences which cut deeply into the mind,... read more
II. THE EXPOSITION OF THE LAW, EXHORTATIONS AND WARNINGS, BLESSING AND CURSE 1. The Proclamation of the Decalogue CHAPTERS 4:44-5:33 1. The introductory words (Deuteronomy 4:44-49 ) 2. The law proclaimed (Deuteronomy 5:1-21 ) 3. Moses, the mediator (Deuteronomy 5:22-33 ) First a general announcement is given of the discourse on the law. The fact is emphasized, that it was set before them after they came forth out of Egypt. Then the victories over Sihon and Og are mentioned once more... read more
MOSES INSISTS ON OBEDIENCE (vs.1-14) Because God had already blessed Israel and intended to bless them more greatly still. Moses urges them to "listen to the statutes and judgments" he is teaching them, for these are their very life and the basis for their possessing the land God had given them (v.1). How vitally true this is for us today also. It is the Word of God by which we live (Matthew 4:4), and it is that Word by which we enter into the blessings "in heavenly places" that are given us... read more
REVIEW OF THE LAWS THE LESSONS OF SINAI (Deuteronomy 4:0 ) What makes a nation wise and understanding (Deuteronomy 4:6 )? What makes a nation great (Deuteronomy 4:7-8 )? What obligation does one generation owe the next (Deuteronomy 4:9 )? Of all the divine commandments, which are the most important (Deuteronomy 4:10-13 )? Of these ten, which one is particularly emphasized (Deuteronomy 4:15-28 )? How is God’s merciful character illustrated in one connection with these commandments... read more
Memory and Duty Deuteronomy 4:0 In the ninth verse we have a very solemn possibility indicated. The words of Moses are: "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons." The solemn possibility is the possibility of forgetting God and God's providence in human life. We fail not always through sin or vulgar crime, as if with... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 4:47
44-49. this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel—This is a preface to the rehearsal of the law, which, with the addition of various explanatory circumstances, the following chapters contain. read more