Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Deuteronomy
Book: Deuteronomy
Chapter: 33
Overview:
The glorious majesty of
God.
(1-5) The blessings of the twelve
tribes.
(6-23) Strength to believers.
(24,25) The excellency of
Israel.
(26-29)
1-5 To all his precepts, warnings, and prophecies,
Moses added
a solemn blessing. He begins with a description of the glorious
appearances of
God, in giving the
Law. His
Law Works like
Fire.
If received, it is melting, warming, purifying, and burns up the
Dross of corruption; if rejected, it hardens, sears, pains, and
destroys. The Holy
Spirit came down in cloven
Tongues, as of
Fire; for the
Gospel also is a fiery
Law. The
Law of
God written
in the
Heart, is a certain proof of the
Love of
God shed abroad
there: we must reckon His
Law one of the
Gifts of his
Grace.
6-23 The order in which the tribes are here blessed, is not the
same as is observed elsewhere. The blessing of
Judah may refer
to the whole
Tribe in general, or to
David as a
Type of
Christ.
Moses largely blesses the
Tribe of
Levi. Acceptance with
God is
what we should all aim at, and desire, in all our devotions,
whether men accept us or not, 2Co 5:9. This
Prayer is a
Prophecy, that
God will keep up a ministry in his
Church to the
End of time. The
Tribe of
Benjamin had their inheritance close
to
Mount Zion. To be situated near the ordinances, is a precious
Gift from the
Lord, a privilege not to be exchanged for any
worldly advantage, or indulgence. We should thankfully receive
the earthly blessings sent to us, through the successive
Seasons. But those good
Gifts which come down from the
Father of
lights, through the rising of the
Sun of
Righteousness, and the
pouring out of his
Spirit like the
Rain which makes fruitful,
are infinitely more precious, as the tokens of his special
Love.
The precious things here prayed for, are figures of spiritual
blessing in heavenly things
By Christ, the
Gifts, graces, and
comforts of the
Spirit. When
Moses prays for the good will of
Him that dwelt in the
Bush, he refers to the
Covenant,
On which
all our hopes of
God's favour must be founded. The
Providence of
God appoints men's habitations, and wisely disposes men to
different employments for the public good. Whatever our place
and business are, it is our
Wisdom and duty to apply thereto;
and it is happiness to be
Well pleased therewith. We should not
only invite others to the service of
God, but abound in it. The
blessing of
Naphtali. The favour of
God is the only favour
satisfying to the soul. Those are happy indeed, who have the
favour of
God; and those shall have it, who reckon that in
having it they have enough, and desire
No more.
24,25 All shall be sanctified to true believers; if their way
be rough, their feet shall be shod with the preparation of the
Gospel of peace. As thy days,
So shall thy strength be. The
"
Day" is often in
Scripture Put for the events of the
Day; it is
a promise that
God would graciously and constantly support under
trials and troubles, whatever they were. It is a promise sure to
all the spiritual seed of
Abraham. Have they work allotted? They
shall have strength to do it. Have they burdens appointed? They
shall have strength, and never be tempted above what they are
able to
Bear.
26-29 None had such a
God as
Israel. There is
No people like
the
Israel of
God. What is here said of the
Church of
Israel is
to be applied to the spiritual
Church. Never were people
So Well
seated and sheltered. Those who make
God their
Habitation, shall
have all the comforts and benefits of a
Habitation in him, Ps
91:1. Never were people
So Well supported and borne up. How low
soever the people of
God are at any time brought,
Everlasting
arms are underneath them, to keep the
Spirit from sinking, from
fainting, and their
Faith from failing. Divine
Grace is
sufficient for them, 2Co 12:9. Never were people
So Well
commanded. Thus believers are more than conquerors over their
spiritual enemies, through
Christ that loved them. Never were
people
So Well secured and protected.
Israel shall
Dwell in
safety alone. All who keep close to
God, shall be kept safe
By
him. Never were people
So Well provided for. Every true
Israelite looks with
Faith to the better country, the heavenly
Canaan, which is filled with better things than
Corn and
Wine.
Never were people
So Well helped. If in danger of any harm, or
in want of any good, they had an eternal
God to go to. Nothing
could hurt those whom
God helped, nor was it possible the people
should perish who were saved
By the
Lord. Never were people
So
Well armed. Those in whose hearts is the excellency of
Holiness,
are defended
By the whole
Armour of
God, Eph 6. Never were
people
So Well assured of victory over their enemies. Thus shall
the
God of peace tread
Satan under the feet of all believers,
and shall do it shortly, Ro 16:20. May
God help us to seek and
to set our affections
On the things above; and to turn our souls
from earthly perishing objects; that we may not have our
Lot
with
Israel's foes in the regions of
Darkness and despair, but
with the
Israel of
God, in the realms of
Love and eternal
happiness.