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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Deuteronomy 30:11 - 30:20
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Death and Life set before Israel
v. 11. For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off, it could not be said to be unusually difficult, either with regard to its knowledge or its fulfillment.
v. 12. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, who shall go up for us to heaven and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it?
v. 13. Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, who shall go over the sea for us and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it? There was no need for such hypocritical sanctimoniousness, as though it were merely a question of having the Law in an accessible place: If we could but lay our hands on it and hear it and study it, then we should be glad to keep its precepts!
v. 14. But the Word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. The Word of the Law had not been written down in secret and hidden from the eyes of the people, but it had been brought to the attention of the entire congregation in the spoken word, in public proclamation; it had become the subject of discussions in their midst; they had had time to meditate upon it. All the greater, therefore, was their obligation to keep it. These words are by St. Paul, Rom_10:6-8, applied to the Word of the Gospel. That also is not inaccessible to any man, for its sound has gone forth into all the lands, it is being preached throughout the world. It is but necessary to hear, to read, to accept, to confess.
v. 15. See, I have set before thee this day, in this series of addresses, life and good, and death and evil, the way which leads to everlasting happiness, and that which leads to eternal destruction,
v. 16. in that I command thee this day to love the Lord, thy God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply, for the observing of the Lord's precepts opened the way to life; and the Lord, thy God, shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
v. 17. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, said of those that are more than willing to be seduced to idolatrous practices, and worship other gods and serve them,
v. 18. I denounce unto you this day, in a solemn proclamation, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. Cf Deu_4:26.
v. 19. I call heaven and earth, with the inhabitants of both these spheres, to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live, enjoy prosperity here and everlasting happiness in the world beyond;
v. 20. that thou mayest love the Lord, thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him; for he is thy Life, the Source and Giver of a happy life, both here and yonder, and the length of thy days, in Him alone the enjoyment of any gift has permanence; that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. We Christians also have life and death, everlasting salvation and eternal damnation, laid before us in the Word of God. He that believes the Gospel and trusts in the mercy of God in simple faith will have eternal life. He will also give evidence of his faith in his obedience to the Word and command of God. But lie who does riot believe the Gospel, preferring to live a life of sin and shame, will be lost forever.