A
new principle: faith laying hold of the spirit of the law
and turning the heart to Jehovah
We must now dwell a little
on this last point. Chapter 30 furnishes us with an
important principle. It supposes that the people have
already incurred the consequences of disobedience, and
they are seen as driven out of the land, and strangers
among distant nations. The law could not be followed out
in such a case; and, indeed, the violation of the law had
even then produced its fruits.
But then quite a new
principle is introduced: the return of the hearts of the
people to Jehovah, and obedience, one must add, in
spirit. Thereupon Jehovah brings them back into
their land, and blesses them in it. The curse is put on
their enemies; and they are to observe in the land the
ordinances of Jehovah, enjoying anew His full blessing;
for the commandment was neither in heaven, nor beyond the
seas, but in the mouth and in the heart. This was not the
new covenant, but faith laying hold of the spirit of the
law in principle, and turning the heart towards Jehovah,
when the law was externally impracticable.
The principle of
the return of the heart when under the curse of the law
The establishment of the
new covenant, based on this return of the heart, at a
time appointed of God, will be something well defined.
Here we have the principle of their return when under the
curse of the law they had broken. Hence, the apostle
quotes this passage for the basis of the principle, as a
testimony given to what righteousness by faith was,
applying it to Christ Himself—the return of the
heart to the object and end of the law, when judgment was
on them for its violation, and hope of righteousness by
its accomplishment impossible—how Christ was the end
of the law for righteousness. The principle is found
here. The apostle brings in Christ as the true
accomplishment of it. At the end of the chapter, Moses
declares that he has now set before them the good and the
evil, and that they would have to bear the consequence of
their choice.
Deuteronomy 30 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
We must now dwell a little on this last point. Chapter 30 furnishes us with an important principle. It supposes that the people have already incurred the consequences of disobedience, and they are seen as driven out of the land, and strangers among distant nations. The law could not be followed out in such a case; and, indeed, the violation of the law had even then produced its fruits.
But then quite a new principle is introduced: the return of the hearts of the people to Jehovah, and obedience, one must add, in spirit. Thereupon Jehovah brings them back into their land, and blesses them in it. The curse is put on their enemies; and they are to observe in the land the ordinances of Jehovah, enjoying anew His full blessing; for the commandment was neither in heaven, nor beyond the seas, but in the mouth and in the heart. This was not the new covenant, but faith laying hold of the spirit of the law in principle, and turning the heart towards Jehovah, when the law was externally impracticable.
The principle of the return of the heart when under the curse of the law
The establishment of the new covenant, based on this return of the heart, at a time appointed of God, will be something well defined. Here we have the principle of their return when under the curse of the law they had broken. Hence, the apostle quotes this passage for the basis of the principle, as a testimony given to what righteousness by faith was, applying it to Christ Himself—the return of the heart to the object and end of the law, when judgment was on them for its violation, and hope of righteousness by its accomplishment impossible—how Christ was the end of the law for righteousness. The principle is found here. The apostle brings in Christ as the true accomplishment of it. At the end of the chapter, Moses declares that he has now set before them the good and the evil, and that they would have to bear the consequence of their choice.