The following commentary covers Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Let
us examine a little more closely these chapters, which
shew the pains the Spirit took, to set before the eyes of
the people all the motives which could induce them to
walk faithfully in the career which now lay before them.
Moses recalls the
patience and goodness of God in the wilderness journey
He begins with the
narrative of what had occurred since the sojourn of the
children of Israel at Sinai; and Moses reminds them of
the commandment to leave that place and to go to the
mount of the Amorites, [1] to go up and possess the land. They get
there, and, discouraged by the spies, they will not go
up; then, trying to do so without God, they are smitten
before their enemies. Passing by the borders of Esau and
Moab, God gives them the land of Sihon and of Og.
We learn too here that,
though sanctioned by God, the sending the spies was the
effect of unbelief among the people—an instructive
lesson. God may allow, and so far sanction a course, wise
humanly, in His ways—His government, which yet bears
the fruit of the unbelief which is at the root of it.
In a word, Moses recalls
to them, in general, what had taken place in the journey
which led to their entrance into the land of which they
are to take possession—the patience and the goodness
of God.
The majesty of God
and His Word, and the privilege enjoyed at Horeb
In reminding them of
Horeb, he insists on the privilege they had enjoyed in
nearness to God, who Himself had spoken to them out of
the midst of the fire, when they saw no similitude; on
the authority of the word—its majesty—excluding
thus all thought of idolatry. He shews them that all that
were of full age had perished, as a consequence of their
unbelief; that he himself could not enter into that good
land; that God is a jealous God, a consuming fire; and
that, if they made any graven image, they would utterly
perish from off the land they were about to enter, and
would be scattered amongst the nations and—left to
serve the gods they had loved; that, nevertheless, they
should find God if they sought Him with all their heart,
for He is a merciful God, who would not forsake them;
that if Sinai had been the brightness of His majesty, it
was also true that such a God of majesty had never
vouchsafed to come so near to a people, elect and chosen
for their fathers' sakes. Such is the basis of the
government of this people.
Three cities of
refuge on this side Jordan
Moses sets apart three
cities of refuge, as a token of possession, on the part
of God, of what was on this side Jordan. These four
chapters are introductory.
[1] It is interesting
to put together the second and third verses. For an
eleven days' journey Israel took forty years. Alas! how
often is it thus with us, owing to our unfaithfulness.
Deuteronomy 4 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
Let us examine a little more closely these chapters, which shew the pains the Spirit took, to set before the eyes of the people all the motives which could induce them to walk faithfully in the career which now lay before them.
Moses recalls the patience and goodness of God in the wilderness journey
He begins with the narrative of what had occurred since the sojourn of the children of Israel at Sinai; and Moses reminds them of the commandment to leave that place and to go to the mount of the Amorites, [1] to go up and possess the land. They get there, and, discouraged by the spies, they will not go up; then, trying to do so without God, they are smitten before their enemies. Passing by the borders of Esau and Moab, God gives them the land of Sihon and of Og.
We learn too here that, though sanctioned by God, the sending the spies was the effect of unbelief among the people—an instructive lesson. God may allow, and so far sanction a course, wise humanly, in His ways—His government, which yet bears the fruit of the unbelief which is at the root of it.
In a word, Moses recalls to them, in general, what had taken place in the journey which led to their entrance into the land of which they are to take possession—the patience and the goodness of God.
The majesty of God and His Word, and the privilege enjoyed at Horeb
In reminding them of Horeb, he insists on the privilege they had enjoyed in nearness to God, who Himself had spoken to them out of the midst of the fire, when they saw no similitude; on the authority of the word—its majesty—excluding thus all thought of idolatry. He shews them that all that were of full age had perished, as a consequence of their unbelief; that he himself could not enter into that good land; that God is a jealous God, a consuming fire; and that, if they made any graven image, they would utterly perish from off the land they were about to enter, and would be scattered amongst the nations and—left to serve the gods they had loved; that, nevertheless, they should find God if they sought Him with all their heart, for He is a merciful God, who would not forsake them; that if Sinai had been the brightness of His majesty, it was also true that such a God of majesty had never vouchsafed to come so near to a people, elect and chosen for their fathers' sakes. Such is the basis of the government of this people.
Three cities of refuge on this side Jordan
Moses sets apart three cities of refuge, as a token of possession, on the part of God, of what was on this side Jordan. These four chapters are introductory.
[1] It is interesting to put together the second and third verses. For an eleven days' journey Israel took forty years. Alas! how often is it thus with us, owing to our unfaithfulness.