mh_parser/vol_split/5 - Deuteronomy/Chapter 9.xml

<div2 id="Deu.x" n="x" next="Deu.xi" prev="Deu.ix" progress="85.81%" title="Chapter IX">
<h2 id="Deu.x-p0.1">D E U T E R O N O M Y</h2>
<h3 id="Deu.x-p0.2">CHAP. IX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Deu.x-p1">The design of Moses in this chapter is to convince
the people of Israel of their utter unworthiness to receive from
God those great favours that were now to be conferred upon them,
writing this, as it were, in capital letters at the head of their
charter, "Not for your sake, be it known unto you," <scripRef id="Deu.x-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.36.32" parsed="|Ezek|36|32|0|0" passage="Eze 36:32">Ezek. xxxvi. 32</scripRef>. I. He assures them
of victory over their enemies, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.1-Deut.9.3" parsed="|Deut|9|1|9|3" passage="De 9:1-3">ver.
1-3</scripRef>. II. He cautions them not to attribute their
successes to their own merit, but to God's justice, which was
engaged against their enemies, and his faithfulness, which was
engaged to their fathers, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.4-Deut.9.6" parsed="|Deut|9|4|9|6" passage="De 9:4-6">ver.
4-6</scripRef>. III. To make it evident that they had no reason to
boast of their own righteousness, he mentions their faults, shows
Israel their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins. In
general, they had been all along a provoking people, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.7-Deut.9.24" parsed="|Deut|9|7|9|24" passage="De 9:7-24">ver. 7-24</scripRef>. In particular, 1. In the
matter of the golden calf, the story of which he largely relates,
<scripRef id="Deu.x-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.8-Deut.9.21" parsed="|Deut|9|8|9|21" passage="De 9:8-21">ver. 8-21</scripRef>. 2. He mentions
some other instances of their rebellion, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.22-Deut.9.23" parsed="|Deut|9|22|9|23" passage="De 9:22,23">ver. 22, 23</scripRef>. And, 3. Returns, at <scripRef id="Deu.x-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.25" parsed="|Deut|9|25|0|0" passage="De 9:25">ver. 25</scripRef>, to speak of the intercession
he had made for them at Horeb, to prevent their being ruined for
the golden calf.</p>
<scripCom id="Deu.x-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9" parsed="|Deut|9|0|0|0" passage="De 9" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Deu.x-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.1-Deut.9.6" parsed="|Deut|9|1|9|6" passage="De 9:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Deut.9.1-Deut.9.6">
<h4 id="Deu.x-p1.10">Victory Promised. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p1.11">b. c.</span> 1451.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Deu.x-p2">1 Hear, O Israel: Thou <i>art</i> to pass over
Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier
than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven,   2 A
people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou
knowest, and <i>of whom</i> thou hast heard <i>say,</i> Who can
stand before the children of Anak!   3 Understand therefore
this day, that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p2.1">Lord</span> thy God
<i>is</i> he which goeth over before thee; <i>as</i> a consuming
fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy
face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p2.2">Lord</span> hath said unto thee.  
4 Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p2.3">Lord</span> thy God hath cast them out from before
thee, saying, For my righteousness the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p2.4">Lord</span> hath brought me in to possess this land:
but for the wickedness of these nations the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p2.5">Lord</span> doth drive them out from before thee.
  5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine
heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness
of these nations the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p2.6">Lord</span> thy God
doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the
word which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p2.7">Lord</span> sware unto thy
fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.   6 Understand therefore,
that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p2.8">Lord</span> thy God giveth thee
not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou
<i>art</i> a stiffnecked people.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.x-p3">The call to attention (<scripRef id="Deu.x-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.1" parsed="|Deut|9|1|0|0" passage="De 9:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), <i>Hear, O Israel,</i> intimates
that this was a new discourse, delivered at some distance of time
after the former, probably the next sabbath day.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.x-p4">I. Moses represents to the people the
formidable strength of the enemies which they were now to
encounter, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.1" parsed="|Deut|9|1|0|0" passage="De 9:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. The
nations they were to dispossess were mightier than themselves, not
a rude and undisciplined rout, like the natives of America, that
were easily made a prey of. But, should they besiege them, they
would find their cities well fortified, according as the art of
fortification then was; should they engage them in the field, they
would find the people great and tall, of whom common fame had
reported that there was no standing before them, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.2" parsed="|Deut|9|2|0|0" passage="De 9:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. This representation is much the
same with that which the evil spies had made (<scripRef id="Deu.x-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.13.28 Bible:Num.13.33" parsed="|Num|13|28|0|0;|Num|13|33|0|0" passage="Nu 13:28,33">Num. xiii. 28, 33</scripRef>), but made with a very
different intention: that was designed to drive them from God and
to discourage their hope in him; this to drive them to God and to
engage their hope in him, since no power less than that which is
almighty could secure and prosper them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.x-p5">II. He assures them of victory, by the
presence of God with them, notwithstanding the strength of the
enemy, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.3" parsed="|Deut|9|3|0|0" passage="De 9:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>.
"Understand therefore what thou must trust to for success, and
which way thou must look; it is the Lord thy God that goes before
thee, not only as thy captain, or commander-in-chief, to give
direction, but as a consuming fire, to do execution among them.
Observe, He shall destroy them, and then thou shalt drive them out.
Thou canst not drive them out, unless he destroy them and bring
them down. But he will not destroy them and bring them down, unless
thou set thyself in good earnest to drive them out." We must do our
endeavour in dependence upon God's grace, and we shall have that
grace if we do our endeavour.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.x-p6">III. He cautions them not to entertain the
least thought of their own righteousness, as if that had procured
them this favour at God's hand: "Say not. <i>For my
righteousness</i> (either with regard to my good character or in
recompence for any good service) <i>the Lord hath brought me in to
possess this land</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.x-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.4" parsed="|Deut|9|4|0|0" passage="De 9:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>); never think it is for thy righteousness or the
uprightness of thy heart, that it is in consideration either of thy
good conversation or of thy good disposition," <scripRef id="Deu.x-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.5" parsed="|Deut|9|5|0|0" passage="De 9:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. And again (<scripRef id="Deu.x-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.6" parsed="|Deut|9|6|0|0" passage="De 9:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>) it is insisted on, because it is
hard to bring people from a conceit of their own merit, and yet
very necessary that it be done: "<i>Understand</i> (know it, and
believe it, and consider it) that <i>the Lord thy God giveth thee
not this land for thy righteousness.</i> Hadst thou been to come to
it upon that condition, thou wouldst have been for ever shut out of
it, <i>for thou art a stiff-necked people.</i>" Note, Our gaining
possession of the heavenly Canaan, as it must be attributed to
God's power and not to our own might, so it must be ascribed to
God's grace and not to our own merit: in Christ we have both
righteousness and strength; in him therefore we must glory, and not
in ourselves, or any sufficiency of our own.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.x-p7">IV. He intimates to them the true reasons
why God would take this good land out of the hands of the
Canaanites, and settle it upon Israel, and they are borrowed from
his own honour, not from Israel's deserts. 1. He will be honoured
in the destruction of idolaters; they are justly looked upon as
haters of him, and therefore he will visit their iniquity upon
them. It is <i>for the wickedness of these nations</i> that God
<i>drives them out,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.x-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.4" parsed="|Deut|9|4|0|0" passage="De 9:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>, and again, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.5" parsed="|Deut|9|5|0|0" passage="De 9:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>. All those whom God rejects are rejected for their own
wickedness: but none of those whom he accepts are accepted for
their own righteousness. 2. He will be honoured in the performance
of his promise to those that are in covenant with him: God swore to
the patriarchs, who loved him and left all to follow him, that he
would give this land to their seed; and therefore he would <i>keep
that promised mercy for thousands of those that loved him and kept
his commandments;</i> he would not suffer his promise to fail. It
was for their fathers' sakes that they were beloved, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.28" parsed="|Rom|11|28|0|0" passage="Ro 11:28">Rom. xi. 28</scripRef>. Thus boasting is for
ever excluded. See <scripRef id="Deu.x-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Eph.1.9 Bible:Eph.1.11" parsed="|Eph|1|9|0|0;|Eph|1|11|0|0" passage="Eph 1:9,11">Eph. i. 9,
11</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Deu.x-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.7-Deut.9.29" parsed="|Deut|9|7|9|29" passage="De 9:7-29" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Deut.9.7-Deut.9.29">
<h4 id="Deu.x-p7.6">Cautions Against Self-Righteousness; Israel
Reminded of Their Rebellions. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p7.7">b. c.</span> 1451.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Deu.x-p8">7 Remember, <i>and</i> forget not, how thou
provokedst the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.1">Lord</span> thy God to wrath
in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the
land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been
rebellious against the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.2">Lord</span>.  
8 Also in Horeb ye provoked the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.3">Lord</span>
to wrath, so that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.4">Lord</span> was angry
with you to have destroyed you.   9 When I was gone up into
the mount to receive the tables of stone, <i>even</i> the tables of
the covenant which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.5">Lord</span> made
with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I
neither did eat bread nor drink water:   10 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.6">Lord</span> delivered unto me two tables of stone
written with the finger of God; and on them <i>was written</i>
according to all the words, which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.7">Lord</span> spake with you in the mount out of the
midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.   11 And it came
to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, <i>that</i> the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.8">Lord</span> gave me the two tables of
stone, <i>even</i> the tables of the covenant.   12 And the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.9">Lord</span> said unto me, Arise, get thee
down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought
forth out of Egypt have corrupted <i>themselves;</i> they are
quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they
have made them a molten image.   13 Furthermore the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.10">Lord</span> spake unto me, saying, I have seen
this people, and, behold, it <i>is</i> a stiffnecked people:  
14 Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name
from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and
greater than they.   15 So I turned and came down from the
mount, and the mount burned with fire: and the two tables of the
covenant <i>were</i> in my two hands.   16 And I looked, and,
behold, ye had sinned against the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.11">Lord</span> your God, <i>and</i> had made you a molten
calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.12">Lord</span> had commanded you.   17 And I
took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake
them before your eyes.   18 And I fell down before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.13">Lord</span>, as at the first, forty days and
forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of
all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.14">Lord</span>, to provoke him to anger.
  19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure,
wherewith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.15">Lord</span> was wroth against
you to destroy you. But the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.16">Lord</span>
hearkened unto me at that time also.   20 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.17">Lord</span> was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed
him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.   21 And I
took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire,
and stamped it, <i>and</i> ground <i>it</i> very small, <i>even</i>
until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the
brook that descended out of the mount.   22 And at Taberah,
and at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah, ye provoked the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.18">Lord</span> to wrath.   23 Likewise when the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.19">Lord</span> sent you from Kadesh-barnea,
saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then ye
rebelled against the commandment of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.20">Lord</span> your God, and ye believed him not, nor
hearkened to his voice.   24 Ye have been rebellious against
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.21">Lord</span> from the day that I knew
you.   25 Thus I fell down before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.22">Lord</span> forty days and forty nights, as I fell down
<i>at the first;</i> because the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.23">Lord</span> had said he would destroy you.   26 I
prayed therefore unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.24">Lord</span>, and
said, O Lord <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.25">God</span>, destroy not thy
people and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy
greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty
hand.   27 Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;
look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their
wickedness, nor to their sin:   28 Lest the land whence thou
broughtest us out say, Because the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.x-p8.26">Lord</span> was not able to bring them into the land
which he promised them, and because he hated them, he hath brought
them out to slay them in the wilderness.   29 Yet they
<i>are</i> thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest
out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.x-p9">That they might have no pretence to think
that God brought them to Canaan <i>for their righteousness,</i>
Moses here shows them what a miracle of mercy it was that they had
not long ere this been destroyed in the wilderness: "<i>Remember,
and forget not, how thou provokedst the Lord thy God</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.7" parsed="|Deut|9|7|0|0" passage="De 9:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>); so far from purchasing
his favour, thou hast many a time laid thyself open to his
displeasure." Their fathers' provocations are here charged upon
them; for, if God had dealt with their fathers according to their
deserts, this generation would never have been, much less would
they have entered Canaan. We are apt to forget our provocations,
especially when the smart of the rod is over, and have need to be
often put in mind of them, that we may never entertain any conceit
of our own righteousness. Paul argues from the guilt which all
mankind is under to prove that we cannot be <i>justified before
God</i> by our own works, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.3.19-Rom.3.20" parsed="|Rom|3|19|3|20" passage="Ro 3:19,20">Rom. iii.
19, 20</scripRef>. If our works condemn us, they will not justify
us. Observe, 1. They had been a provoking people ever since they
came out of Egypt, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.7" parsed="|Deut|9|7|0|0" passage="De 9:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>. <i>Forty years long,</i> from first to last, were God
and Moses grieved with them. It is a very sad character Moses now
at parting leaves of them: <i>You have been rebellious since the
day I knew you,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.24" parsed="|Deut|9|24|0|0" passage="De 9:24"><i>v.</i>
24</scripRef>. No sooner were they formed into a people than there
was a faction formed among them, which upon all occasions made head
against God and his government. Though the Mosaic history records
little more than the occurrences of the first and last year of the
forty, yet it seems by this general account that the rest of the
years were not much better, but one continued provocation. 2. Even
in Horeb they made a calf and worshipped it, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.8" parsed="|Deut|9|8|0|0" passage="De 9:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>, &amp;c. That was a sin so heinous,
and by several aggravations made so exceedingly sinful, that they
deserved upon all occasions to be upbraided with it. It was done in
the very place where the law was given by which they were expressly
forbidden to worship God by images, and while the mountain was yet
burning before their eyes, and Moses had gone up to fetch them the
law in writing. They <i>turned aside quickly,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.16" parsed="|Deut|9|16|0|0" passage="De 9:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. 3. God was very angry
with them for their sin. Let them not think that God overlooked
what they did amiss, and gave them Canaan for what was good among
them. No, God had determined to destroy them (<scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.8" parsed="|Deut|9|8|0|0" passage="De 9:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), could easily have done it, and
would have been no loser by it; he even desired Moses to let him
alone that he might do it, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.8" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.13-Deut.9.14" parsed="|Deut|9|13|9|14" passage="De 9:13,14"><i>v.</i>
13, 14</scripRef>. By this it appeared how heinous their sin was,
for God is never angry with any above what there is cause for, as
men often are. Moses himself, though a friend and favourite,
trembled at the revelation of God's wrath from heaven against their
ungodliness and unrighteousness (<scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.9" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.19" parsed="|Deut|9|19|0|0" passage="De 9:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>): <i>I was afraid of the anger of
the Lord,</i> afraid perhaps not for them only, but for himself,
<scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.120" parsed="|Ps|119|120|0|0" passage="Ps 119:120">Ps. cxix. 120</scripRef>. 4. They
had by their sin broken covenant with God, and forfeited all the
privileges of the covenant, which Moses signified to them by
<i>breaking the tables,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.11" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.17" parsed="|Deut|9|17|0|0" passage="De 9:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>. A bill of divorce was given them, and thenceforward
they might justly have been abandoned for ever, so that their mouth
was certainly stopped from pleading any righteousness of their own.
God had, in effect, disowned them, when he said to Moses (<scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.12" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.12" parsed="|Deut|9|12|0|0" passage="De 9:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), "They are thy people,
they are none of mine, nor shall they be dealt with as mine." 5.
Aaron himself fell under God's displeasure for it, though he was
the saint of the Lord, and was only brought by surprise or terror
to be confederate with them in the sin: <i>The Lord was very angry
with Aaron,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.13" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.20" parsed="|Deut|9|20|0|0" passage="De 9:20"><i>v.</i>
20</scripRef>. No man's place or character can shelter him from the
wrath of God if he have <i>fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness.</i> Aaron, that should have made atonement for them if
the iniquity could have been purged away by sacrifice and offering,
did himself fall under the wrath of God: so little did they
consider what they did when they drew him in. 6. It was with great
difficulty and very long attendance that Moses himself prevailed to
turn away the wrath of God, and prevent their utter ruin. He fasted
and prayed full forty days and forty nights before he could obtain
their pardon, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.14" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.18" parsed="|Deut|9|18|0|0" passage="De 9:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>.
And some think twice forty days (<scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.15" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.25" parsed="|Deut|9|25|0|0" passage="De 9:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>), because it is said, <i>as I
fell down before,</i> whereas his errand in the first forty was not
of that nature. Others think it was but one forty, though twice
mentioned (as also in <scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.16" osisRef="Bible:Deut.10.10" parsed="|Deut|10|10|0|0" passage="De 10:10"><i>ch.</i> x.
10</scripRef>); but this was enough to make them sensible how great
God's displeasure was against them, and what a narrow escape they
had for their lives. And in this appears the greatness of God's
anger against all mankind that no less a person than his Son, and
no less a price than his own blood, would serve to turn it away.
Moses here tells them the substance of his intercession for them.
He was obliged to own their stubbornness, and their wickedness, and
their sin, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.17" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.27" parsed="|Deut|9|27|0|0" passage="De 9:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>.
Their character was bad indeed when he that appeared an advocate
for them could not give them a good word, and had nothing else to
say in their behalf but that God had done great things for them,
which really did but aggravate their crime (<scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.18" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.26" parsed="|Deut|9|26|0|0" passage="De 9:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>),—that they were the posterity
of good ancestors (<scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.19" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.27" parsed="|Deut|9|27|0|0" passage="De 9:27"><i>v.</i>
27</scripRef>), which might also have been turned upon him, as
making the matter worse and not better,—and that the Egyptians
would reproach God, if he should destroy them, as unable to perfect
what he had wrought for them (<scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.20" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.28" parsed="|Deut|9|28|0|0" passage="De 9:28"><i>v.</i>
28</scripRef>), a plea which might easily enough have been
answered: no matter what the Egyptians say, while the heavens
declare God's righteousness; so that the saving of them from ruin
at that time was owing purely to the mercy of God, and the
importunity of Moses, and not to any merit of theirs, that could be
offered so much as in mitigation of their offence. 7. To affect
them the more with the destruction they were then at the brink of,
he describes very particularly the destruction of the calf they had
made, <scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.21" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.21" parsed="|Deut|9|21|0|0" passage="De 9:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. He calls
it their <i>sin:</i> perhaps not only because it had been the
matter of their sin, but because the destroying of it was intended
for a testimony against their sin, and an indication to them what
the sinners themselves did deserve. Those that made it were like
unto it, and would have had no wrong done them if they had been
thus stamped to dust, and consumed, and scattered, and no remains
of them left. It was infinite mercy that accepted the destruction
of the idol instead of the destruction of the idolaters. 8. Even
after this fair escape that they had, in many other instances they
provoked the Lord again and again. He needed only to name the
places, for they carried the memorials either of the sin or of the
punishment in their names (<scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.22" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.22" parsed="|Deut|9|22|0|0" passage="De 9:22"><i>v.</i>
22</scripRef>): at <i>Taberah, burning,</i> where God set fire to
them for their murmuring,—at <i>Massah, the temptation,</i> where
they challenged almighty power to help them,—and at
<i>Kibroth-hattaavah, the graves of lusters,</i> where the dainties
they coveted were their poison; and, after these, their unbelief
and distrust at Kadesh-barnea, of which he had already told them
(<scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.23" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.1-Deut.1.46" parsed="|Deut|1|1|1|46" passage="De 1:1-46"><i>ch.</i> i.</scripRef>), and which
he here mentions again (<scripRef id="Deu.x-p9.24" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.23" parsed="|Deut|9|23|0|0" passage="De 9:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>), would certainly have completed their ruin if they
had been dealt with according to their own merits.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.x-p10">Now let them lay all this together, and it
will appear that whatever favour God should hereafter show them, in
subduing their enemies and putting them in possession of the land
of Canaan, it was not for their righteousness. It is good for us
often to remember against ourselves, with sorrow and shame, our
former sins, and to review the records conscience keeps of them,
that we may see how much we are indebted to free grace, and may
humbly own that we never merited at God's hand any thing but wrath
and the curse.</p>
</div></div2>