‏ Deuteronomy 30

* Mercies promised to the repentant. (1-10) The commandment

manifest. (11-14) Death and life set before them. (15-20)

1-10 In this chapter is a plain intimation of the mercy God has

in store for Israel in the latter days. This passage refers to

the prophetic warnings of the last two chapters, which have been

mainly fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans,

and in their dispersion to the present day; and there can be no

doubt that the prophetic promise contained in these verses yet

remain to come to pass. The Jewish nation shall in some future

period, perhaps not very distant, be converted to the faith of

Christ; and, many think, again settled in the land of Canaan.

The language here used is in a great measure absolute promises;

not merely a conditional engagement, but declaring an event

assuredly to take place. For the Lord himself here engages to

"circumcise their hearts;" and when regenerating grace has

removed corrupt nature, and Divine love has supplanted the love

of sin, they certainly will reflect, repent, return to God, and

obey him; and he will rejoice in doing them good. The change

that will be wrought upon them will not be only outward, or

consisting in mere opinions; it will reach to their souls. It

will produce in them an utter hatred of all sin, and a fervent

love to God, as their reconciled God in Christ Jesus; they will

love him with all their hearts, and with all their soul. They

are very far from this state of mind at present, but so were the

murderers of the Lord Jesus, on the day of Pentecost; who yet in

one hour were converted unto God. So shall it be in the day of

God's power; a nation shall be born in a day; the Lord will

hasten it in his time. As a conditional promise this passage

belongs to all persons and all people, not to Israel only; it

assures us that the greatest sinners, if they repent and are

converted, shall have their sins pardoned, and be restored to

God's favour. 11-14 The law is not too high for thee. It is not only known

afar off; it is not confined to men of learning. It is written

in thy books, made plain, so that he who runs may read it. It is

in thy mouth, in the tongue commonly used by thee, in which thou

mayest hear it read, and talk of it among thy children. It is

delivered so that it is level to the understanding of the

meanest. This is especially true of the gospel of Christ, to

which the apostle applies it. But the word is nigh us, and

Christ in that word; so that if we believe with the heart, that

the promises of the Messiah are fulfilled in our Lord Jesus, and

confess them with our mouth, we then have Christ with us. 15-20 What could be said more moving, and more likely to make

deep and lasting impressions? Every man wishes to obtain life

and good, and to escape death and evil; he desires happiness,

and dreads misery. So great is the compassion of the Lord, that

he has favoured men, by his word, with such a knowledge of good

and evil as will make them for ever happy, if it be not their

own fault. Let us hear the sum of the whole matter. If they and

theirs would love God, and serve him, they should live and be

happy. If they or theirs should turn from God, desert his

service, and worship other gods, that would certainly be their

ruin. There never was, since the fall of man, more than one way

to heaven; which is marked out in both Testaments, though not

with equal clearness. Moses meant that same way of acceptance,

which Paul more plainly described; and Paul's words mean the

same obedience, on which Moses more fully treated. In both

Testaments the good and right way is brought near, and plainly

revealed to us.