Chapter 28:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Numbers Joshua
Deuteronomy 28
Concise Complete
The blessings for obedience. (1-14) The curses for
disobedience. (15-44) Their ruin, if disobedient. (45-68)
Verses 1-14
This chapter is a very large exposition of two words, the blessing and the
curse. They are real things and have real effects. The blessings are here put
before the curses. God is slow to anger, but swift to show mercy. It is his
delight to bless. It is better that we should be drawn to what is good by a
child-like hope of God's favour, than that we be frightened to it by a slavish
fear of his wrath. The blessing is promised, upon condition that they diligently
hearken to the voice of God. Let them keep up religion, the form and power of
it, in their families and nation, then the providence of God would prosper all
their outward concerns.
Verses
15-44 If we do not keep God's commandments, we not only come short of the
blessing promised, but we lay ourselves under the curse, which includes all
misery, as the blessing all happiness. Observe the justice of this curse. It is
not a curse causeless, or for some light cause. The extent and power of this
curse. Wherever the sinner goes, the curse of God follows; wherever he is, it
rests upon him. Whatever he has is under a curse. All his enjoyments are made
bitter; he cannot take any true comfort in them, for the wrath of God mixes
itself with them. Many judgments are here stated, which would be the fruits of
the curse, and with which God would punish the people of the Jews, for their
apostacy and disobedience. We may observe the fulfilling of these threatenings
in their present state. To complete their misery, it is threatened that by these
troubles they should be bereaved of all comfort and hope, and left to utter
despair. Those who walk by sight, and not by faith, are in danger of losing
reason itself, when every thing about them looks frightful.
Verses
45-68 If God inflicts vengeance, what miseries his curse can bring upon
mankind, even in this present world! Yet these are but the beginning of sorrows
to those under the curse of God. What then will be the misery of that world
where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched! Observe what is here
said of the wrath of God, which should come and remain upon the Israelites for
their sins. It is amazing to think that a people so long the favourites of
Heaven, should be so cast off; and yet that a people so scattered in all nations
should be kept distinct, and not mixed with others. If they would not serve God
with cheerfulness, they should be compelled to serve their enemies. We may
justly expect from God, that if we do not fear his fearful name, we shall feel
his fearful plagues; for one way or other God will be feared. The destruction
threatened is described. They have, indeed, been plucked from off the land, ver.
63. Not only by
the Babylonish captivity, and when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans; but
afterwards, when they were forbidden to set foot in Jerusalem. They should have
no rest; no rest of body, ver. 65, but be continually on the remove, either in
hope of gain, or fear of persecution. No rest of the mind, which is much worse.
They have been banished from city to city, from country to country; recalled,
and banished again. These events, compared with the favour shown to Israel in
ancient times, and with the prophecies about them, should not only excite
astonishment, but turn unto us for a testimony, assuring us of the truth of
Scripture. And when the other prophecies of their conversion to Christ shall
come to pass, the whole will be a sign and a wonder to all the nations of the
earth, and the forerunner of a general spread of true christianity. The
fulfilling of these prophecies upon the Jewish nation, delivered more than three
thousand years ago, shows that Moses spake by the Spirit of God; who not only
foresees the ruin of sinners, but warns of it, that they may prevent it by a
true and timely repentance, or else be left without excuse. And let us be
thankful that Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, by being made a
curse for us, and bearing in his own person all that punishment which our sins
merit, and which we must otherwise have endured for ever. To this Refuge and
salvation let sinners flee; therein let believers rejoice, and serve their
reconciled God with gladness of heart, for the abundance of his spiritual
blessings.
Chapter 28:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Numbers Joshua
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
