ercies promised to the repentant. (1-10) The commandment
manifest. (11-14) Death and life set before them. (15-20)
Verses 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.
Verses 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.
Verses 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.
ercies promised to the repentant. (1-10) The commandment
manifest. (11-14) Death and life set before them. (15-20)