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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 30:8

Verse 8 8.And thou shalt return (286) and obey the voice of the Lord. The copula which Moses here employs is equivalent to the illative particle; for he argues from their certainty of obtaining pardon, that they should not hesitate to return to God, nay, rather that they should set about it with a cheerful and ready mind; and then that they should constantly proceed in the course of obedience. But, when he now requires of the people the perseverance which he had just before declared to be given... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 30:1-10

EXPOSITION Though rejected and exiled because of rebellion and apostasy, Israel should not be absolutely or forever cast off. When dispersed among the nations, if the people should return to Jehovah their God, he would again receive them into favor and gather them from their dispersion (cf. Deuteronomy 4:29 , etc.; Le 26:40, etc.). Moses, looking into the future, anticipates that both the blessing and the curse would come upon the people according as they were faithful to their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 30:1-10

Dispersion not rejection. It is very comforting to pass from so gloomy a chapter as the twenty-eighth to such a paragraph as this. In this thirtieth chapter, the onlook and outlook of Moses are much more extended than before. So distantly is his eye cast now, that he actually looks to the further side of the gloomy scene he had so recently sketched, and sees in the horizon a belt of glory bounding his view ( Deuteronomy 30:9 ). So that, although the present darkness and distress into... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 30:1-10

Israel's restoration. The blackness of the picture of Israel's rejection and desolation is relieved by this rim of gold on the further edge. The verses seem to teach, not only that if Israel repent, mercy awaits it, but that Israel will repent; that a day of repentance is ordained for it—a day in which the veil that has been so long left lying on Jewish hearts will be lifted off, and the nation will mourn for him whom it has pierced and has so long rejected ( Zechariah 12:9-14 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 30:1-10

Divine discipline founded on known principle. Human anger is often an uncontrollable passion. God's anger is directed, not so much against the man, as against his sin. God's anger is the acting of sound principle—a part of his righteousness. Hence, as soon as chastisement produces its designed effect, it ceases. Instantly that the wayward child turns to its Father, the Father turns to his child. I. REPENTANCE OFTEN SPRINGS OUT OF THE BITTER EXPERIENCE OF TROUBLE . ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 30:1-10

The restoration of the Jews. So certain is the apostasy and the judgment on the land, that Moses assumes it as an accomplished fact, thereupon proceeding to predict a restoration of the "scattered nation" in case of their repentance. There must be the penitent return to God, and then God will restore them and bless them abundantly. It was this principle which was carried out in the restoration from Babylon, and which will be carried out in any future restoration of Israel. We have here the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 30:4-5

Consequent on this deliverance would be the gathering of Israel from all the places of the dispersion and their return to possess the land which their fathers possessed, in greater numbers than their fathers were. This last statement suggests doubt as to the literal interpretation of this prediction, for, as Keil remarks, "If there is to be an increase in the num-bet of the Jews when gathered out of their dispersion into all the world, above the number of their fathers, and therefore above the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 30:6

The Lord will circumcise thine heart ; "when thou wilt become better, God will help thereto (cf. Deuteronomy 10:16 )" (Herxheimer). When Israel should return to the Lord, he would take away from them the evil heart of unbelief, and give them the new heart and the right spirit. " Qui pravis affectibus renunciat is circumcisus corde dicitur " (Rosenmüller. Cf. Jeremiah 31:33 ; Jeremiah 32:39 ; Ezekiel 11:19 , etc.; Ezekiel 36:26 ; Romans 2:29 ; Colossians 2:11 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 30:6

(comp. with Jeremiah 30:1-24 :31-34, and Hebrews 8:6 ).— The old and new covenants. It may not be uninstructive at this stage of homiletic teaching upon this book, to place on record the points of comparison and of contrast between the old and new covenants; i . e . between the covenant made through Moses and that propounded and sealed through the Lord Jesus Christ. I. LET US NOTE THE POINTS OF COMPARISON . 1. Both are made with a people formed for God ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 30:8-9

Thou shalt return and obey ; i . e . thou shalt again hearken (see Deuteronomy 30:9 , where the same expression is thus rendered). These two verses are closely connected, the former expressing the condition on which the aspect expressed in the latter depends. They should be rendered accordingly, If thou shalt return … then the Lord thy God , etc. (comp. Genesis 42:38 ; Exodus 4:23 , where a similar construction occurs). read more

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