Deuteronomy 11:2-22 -

Obligations arising from personal experience.

"Chastisement" ( Deuteronomy 11:2 ) in its wide sense of discipline. The educative process by which God converted, or aimed at converting, the hordes who left Egypt into a nation of brave, free, God-fearing, self-respecting, obedient men and women. This education blended deliverance with judgment on their enemies; loving-kindness in the bestowal of mercies, with severe chastisements in cases of rebellion; attention to their necessities, with frequent exposure to adversity, and consequent trial of their faith and patience. They had been put to school with the Almighty as their Teacher; their lesson-book was the whole extraordinary series of occurrences in Egypt and the desert; the end of the training was to form them to obedience.

I. THREE PHASES OF GOD 'S INSTRUCTION OF HIS CHURCH .

1. The shattering of worldly power hostile to the Church ( Deuteronomy 11:3 , Deuteronomy 11:4 ). Pharaoh, in his pride and obstinacy, is a type of world-power universally, in its opposition to God's kingdom ( Romans 9:17 ). But though again and again the waves have thus roared, and the floods have lifted up their voice ( Psalms 93:3 , Psalms 93:4 ), the Lord on high has shown himself mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea (cf. Psalms 83:1-18 .; Isaiah 37:1-38 .; 1 Macc. 4.; Acts 4:23-34 ; Revelations Acts 19:19 ; Acts 20:8 , Acts 20:9 ).

2. The preservation and guidance of the Church itself ( Deuteronomy 11:5 ). In securing the perpetuation of a godly remnant in times of greatest apostasy ( 1 Kings 19:18 ; Romans 11:5 ; Revelations Romans 3:5 ; Romans 11:3 ; Romans 12:17 ); in providing her with a succession of godly teachers ( Matthew 28:20 ; Ephesians 4:11-14 ); in supplying her necessities, spiritual ( John 6:32 , John 6:33 ; 1 Corinthians 10:4 ; 1 Corinthians 12:13 ; Ephesians 3:16 ; Philippians 4:19 ) and temporal ( Matthew 10:9 , Matthew 10:10 ; Acts 4:34 ; 1 Corinthians 9:14 ; Philippians 4:15 , Philippians 4:16 ); in opening up the path of duty ( Acts 16:10 ; Romans 15:30 , Romans 15:31 ; 2 Corinthians 10:13-17 ), in conducting her from one stage of attainment to another ( Ephesians 4:12 , Ephesians 4:13 ).

3. The overthrow of antichristian rebellion within the Church ( Deuteronomy 11:6 ). The insurrection of Korah and his company may be taken as representative of antichristian movements generally. These are bound to arise, but will infallibly be crushed ( 2 Thessalonians 2:3-13 ; 1 John 2:18 ; Revelation 17:1-18 .).

II. OBLIGATIONS ARISING FROM EXPERIENCE OF GOD 'S WONDERFUL WORKS . The older portion of that generation had personally witnessed the wonderful works referred to. This gave them a certain advantage, and made disobedience doubly culpable. These works of God had been:

Those who have lived through any period signalized by remarkable workings of God on behalf of his Church, or whose individual experiences have been remarkable, may learn a lesson. Apply to reformation times, times of religious revival, of deliverance from persecutions, of the forth-putting of God's power in missions, etc. ( 2 Chronicles 31:1-21 :25, 26; Ezra 3:10-13 ; Ezra 6:22 ; Esther 9:27 ; Psalms 40:10 ; Psalms 116:6-9 ; Acts 15:12 ). Such experiences:

1. Furnish peculiar evidences of God ' s grace and power , of the reality of his working in salvation and judgment . These evidences, while not losing their value to later generations, are necessarily of greatest force to those who witness the events.

2. Create impressions of God ' s character and attributes not so readily created by report . It is much to hear of the wonderful works of God from credible witnesses, but hearing with the ear cannot equal, in impressiveness and force, seeing with the eye ( Job 42:5 ).

3. Imply a personal discipline which others have not had the benefit of . The lessons of our experiences may be conveyed to posterity, but the results of them in personal character remain with ourselves. All this lays on those who have had such experiences very special responsibilities. These relate

How are our children to know of God's mighty works in former days, or get the benefit of our own experiences; how are they to be convinced, moved, or instructed by these things, save as the result of diligent parental teaching?—J.O.