Deuteronomy 30:15-20 -

A dread alternative.

While handling substantially the same momentous themes, the aged lawgiver, as if the thought were oppressing him that he should very soon speak his last word, becomes more and more intensely earnest, and mingles a solemnity and pathos which may well be followed by those whose work it is to "warn every man, and teach every man in all wisdom," that they may "present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." Here is presented to us a series of considerations, which are cumulative in their force, and which should be deeply pondered in strict order of progress.

I. HERE IS A GREAT MASS OF TRUTH SET BEFORE MEN 'S CONSCIENCES AND HEARTS . There are a few words and phrases here given, in form most short and simple, yet in meaning how august! how deep! how high! They are such as these—God,—the Lord thy God,—good,—evil,—life,—death,—blessing,—cursing. "Dread words! whose meaning has no end, no bound." There are immeasurable, yea, infinite realities behind them. And having once been lodged in the conscience with the significance which is theirs, no power can dislodge them, nor can any one cause it to be to the man as if he had never heard them.

II. THERE IS A GREAT DUTY WHICH PRESSES ON MEN WITH WHOM THIS TRUTH IS DEPOSITED . (See Deuteronomy 30:16 , Deuteronomy 30:20 .) To love the Lord, to obey him, to cleave to him, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and judgments,—this is obviously the right course for men to follow. On many grounds.

1. The Lord God is holy, and all his commandments are so too; and it is intrinsically and manifestly right to follow what is holy.

2. As our Maker and Preserver, God has supreme claims on our loyalty of heart and life.

3. As our Lawgiver, he has the infinite right to require our obedience.

4. As our Infinite Benefactor, having commended his love towards us, having bought us with a price, he has a claim of love as well as a right of law. And it is not possible for a man to dispute this claim unless his nature is becoming so perverted that he begins to call evil good, or good evil.

III. THERE IS A GREAT BLESSING WHICH WILL FOLLOW OUR LOYALTY AND OBEDIENCE . This is so under the gospel, as really as under the Law. For the Law rested on a basis of gospel, and the gospel brings with it its own law. How can it be otherwise? The gospel call is, "Repent, believe, obey." This is the precise and immutable order. The grace of God teaches us that "we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope," etc. And we know what is the promised issue: " Godliness … hath promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." "For God is our life and the length of our days." Peace, joy, hope, and all joyful graces and blessings attend on a life which is in accordance with God's will.

IV. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THAT OPPOSITE MORAL COURSES SHOULD HAVE LIKE ISSUES . Men going in opposite directions, in a right line, on a plane surface, from the same point, can never meet. If to love and obey God be good and tends to good, then the reverse must be evil, and can work nothing but evil. And such ill effects must, for aught we know, go on forever and ever, unless something or some being interposes ( Deuteronomy 30:18 ). The prolongation of Israel's life in the Promised Land, even though they reached it in peace, would depend on the continuity of their obedience to their God. They rebelled. Their kingdom was broken up; their people were carried captive; and the sad story already rehearsed became theirs. And if now men quit the leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ, there will be—there must be, a sorer condemnation than for those who rebelled against the Law of Moses ( Hebrews 6:1-20 ; Hebrews 9:1-28 ; Hebrews 10:1-39 .; John 3:36 ). The outlook for the despisers of Christ, in the next life, is darkness without a gleam of the light of hope in the distant horizon. And even in this life nothing but woe can possibly be to him who striveth with his Maker.

V. THERE ARE WITNESSES THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN LEFT UNDIRECTED AND UN - WARNED . ( Deuteronomy 30:19 .) Compare with this solemn adjuration of Moses that of Paul in Acts 20:26 , Acts 20:27 ; Philippians 1:8 . "Heaven" was witness. For every warning given to men in God's Name is known and received on high. " Earth " is witness, for the record of the warning is published to the world. And the warning itself was heard by thousands of ears , and was heard of by many thousands more. By the very directions of our Lord, we are to proclaim to the many, not to whisper to a few.

VI. SUCH OPEN HERALDING SHOULD PREVENT ANY ONE WHO HEARS THE MESSAGE FROM CHERISHING THE HOPE OF SCREENING HIMSELF UNDER FALSE PRETENCES . The following passages may be compared with our text:— Ezekiel 33:2-5 , Ezekiel 33:9 ; Matthew 12:41 , Matthew 12:42 ; Matthew 8:11 , Matthew 8:12 . If any one, having heard the gospel message in all its fullness and freeness, should ever attempt to throw the blame of his destruction upon others, the light of eternity will be to his complete unmasking and discomfiture. No false pretences will stand in the judgment ( Psalms 1:1-6 .).

VII. AN OUTLOOK SUCH AS THIS MAY WELL GIVE A DEEP AND DEEPENING EARNESTNESS TO A PREACHER 'S TONE . Specially:

1. If he is nearing the close of his course.

2. If a year is approaching its close.

3. If he realizes the thought that soon, very soon, some of his hearers may be in the eternal world.

4. If he gives due heed to the thought that, even apart from the possible nearness of the next life, the accidents of time may make the period exceedingly short for teaching and warning any one individual.

VIII. AFTER ALL , THERE IS A LIMIT BEYOND WHICH NO HERALD FOR GOD CAN GO . He may teach and warn and plead, but when he has done that —where his responsibility ends , that of the hearer begins ; Matthew 8:19 , "therefore choose life." The preacher witnesses. The hearer must be left alone with God and his own conscience to decide the all-important question, on which a whole eternity depends. Man can direct his fellowman to God. He may plead and beseech, even weeping. He may, as in Christ's stead, pray, "Be reconciled to God." But on the hearer alone the full responsibility for the final step must rest. We may point to God: but we cannot come between the soul and God. We can herald the way: but we cannot lead the soul along the paths of righteousness ( Ezekiel 33:4 ). Hence the final word must be, "Choose life." "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve." With the power of free choice man cannot interfere. With it God will not trifle. And what should be the effect of such an appeal, but to shut the sinner up alone with his God, that between him and Heaven the great matters of life and death may be decided, and that, with the judgment seat alone in view, in full sincerity of soul, the sinner, pressed with the weight of the Divine claims, may then and there "repent," and "yield himself unto God?" And if then, conscious of the feebleness of a will weakened by so oft determining on the wrong side, he cries, "Lord, help me, and I will be thine forever," a regal love shall cancel past sin and completely forgive; and a gracious power shall cure the weakness and perfectly restore!

HOMILIES BY J. ORR