Deuteronomy 34:10-12 - Death, Burial, And Encomium Of Moses.

The distinctive greatness of Moses.

These closing verses do not touch upon the character of Moses, but upon his unique position as a prophet. "There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses," etc. ( Deuteronomy 34:10 ). This does not exactly ascribe inferiority, but rather dissimilarity to all who had followed, up to the date of this editorial postscript. "Nothing can have two beginnings;" and in this lies the one and sufficient reason why Moses could not be followed in the after ages by any one who took a like position with his own. Purposely avoiding any outline of the character of Moses, we propose to enumerate a few of those features in which the work of Moses was altogether unique, and ever must so remain.

I. MOSES WAS THE FIRST TO DISCLOSE THE GLORIOUS NATURE OF GOD AND HIS GRACIOUS RELATIONSHIPS TO OUR RACE , AS THE CORNER - STONE OF A GREAT COMMONWEALTH .

II. HE WAS THE FIRST TO PROCLAIM , BY HIS SACRIFICIAL INSTITUTES AND TEACHINGS , THE ONE PRINCIPLE THAT " WITHOUT SHEDDING OF BLOOD IS NO REMISSION ." Sacrifice was adopted in other nations as a human expedient for appeasing Divine wrath; Moses declares it to be a Divine appointment for the acknowledgment of human sin and of the Divine holiness.

III. HE WAS THE FIRST TO PROCLAIM THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES AND THE TRUE BASIS OF THE NOBLEST HUMAN ETHICS " BE YE HOLY ; FOR I AM HOLY ."

IV. HE WAS THE FIRST TO REQUIRE OF A PEOPLE LOVE TO GOD AS THE SPRING OF ALL OBEDIENCE , AND TO ASSIGN AS THE REASON FOR THEIR LOVE THE CARE OF GOD TO THEM . ( Deuteronomy 5:6 ; Deuteronomy 6:1-25 :50)

V. HE WAS THE FIRST , YEA , THE ONLY ONE IN ALL HISTORY , TO DEMAND OF A TYRANT THE LIBERATION OF AN OPPRESSED PEOPLE , AND TO FORM THEM INTO A NEW COMMONWEALTH , WITH THE AVOWED AIM AND PURPOSE OF PLANTING IN THE WORLD A NEW RELIGIOUS FAITH AND LIFE . ( Deuteronomy 7:1-11 ; Deuteronomy 9:1-6 .)

VI. HE WAS THE FIRST WHO MADE PROVISION FOR THE EDUCATION OF A WHOLE PEOPLE IN THE THINGS OF GOD ; WITH VIRTUE AND PIETY FOR ITS LESSONS , AND THE HOME FOR ITS TRAINING - SCHOOL . ( Deuteronomy 31:12 , Deuteronomy 31:13 ; Deuteronomy 6:1-9 ; Deuteronomy 10:12-22 ; Deuteronomy 11:18-21 .)

VII. HE WAS THE FIRST WHO AIMED AT EDUCATING A PEOPLE TO SELF - GOVERNMENT . They were to choose their own officers, judges, and magistrates, according to principles of righteousness. And (as we have shown in loc .) even the government of Jehovah was not forced upon them. Their consent was asked again and again; and their solemn, loud "Amen" was required, confirming the sentence of God as if it were their own. Thus from the first the people were made "workers together with God."

Others might follow on in all these respects, but no one else ever could be like Moses in starting all this new national life, thought, and virtue, in organized form. And yet how much more than one like Moses do we need for a world's regeneration and a Church's education! "If there had been a Law given which should have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the Law." But "what the Law could not do," God has done through our Lord Jesus Christ. Moses can give rules. Only the Lord the Spirit can give life. A Greater than Moses has come, and has created by his power a new commonwealth, whose πολίτευμα is in the heavens. In this "new Jerusalem, which cometh down from God out of heaven," lo! "all things are made Dew ."