Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 3:24
O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to show thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God [is there] in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?
24. O Lord God ] Heb. my Lord Jehovah.
thou hast begun ] But not fulfilled in my sight! A pathetic emphasis. Moses prayed to see with his own eyes the completion of the great Providence carried so far at his hands. This temper is characteristic of all Deuteronomy: the passion to experience the full-rounded Providence of God in this life, absolutely no hope of another! As time went on a nobler trust was born. The servant of Jehovah cut off from the land of the living, yet sees of the travail of his soul and is satisfied (Isa 53:11); and Jesus becoming obedient even unto death (Php 2:8), for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame (Heb 12:2). Let this cup pass from me nevertheless thy will be done.
thy greatness ] Deu 5:24, Deu 9:26, Deu 11:2; and thy strong hand, see Deu 4:34.
what god is there, etc.] Exo 15:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verses 24. – 25. The prayer of Moses recorded in these two verses, and his own reflections on it, De 3:26, are very affecting. He had suffered much both in body and mind in bringing the people to the borders of the promised land; and it was natural enough for him to wish to see them established in it, and to enjoy a portion of that inheritance himself, which he knew was a type of the heavenly country. But notwithstanding his very earnest prayer, and God’s especial favour towards him, he was not permitted to go over Jordan! He had grieved the Spirit of God, and he passed a sentence against him of exclusion from the promised land. Yet he permitted him to see it, and gave him the fullest assurances that the people whom he had brought out of Egypt should possess it. Thus God may choose to deprive those of earthly possessions to whom he is nevertheless determined to give a heavenly inheritance.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
O Lord God, thou hast begun to show thy servant thy greatness and thy mighty hand,…. To give a specimen of the greatness of his power in subduing the two kings and their kingdoms, and delivering them up into the hands of the Israelites. Moses had seen instances of the mighty power of God in Egypt, at the Red sea, and in the wilderness; but this was the beginning of his power, in vanquishing the Canaanites, and putting their land into the possession of the Israelites, as he had promised; of which the Amorites were a part, and a principal nation of them: and thus God, when he begins a work of grace upon the soul of man, begins to show the exceeding greatness of his power, and which is further exerted in carrying it on, and bringing it to perfection:
for what God is there in heaven or in earth that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? here Moses speaks according to the notion of Heathens, who supposed there were other gods in heaven and in earth besides the true God; and upon this supposition observes, let there be as many as they will, or can be imagined, there is none of them like the Lord God of Israel for power and might; or are able to do such works as he has done, in nature, in the creation of all things out of nothing, in providence, in supporting what he has made, and in governing the world; and in those amazing instances of his power, in bringing down judgments upon wicked men, kings, and kingdoms; and in the deliverance of his own people from them, and putting them and their kingdoms into the possession of them; which were the wondrous works of might Moses had in view, and a sense of which was impressed on his mind at this time.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Ver. 24. What god is there in heaven, &c. Moses here speaks in reference to the popular notion of the times concerning particular and tutelary gods; yet, at the same time, with a full confession of his belief in the omnipotence of Jehovah. St. Paul, 1Co 8:5 seems plainly to refer to this passage.
See commentary on Deu 3:29
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
“Handfuls of Purpose”
For All Gleaners
“Thou hast begun to skew thy servant thy greatness.” Deu 3:24
This is what is always happening.
The broadest revelation is but a beginning of the disclosure of divine riches. Even if there be no more seed given, the possibilities of growth and development are infinite. At the last we shall feel that we have but begun to see the greatness of God. This is the glory of the Bible: no man can read it through with the feeling that he has exhausted its whole meaning. The Bible grows by being read. Without doing any violence to words or to historical forms it is felt that again and again new meanings surprise the soul like unexpected light. The same rule holds good with regard to providence, or the daily ministry of life. There comes a day in every man’s history when he sees the beginning of the greatness of God in the outlining and direction of his own life. Looking back to his fancy, his weakness, his poverty, his friendlessness it may be, he is surprised to find how out of the very dust of the earth God has made a man. It is a singular testimony but universal in the Christian Church that God is never regarded as a dwindling quantity or as a contracting revelation; he is always represented as surprising students, believers, worshippers, with new resources. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. When man has overtaken God he will himself be God. It is of the very essence of God that he should be unsearchable and his wisdom past finding out. This should be an encouragement to us in our spiritual education. Progress should be the law and the motto of every process of spiritual inquiry. There is always some unattained height, some unmeasured orb, some un-traversed ocean. “I count not myself to have apprehended.” Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. All human education is but a series of beginnings. Finality in religious progress is impossible, and where it is supposed to have been attained the supposition risks the destiny of the soul.
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker
Deu 3:24 O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God [is there] in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?
Ver. 24. What god is there? ] Whether deputed or reputed?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Lord GOD = Adonai J’ehovah. See App-4. This prayer not mentioned elsewhere.
hand. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), put for works wrought by the hand.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
thy greatness: Deu 11:2, Neh 9:32, Psa 106:2, Psa 145:3, Psa 145:6, Jer 32:18-21
what God: Exo 15:11, 2Sa 7:22, Psa 35:10, Psa 71:19, Psa 86:8, Psa 89:6, Psa 89:8, Isa 40:18, Isa 40:25, Jer 10:6, Dan 3:29
Reciprocal: 1Sa 2:2 – rock 1Ki 8:42 – thy strong hand 1Ch 17:20 – none Psa 150:2 – according 1Co 8:4 – there is Heb 3:5 – as
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3:24 O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God [is there] in heaven or in earth, that can {i} do according to thy works, and according to thy might?
(i) He speaks according to the common and corrupt speech of those who attribute power to idols that only belongs to God.