Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 33:29
Happy [art] thou, O Israel: who [is] like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who [is] the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
29. The metre here is irregular, the first line is overloaded, the third too short, but the text is mostly confirmed by the Versions.
shield ] God as shield, Gen 15:1, Psa 3:3 (4), Psa 18:2; Psa 18:30 (3, 31), Psa 84:11 (12).
that is ] So Heb.; but omit with Sam. LXX.
excellency ] The same word as in Deu 33:26, but here in the passive sense of being exalted.
come to thee fawning ] Or cringing. Psa 18:44 (45), Psa 66:3, Psa 81:15 (16).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Be found liars unto thee – Perhaps rather, cringe before thee. The verb means to show a feigned or forced obedience: see the marginal references.
Tread upon their high places – i. e., occupy the commanding positions in their land, and so have it in subjection.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Deu 33:29
Happy art thou, O Israel.
The peerless nation
The word Israel never grows old. It is a name that, though it figures on the page of history as a name of long, long ago, still lives, and lives to represent a living people at this day. When Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzars dream, he said (Dan 2:44). That kingdom is the kingdom of Immanuel It is composed of those who love and trust and serve the once despised Jesus. These are the true Israel. The true Israel, like the Israel of old, have been saved out of Egypt. Egypt represents darkness, bondage, misery, idolatry, the whip of the taskmaster, the toilsome mockery of vain labour–bricks without straw. Again Israel today, like the Israel of old, is a separate and distinctive people. Those ancient people were altogether different from the various nations who dwelt around them, and through whose territories they passed. They were subjected to singular laws, such as none other people would acknowledge or obey. They had a religion, had customs unlike those of any other race or tribe. Their fashion of dress, their mode of speech, their manner of worship, their acknowledgment of a King unseen, a sceptre superhuman–all these proclaimed them to be peculiar, separate, distinct, alone. All the world besides were Gentiles; they alone were Jews. That is the unchanging characteristic of the real, spiritual Israel of God today. This distinction does not now refer to any special external sign. It is not a matter of dress, of language, or of manners. It is a difference in moral allegiance, a difference in heart, a difference in motives, a difference in aims and ends; a difference made evident by a godly and a consecrated life. Come ye out from among them! says the Book, prompt and peremptory. Where it is so, then, happiest is Israel, saved of the Lord. Our Israel, like Israel of old, is a pilgrim people. From the Egypt of bondage the former marched, without long-abiding resting place, to the land of promise that lay beyond. So the Saviours Israel goes forward, forward towards holiness, forward towards heaven. This is not their rest, and they know it; and so they will not set their affections on things of the earth; will not clog and trammel themselves with aught that will hinder their march, or risk their ultimate inheritance. Each one grips his staff, and girds his loins and goes on his pilgrim way, Westward ho, and often sees the distant hills of Canaan tinged with the glow of the setting sun. Happy thus, I tell you, is Israel, for he is the saved of the Lord, and the crowning glory of that salvation shines brightly on before. Again, Israel, like the Israel of old, is a tried and tempted people. They had hardships and sufferings, they had perils and pains. The more they were loyal to God and their leader, the more they were plagued by the hostilities of men. It is so with Israel still. They can buy a little transient ease, by cringing to custom, toying with expediency, shirking duty and coquetting with the world; but it is dearly bought; and as with the former Israel, such alliances bring a harvest of thorns. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but in Me shall ye have peace, and with that compensation, the very trials of the way become triumphs, and the crosses are transformed to crowns. Behold, we count them happy that endure. Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. O yes, Moses speaks the simple truth, Israel, Immanuels Israel is happy I He is chosen of God. I have loved thee, He says, with an everlasting love. With loving kindness have I chosen thee, my jewel, my portion, my delight! He is redeemed! Out of what bondage, what darkness, what slavish toil his God hath brought him! Out of what deadly peril He hath snatched him! Out of what dread and doubt and fear and sad distress He hath uplifted, him! His own right hand and holy arm hath gotten Him the victory! Besides, Israel is led by His hand, guarded by His arm, cheered by His presence. He appoints Israels every place and circumstance. He marks out all their way. He keeps their foot from perilous byways, and like Greatheart with the pilgrims, goeth with drawn sword before them all the way. (J. J. Wray.)
The happiness of Gods chosen people
I. The guidance of a Divine Leader. Two elements here meet in the special knowledge which is supplied for the guidance of the Christian Israel; elements which in knowledge are of supreme value. There is the element of importance and the element of certainty, Christ has not come into the world to lead His Israel, without the need and the capacity to make the most important of all questions known. The pardon of sin and the way in which it is to be secured; the standard of duty and the means of being raised up to it; the existence of a life beyond the grave and the possibility of reaching it; these, and all that is included in these, are the points on which the God of Israel through His Son has showed His people light; and therefore the glad strain is everywhere heard, Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound! But the certainty of this knowledge is equal to its importance. It is often said, How can a professed revelation which deals with matters of history, and history too, now hundreds of years old, bring with it certainty, original and soul satisfying certainty? Now I am prepared to take up this challenge, and to show that Christians have an original and soul satisfying certainty in regard to Christ and His salvation, such as men have not in regard to many of the operations of their daily life. How much of your most needful knowledge in ordinary life is second hand! But in regard to salvation, the highest and saving knowledge must be repeated by everyone in direct contact with the living God, who carries the testimony of His Word home to the soul by the voice of conscience and of the Holy Spirit. Surely, then, those are blessed to whom a fountain of certainty is thus opened, which flows with ever-increasing stream.
II. The memory of a great deliverance. The Christian, awakened to the ruin of his state through sin, has stood as on the brink of a Red Sea of guilt, formed by the swelling of his own trespasses, with the avenger behind, and no possible escape before. But behold, the Cross of Christ, stretched out with a mightier power than the rod of Moses, has opened a way through the depths, and he has passed safely over into the land where the ransomed and pardoned dwell, and shall never come into condemnation. He sees his grand enemy and all his host defeated and destroyed, while the prey is taken from the mighty, and the lawful captive delivered. It is a rescue not for time only, but for eternity; and, with unutterable joy mingled with trembling, he sings, not the song of Moses, but of the Lamb: O Lord, I will praise Thee with all my heart, and I will glorify Thy name forever, for great is Thy mercy towards me, and Thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell! The rescue is once for all; but as Israel by disobedience entailed repeated enslavement, so do Christians, alas! by renewed sin, incur once and again the painful sense of loss and danger; and as deliverance again comes, with the assurance of pardon: I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins; return unto Me, for I have redeemed thee! the voice of penitent Israel renews the grateful strain: Sing, O ye heavens, etc. (Isa 44:23).
III. The prospect of certain victory. Our warfare is on Gods side with rebellion against God, with the temples of idolatry, superstition, and false religion, with the dark embattled hosts of pride and lust, of avarice and cruelty from one end of the world to the other. Wherever the Canaanite is still in the land; wherever there is that within us or without us, that exalts itself against God, there must our deadly strife be to bring it down; and every high thought must be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. The range of our spiritual geography is very limited. There remains much land to be possessed. But this is our great, our arduous, our worldwide mission, impossible to ourselves, but possible with God, and made by Him at once our duty and our happiness.
IV. A glorious inheritance. The conquests of Israel became their own possessions. The warrior was turned into the colonist. The army of invasion was turned into a peaceful army of occupation, dispersed amidst the scenes of their exploits over hill and valley, sitting each under his vine and fig tree with none to make him afraid. In the centre was the tabernacle of Jehovah; and the pillar which had led them to battle, and sent out its guiding light on their path, now diffused its mild and gracious beams over the abodes of rest and worship to the extremities of the land. Here was an emblem of the Christian Church translated to heaven. But how feeble and defective a figure after all are these sweet fields beyond the swelling flood, of the heavenly Canaan! With the outward victory of Israel, redemption was still incomplete and waited for a higher stage; God was still distant, dwelling in one selected spot, and leaving the rest in comparative shadow; Canaan itself, the joy of all lands, might be deteriorated, as it has been, to sterility and barrenness; and the people, them divinely settled, might for their sins be rooted up and scattered among the nations! What a contrast have we here to that inheritance, yet future, on which the hope of the Christian rests, and by which all the toils and conflicts of earth are to be crowned! Redemption has now reached its limit. The great Captain has come, temple. In conclusion, let me urge, that the blessedness of Israel, though guarded and defined, is not exclusive. The question Who is like unto thee? does not indicate anything restricted and unattainable. Even in ancient days, the sons of the stranger might come bending to take hold on Israels God, and claim the blessings of His covenant; and how much more in Gospel times, when every wall of partition is broken down, and all, who see Christ with Abrahams faith, are Abrahams seed, and heirs according to the promise. Yes l however far off you may have been, you may now be made nigh by the blood of Christ! (John Cairns, D. D.)
Happiness: the privilege and duty of Christians
When you praise a mans position, it is the next thing to flattering the man himself, for most men do not divide between themselves and their condition, but read a commendation of their condition as a commendation of themselves, though it be not so. Hence one has sometimes to be very chary of calling men happy; and all the more so because we cannot generally be sure that they are happy; external circumstances being but a poor means of judgment. Yet Moses speaks thus openly to Israel without a word of qualification. We are sure he did not speak ignorantly or rashly. Israel was happy. The people were favoured, and it was right for them to be told so. I think that Moses eulogised the nation to console them for his departure. I climb the mount to go away to God, but happy art thou, O Israel: whether Moses be with thee or not, God is with thee. I think also that he had in his minds eye the fact that they were now about to face new difficulties. Happy art thou, O Israel: thou art about to throw thyself into the midst of ferocious tribes who will all conspire to cut thee off; but thou art a people saved of the Lord; thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee, and thou shalt tread upon their high places. So, then, it is right to commend a mans condition, if you have a wise motive for it, and can either console him under trouble or inspire him for future service.
I. The happy condition of Gods people. If you have been born again and saved, you are the pick and choice of all Gods creatures, and He has indulged you with a measure of love and kindness such as He has shown to none else. Would you barter grace for gain? Gold cannot lighten the heavy heart or cool the burning brow; far oftener it cankers the soul, and lies like a weight upon the spirit. Turn you, if you will, to those famous for knowledge, men of skill, and wit, and research; yet among these there are none to be found comparable in happiness to Christians. Wealth, rank, learning fame pleasure, and all else that man holds dear, we would gladly renounce for the joy of our Lord. Israel knew what it was to be saved in many ways, and so do we. We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, fed with the bread of heaven, and made to drink of water from the Rock of Ages; and as for our adversaries, they have not been able to harm us, for the Lord has saved us unto this day.
II. The result of realising our blessed estate. Upon this subject there ought to be no need to dilate, for each heir of heaven should live in the hourly enjoyment of his divine inheritance; but, alas, few are doing so. Surely spiritual blessings are the only ones men decline to enjoy. You should enjoy your privileges and be happy, because–
1. It tends to keep our allegiance to God unshaken. It is because you lose the sweet flavour of the waters of the flowing fountain that you dabble in those muddy, stagnant gatherings which linger in the broken cisterns.
2. It will create enthusiasm and a grateful love within your bosom.
3. It will give you confidence to expect other blessings. Gratitude for the past inspires with courage for the future.
4. It will give you strength for bearing all your burdens and courage for facing all your enemies.
5. For Christians to be happy is one of the surest ways to set them seeking the salvation of others. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 29. Happy art thou, c.] ashrey. O the happiness of Israel! it is ineffable, inconceivable, because they are a people saved by the Lord – have such a salvation as it becomes the infinite perfections of God to bestow he is their help – their never-failing strength, and the shield of that help – he defends their defence, saves them and preserves them in the state of salvation.
Sword of thy excellency] Or whose sword – his all-conquering WORD, is thine excellency, in its promises, threatenings, precepts, c., c. St. Paul, in his exhortation to the Christians at Ephesus, uses the same metaphor, Take unto you the SWORD of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD.
Thine enemies shall be found liars] Who said thou shouldst never be able to gain the possession of this good land for thou shalt tread on – subdue, their high places – even their best fortified cities.
THE blessings contained in this chapter belong also to the spiritual Israel of God, who, according to the Divine promise, shall have a complete victory over all their spiritual foes, shall have all their inward enemies, the whole of the carnal mind, destroyed, (for the blood of Jesus Christ, applied by the energy of the eternal Spirit, shall not only blot out all their sin, but purify their hearts from all unrighteousness) and thus, being delivered from their enemies, they shall love God with all their heart, and serve him in righteousness and true holiness, without fear before him all the days of their life. There are many circumstances and expressions in this ode similar to several in the prophetical blessing pronounced by Jacob on his twelve sons, Gen. xlix., for the subject is the same in both chapters, the reader is therefore requested to compare the two places, and to consider the notes on each, as they have some tendency to cast light on each other. Both these chapters constitute a part of those Scriptures which, according to St. Paul, Ro 15:4, were written for our learning; and, as to instruct the reader and make him wise unto salvation was the gracious design of God, we should particularly beg of him “that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, by patience and comfort of his holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which he has given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ” – Collect for the second Sunday in Advent.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Saved by the Lord, the giver and preserver of all that excellency, that glory, safety, and happiness, which thou hast above all other people, which thou dost not obtain either by or for thy own wisdom, or strength, or goodness.
The sword of thy excellency, or, thy most excellent sword, i.e. thy strength and the author of all this, past or approaching victories.
Shall be found liars unto thee, i.e. shall be deceived, as to all their vain hopes and confidences of destroying thee or saving themselves, whether grounded upon their own numbers, and valour, and strong holds, or upon old prophecies and predictions of success, or upon their idols. Or, shall lie unto thee, i.e. shall submit themselves to thee, though it be done but feignedly and by constraint, as this phrase is used, Psa 18:44; 66:3; 81:15. Possibly this may design the lies and frauds which the Gibeonites would use to deceive them, Jos 9:4.
Thou shalt tread upon their high places, i.e. thou shalt subdue their greatest princes, and their strongest holds, Deu 32:13, and their idols, temples, and worship.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
26-29. There is none like unto theGod of JeshurunThe chapter concludes with a congratulatoryaddress to Israel on their peculiar happiness and privilege in havingJehovah for their God and protector.
who rideth upon the heaven inthy helpan evident allusion to the pillar of cloud and fire,which was both the guide and shelter of Israel.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Happy [art] thou, O Israel,…. This is the conclusion of the blessing on Israel summed up in a few words; they having God to be their God, and having so many good things promised them, and in sight of them; being now got through, the wilderness, and on the borders of the land of Canaan; as all such must be happy, whose covenant God is the Lord; since they must be beloved of him, chosen by him, and blessed with all spiritual blessings; and in the faith, hope, and view of eternal happiness:
who [is] like unto thee? for an interest in the favour of God, for a share in the blessings of goodness, for a good God, a good land, and good laws; for wisdom and knowledge, for riches and honour, for holiness and happiness:
O people saved by the Lord; redeemed by him out of Egypt, preserved in the wilderness, saved from many dangers and enemies, and now brought near to the land of Canaan. The Targum of Jonathan is,
“saved or redeemed in the name of the word of the Lord:”
by whom the spiritual Israel of God are redeemed from all their sins, from the curses of the law, and out of the hand of all their enemies; and are and will be completely saved in soul and body, with an everlasting salvation:
the shield of thy help; that, is, the Lord, by whom they are saved; he is the shield that protects them; the shield of faith and of salvation, which faith lays hold on and makes use of for its defence, and who is the help of his people in all times of trouble:
and who is the sword of thy excellency; to destroy their enemies, and whereby they would be raised to that excellency and glory they were in the land of Canaan;
and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; who threatened what they would do unto them, but were not able: or “shall lie unto thee” o, be in such dread and fear as to tell lies to save themselves, and pretend to be what they were not, as the Gibeonites did, of whom Jarchi interprets this passage:
and thou shall tread upon their, high places; be possessed of their cities and fortresses, built on an eminence; see De 32:13; all the three Targums, and so Jarchi, interpret it of treading on the necks of their kings, which was fulfilled, Jos 10:24.
o “mentientur”, Montanus, Tigurine version; “mentiuntur”, Cocceius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
29 Happy art thou, O Israel. He again exclaims that happy is the people, whose salvation is in God; and surely this is the only true happiness; for unless we ascend to the first cause of Salvation, all salvations, so to speak, are but transitory. And, since God had honored the Israelites alone with this privilege, their condition is here distinguished from the common lot of the whole human race. By the words shield and sword is meant a perfect defense, as much as to say, that no part of their armor was to be sought elsewhere.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(29) Thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee.See Psa. 66:3 : Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves (i.e., lie) unto thee. The idea is, that the enemies of the conqueror will hasten to throw themselves at his feet, protesting that they were always his friends. (Compare Shimeis repentance on the occasion of Davids return to Jerusalem, 2Sa. 19:18.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
29. Thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee They will appear openly as enemies. Their fear will cause them to dissemble. As in the case of the Gibeonites. Joshua 9.
And thou shalt tread upon their high places Israel shall tread as a conqueror.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Deu 33:29
Happy are you, O Israel:
Who is like to you, a people saved by Yahweh?
The shield of your help,
And the sword of your excellency!
And your enemies will submit themselves to you,
And you will tread on their high places.
He finishes his poem in confidence. What a happy position Israel are in, for they are unique among nations, they have been delivered by Yahweh. He is to them a shield and a sword, a shield to help and protect them and with which to thrust back the enemy, and a sword to fight on their behalf so that they might be triumphant. Thus will their enemies submit to them and their high places be trodden down.
“High places.” These were the places on which the Canaanites worshipped their gods and called for help against the invaders, known to Israel from their knowledge of Baalism in Egypt. They were the evidence that the land belonged to Baal and Asherah. Their treading down will demonstrate that those ‘nothings’ have been defeated, and will expel them, destroy them and render them inoperative.
But ‘high places’ (bamoth) may possibly be translated ‘backs’ based on Ugaritic ‘bmt’, and would then signify complete victory.
Note.
We have not tried to demonstrate the blessing in a chiastic pattern but there are reasons for thinking that it is so. Thus both near the beginning and towards the end are mentions of Jeshurun (Deu 33:5 and Deu 33:26). The blessing begins with Yahweh on Mount Sinai and closes with mention of ‘high places’ (Deu 33:29 b). Yahweh comes forth as a deliverer and at the end his people delight in their deliverance (Deu 33:29 a). The first five verses indicate that Yahweh has come to bless His people and the last four verses indicate that He will do so. And in between are given the blessings on the individual tribes.
(End of note.)
Ver. 29. Happy art thou, O Israel! See ver. 26, &c. GOD is there said to have none like Him; so is Israel here: HE is superior to all created beings, because they obey Him: they are superior to other nations, because he has saved them: in both places they are represented as being under his particular providence, assisted by Him in conquering their enemies, and admitted by Him into their country. Might not this song, therefore, have been penned with a view to be sung in different parts: the first part by the men, the other by the women, as was done in that song which celebrates the miraculous passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea? What is rendered, thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee, I render, shall submit themselves; the word kichesh, besides the signification of denying, or concealing the truth, signifies also, to submit oneself, and is accordingly thus rendered in many places by our translators. See 2Sa 22:45. Psa 18:44; Psa 66:3; Psa 81:15 and Castelli Lexicon. Though high-places, bamoth, generally denotes such as were appropriated to the religious rites of idolaters, it is likewise used for intrenchments, or fortifications on eminences, and it is most probably to be understood here in both senses. The Jerusalem Targum renders the sentence, thou shalt tread upon the necks of their kings. See 2Sa 19:25; 2Sa 22:34. Durell. We just observe, respecting the word kichesh, that, according to Parkhurst, its primary signification is, to fail, be deficient, or wanting; and therefore it may be rendered literally, thine enemies shall fail before thee. See Hos 9:2. Hab 3:17.
REFLECTIONS.He concludes his long with a high character of Israel’s God, and a glorious account of God’s Israel. 1. Israel’s God is glorious above all gods; the heavens are his chariot, shewing his majesty and honour, under his government, and armed to execute his orders: eternal in his self-existent essence, almighty in power and universal dominion. Note; We can never sufficiently exalt and extol the God of glory; for, when we have raised our conceptions and praises to the highest pitch, he is still far above all blessing and praise. 2. The Israel of God is glorious too, in the love, care, protection, and blessing of such a God. He is their refuge or dwelling-place; a refuge to fly to, as the man-slayer did, for deliverance from sin, death, and hell. A mansion, where the soul may rest, comfortable and secure, under the shadow of a covenant God. And underneath are the everlasting arms, to embrace and comfort them, to protect and preserve them. He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; strongly entrenched and powerful as their armies may be, the commission is signed for their destruction; he shall say, Destroy them. In judgment, the Canaanites must perish, and Israel be the executioner of divine vengeance. Note; Christ Jesus has, by once dying, destroyed the devil and his works, and all his redeemed people go forth under his banner, conquering and to conquer. Israel then shall dwell in safety alone; for what can disturb their repose, who have God for their refuge? With his presence, they never can be solitary; and, whilst detached from the idolatry around them, are thus secure from fear of evil. Note; The more separate we are from the world, generally speaking, the safer; little compliances often bring on great and dangerous consequences. The fountain of Jacob, the people derived from him their source, and, flowing downward still to future generations, shall be upon a land of corn and wine, with which Canaan, their happy lot, abounded: also his heavens shall drop down the dew, refreshing and timely showers shall impregnate the earth with fertility: thus Jesus causes the dew of his heavenly influences to descend on his people’s hearts, which makes them revive as the corn, and grow as the vine. Well may it be said after such an assemblage of blessings, Happy art thou, O Israel, Who is like unto thee? whom no foes can approach, because a people saved of the Lord; covered from every assault by him, who is the shield of thy help; and armed with those offensive weapons, whose piercing edge no tempered armour can resist, even the sword of his excellency. Note; Every spiritual Israelite is clad in the divine panoply: the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, and the helmet of salvation, secure him from danger, enable him to fight and subdue every enemy of his soul. Thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee, their proud vauntings shall be confounded, and their threatened rage disappointed; and thou shalt tread upon their high places, triumphantly reign over them, casting down their strongest-holds, and treading under foot their idols, whose groves and temples were usually on the high places, and thus shall God do for his believing people, bruising Satan under their feet, casting down imaginations, and every high thought which exalteth itself within them, and bringeth the whole man into the obedience of Christ, who shall reign in the believer’s heart as their king on earth, before they are brought to reign with him as kings in glory everlasting.
See commentary on Deu 33:26
DISCOURSE: 242 Deu 33:29. Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency!
THE God of Israel is infinitely exalted above all the gods of the heathen: and though there cannot be any such disparity between one creature and another, as between the Creator and the creature, yet is there a wonderful difference between the people of God and all other people upon the face of the whole earth. This indeed is a necessary consequence of the former: for, if there be no god like the God of Israel, there can be no people like the Israel of God, since they, and they only, have Jehovah for their God. These truths are united in the passage before us: the former had been mentioned in a preceding verse [Note: ver. 26.]; and, in the text, the latter is declared, together with its dependence on the former.
From these words we shall consider,
I.
The happiness of Gods people
The manner in which Moses speaks on this subject is worthy of notice: we may observe in his address to Israel a strong persuasion of the truth he was uttering, an unfeigned delight in declaring it, and an affectionate solicitude, that they might both be persuaded of it themselves, and live in the comfortable enjoyment of it. He affirms that they were,
1.
Truly happy
[It is Gods own declaration, Happy art thou, O Israel! and, if appearances were ever so unfavourable, we might be sure that his judgment was according to truth. But this testimony agrees with the experience of Gods people in every age. They are represented as possessing a peace that passeth understanding, and a joy that is unspeakable and glorified. Is it objected that they are also represented as mourning [Note: Mat 5:3-4.], as tempted [Note: Jam 1:2; Jam 1:12.], as persecuted [Note: Luk 6:22-23; 1Pe 4:14.]? True; yet none of these things interfere with their real happiness; yea, instead of destroying, they advance it [Note: See the passages just referred to.]. If then they can be happy in such situations as these [Note: Act 16:23-25.], and even derive happiness from these situations [Note: Act 5:41; 2Co 12:10.], they must be truly happy.]
2.
Incomparably happy
[It is God himself who challenges all mankind to vie with his people; and this too, not in respect of privileges merely, or of prospects, but in respect of present enjoyments. Who are they that will presume to rival the Lords people? Ye great, ye rich, ye gay, what is your happiness, when compared with that which Gods Israel possess? Is not all your happiness mixed with gall? Is it not altogether dependent on the creature? Is it not cloying, even in the very possession? Do you not find it transient, and, on the whole, delusive, promising far more in the anticipation than it ever affords in the enjoyment? In all these things it is the very reverse of the Christians happiness. His, as far as it is derived from spiritual things, is unmixed: none can rob him of it, because none can intercept the visits of his God: no man was ever surfeited with spiritual delights: if we lived to the age of Methuselah, we might, by a retrospect, revive a sense of them in our souls: and, if our expectations be raised to ever so high a pitch, the reality will far exceed them. We will therefore confidently repeat the challenge, and say, as in the text, Who is like unto thee, O people, saved by the Lord?]
To shew that this is no enthusiastic conceit, we proceed to notice,
II.
The grounds of their happiness
It will soon appear that their blessedness is not a baseless fabric, if we consider,
1.
What God has done for them
[They are a people saved by the Lord. Salvation is not a blessing which they merely hope for, but which they already possess. They are saved from the guilt and punishment of sin: all their iniquities are blotted out; and there remains no condemnation to them: they are complete in Christ; they stand before God without spot or blemish. But great as this mercy is, they would not be truly happy, if they were not also saved from the power and dominion of sin. It is true, they yet carry about with them a body of sin and death; but they never commit iniquity as they were wont to do in their unregenerate state: they cannot sin thus, because they are born of God, and his seed remaineth in them. God has promised that sin shall not have dominion over them; and they experience the accomplishment of this promise to their souls, being redeemed from all iniquity, and purified unto God a peculiar people zealous of good works [Note: Tit 2:14.].
And is not this salvation a ground of happiness, more especially if we consider by whom it was procured, and by whom conferred? It was the Lord, even Jesus, who purchased our freedom from guilt; and it is the Lord, even the Holy Ghost, who vouchsafes us a deliverance from sin. Surely such a salvation, bought at such a price, and imparted by such an agent, cannot but be a source of unspeakable felicity to the soul.]
2.
What God will be unto them
[In vain would all past mercies be, if they were not secured to them by the continued agency of Jehovah. A vessel fitted out and freighted, would not more certainly be overwhelmed by storms, if destitute of a pilot, than man, however gifted, would become a prey to Satan, if he were not constantly aided and protected by his God. But Israel is happy in this respect also, since, notwithstanding he is yet upon the field of battle, he is placed, if we may so speak, beyond the reach of harm. He is not only furnished with defensive and offensive armour, but has God himself for his shield, and God himself for his sword; so that his enemies must elude Omniscience, before they can destroy him; and must withstand Omnipotence if they do not fall before him. Hence it is that he attains such excellency, and proves victorious in all his conflicts. Application
[To whom, besides the true Israel, can we venture to say, Happy art thou? Art thou happy, who, instead of having experienced salvation, art yet under the guilt and power of all thy sins; and, instead of having Jehovah for thy shield and thy sword, hast the almighty God for thine enemy? Deceive not thyself: thou mayest dream of happiness; but thou art in a pitiable condition. So far art thou from rivalling the happiness of Israel, thou art even inferior to the beasts that perish; and, if thou wert sensible of thy state, thou wouldest envy them their prospect of annihilation. Oh, if ever thou wouldest be happy, seek to be saved by the Lord, even by the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus, and by the sanctifying influences of his Spirit. What Moses said to his father-in-law, that would Gods people say to thee, Come thou with us, and we will do thee good; for God has spoken good concerning Israel [Note: Num 10:29.].
As for you who are of the true Israel, seek to be as distinguished for your holiness, as you are for your happiness. When we speak of your felicity, the world cannot understand us, because they are strangers to your feelings. But they can judge of holiness with some considerable degree of accuracy; and your superiority in this respect will be more effectual for their conviction, than all that can be said respecting the happiness of your state. Endeavour then so to live, that we may challenge the world to produce any persons comparable to you in holiness. Enable us to say with confidence, Who is like unto thee, O Israel? Who is dead to the world, as thou art? Who abounds in all holy duties, in all devout affections, in all amiable dispositions, like thee? This will silence those who call your happiness enthusiasm, and will convince them, that you are superior to others, not in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth.]
REFLECTIONS
PAUSE, My soul, over the perusal of this most delightful Chapter, and while the man of GOD is pronouncing these blessings over the people of Israel: see, whether you can now, by virtue of an union with the true spiritual LORD of Israel, claim an interest in these mercies, and call yourself by the name of Jacob, and surname yourself by the name of Israel.
Israel of old, was a chosen generation, for GOD the FATHER chose them in CHRIST JESUS before the foundation of the world. And if I belong to Israel now, have I not been chosen in him, and ordained by him to be of the chosen generation, an holy nation, a peculiar people, to show forth the praises of him who hath called me out of darkness into his marvellous light. My soul! is it so with thee? Am I the purchase of JESUS’ blood, the subject of the HOLY GHOST’s fellowship: and do I enjoy communion with the FATHER, and with his Son JESUS CHRIST? Then shall I, as Israel, dwell in safety. My GOD will thrust out the enemy from before me, and will say, destroy them. The eternal GOD is my refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Deu 33:29 Happy [art] thou, O Israel: who [is] like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who [is] the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Ver. 29. Happy art thou, O Israel. ] Or, Oh the happinesses of thee, O Israel! the , the heaped up happiness!
Who is like unto thee!
Shall be found liars. O Israel. The ideal nation, viewed as Jeshurun the upright. See note on Deu 32:15.
saved by the LORD. This their greatest glory.
shall be found liars = shall submit themselves. Compare 2Sa 22:45. Psa 66:3.
high places. The end of Moses’ tenth (and last) address. See note on Deu 1:1. This chapter is editorial and historical. Always part of the Pentateuch. Probably by Joshua, Samuel, o
r School of the Prophets. See App-47.
Happy: Deu 4:7, Deu 4:8, Num 23:20-24, Num 24:5, 2Sa 7:23, Psa 33:12, Psa 144:15
saved: Isa 12:2, Isa 45:17, 1Ti 4:10
the shield: Gen 15:1, Psa 84:11, Psa 115:9-11
the sword: Jdg 7:20, Psa 7:12, Psa 45:3, Isa 27:1, Isa 34:5, Isa 34:6, Jer 12:12, Jer 47:6, Rev 1:16, Rev 19:21
found liars: or, subdued, 2Sa 22:45, Psa 18:44, Psa 66:3, Psa 81:15, *marg.
thou shalt: Deu 32:13, Jos 10:24, Jos 10:25, Hab 3:19
Reciprocal: Gen 36:31 – the kings Num 22:12 – for they Deu 7:14 – blessed 1Sa 25:29 – bound 2Sa 22:3 – shield Psa 1:1 – Blessed Psa 3:3 – a shield Psa 18:33 – high Psa 18:35 – shield Psa 47:3 – subdue Psa 84:9 – our Psa 146:5 – Happy Son 6:9 – The daughters Isa 58:14 – to ride Isa 63:8 – so he Jer 2:11 – changed their glory Jer 23:6 – Judah Amo 4:13 – and treadeth Mic 1:3 – the high Luk 1:71 – we Rom 4:6 – blessedness Rom 8:31 – If Heb 13:6 – The Lord
CHRISTS PEOPLE A HAPPY PEOPLE
Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency!
Deu 33:29
Two things are stated in reference to Christs people. There is stated:
I. Their happy condition.
There can be no doubt of this. For God Himself says
(a) They are happy.
Happy art thou, O Israel. They are happy in the knowledge that the Lord is their God. Happy are the people that are in such a case: yea, blessed are the people whose God is the Lord. Israel of old was thus a happy people. They were happy in that they were Gods people.
But there are greater things than these. The Lord not only affirms that His people are happy, but that
(b) They are the happiest of all mankind.
St. Paul says that, if the believer had hope only in this life, he would be of all men most miserable. But he has hope of a glorious eternity, and this makes him of all men the happiest. The Lord therefore says of you, who are His redeemed and converted people, Who is like unto thee? With such prospects, even in this world, there is no one so happy as the true Christian. You may be as poor as was Lazarus; yet, like him, in all your poverty, and with all your sickness, you are far happier than some rich unconverted neighbour, in all his wealth, and in all his sumptuous fare and purple raiment. You may be shut out from the society of the gay and of the rich, as was Elijah at Cherith; yet, like him, you are strangers to the unquiet and restless desires that are working in some Ahab or some Jezebel, whose higher position in life you are sometimes tempted to covet. You may be exposed to trials and persecutions, as were Paul and Silas; but, like them, you are able to sing the songs of Zion even in your midnight dungeon, while your persecutors, in dread of some future miseries, are so unhappy that they are calling for a sword to put away their own lives.
You have seen the happiness of the Lords people. Now consider
II. How it is effected.
This happiness is effected by their assurance
(a) Of salvation.
(b) Of protection.
The Lord Jesus Himself is our shield. The Lord Jesus Himself is your sword. Oh, what can stop your progress? What can keep you out of heaven? Think of your present position and privileges. The righteousness in which you are justified is an everlasting righteousness. In Christ Jesus you are as safe as though you were now standing round about His throne on high. Being one with Christ by His life-giving Spirit, you are bound up, as it were, in the bundle of life with Him. The eternal God is your refuge and your Redeemer. His everlasting arms form your unfailing support. All His perfections are engaged in your behalf. He will hasten to your assistance whenever you are assailed. He will guard your peace and shield your character. He will choose your inheritance for you, and give you the possession of it.
I would now apply the subject. You have seen the privileges of the Lords people.
We see hence
III. A nations security.
The weakness of a nation is sin. Its strength is its godliness. Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people. Look at Israel of old. How strong and invincible were they as long as they obeyed their Lord! But as soon as, through their sins, the Lord turned His back upon them, how easily they were made a prey to the Canaanites, the Assyrians, the Chaldeans, the Egyptians, the Romans, and every other enemy! The Great Ruler of the universe deals not with sinful nations as He deals with individual transgressors. With individual transgressors He deals, for the most part, in the world to come. He thus lets many an impenitent sinner go through life without sorrow. These men He reserves for punishment in the eternal world; and as soon as their breath goeth forth their everlasting misery begins. But God deals with nations in this world. He does so because nations will not exist hereafter.
IV. The believers duty.
That duty is so to live as not to provoke God to draw from you the light of His countenance. If God be with you, you will in every spiritual conflict be brought off more than conquerors. But if you provoke God to leave you to your own devices, dark days and comfortless nights will be your portion. In Gods presence, even in this life, is joy. When He is absent, as many of you know by your own bitter experience, all joy is gone, and nothing remains but coldness, desolation, and gloom. If, therefore, you would be distinguished for your happiness, seek to be distinguished for your holiness.
Canon Clayton.
Illustrations
(1) We cannot study the New Testament without noticing how continually it appeals to Christians as being already in possession of certain assured privileges, and how it urges us, on the ground of our possession, to go on and make further privileges and gifts our own. The saints whom St. Paul addresses were often imperfect enough: but he bases his exhortations to them on the ground of their responsibility as being in Christmembers of His Body, temples of His Spirit.
Manifestly it must be the Holy Spirit who leads us into the knowledge and certainty of our happy estate in Christ. All the faithful testify that the New Covenant is written with indelible characters on their hearts. And such an agreement naturally becomes also an alliance. This God is our God for ever and ever. He will be our Guide, even unto death.
(2) He who affirms that Christianity makes men miserable, is himself an utter stranger to it. It were strange indeed, if it made us wretched, for see to what a position it exalts us! It makes us sons of God. Suppose you that God will give all the happiness to His enemies, and reserve all the mourning for His own family? Shall His foes have mirth and joy, and shall His home-born children inherit sorrow and righteousness? Shall the sinner, who has no part in Christ, call himself rich in happiness, and shall we go mourning as if we were penniless beggars? No, we will rejoice in the Lord always, and glory in our inheritance, for we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but we have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The rod of chastisement must rest upon us in our measure, but it worketh for us the comfortable fruits of righteousness; and therefore by the aid of the divine Comforter, we, the people saved of the Lord, will joy in the God of our salvation.
Deu 33:29. Happy art thou, O Israel Wanting words sufficiently to express their happiness, he breaks out into admiration of it. Who is like unto thee? So highly favoured as thou art? O people, saved of the Lord Preserved, protected, and provided for by Omnipotence. Surely this is a privilege of which no nation can boast but yourselves. The shield of thy help By whom thou art sufficiently guarded against all assailants; and the sword of thy excellency Or, thy most excellent sword; that is, thy strength, and the author of all thy past or approaching victories. Those in whose hearts is the excellence of holiness, have God himself for their shield and sword. They are defended by the whole armour of God: his word is their sword, and faith their shield. And thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee Who said they would destroy thee: or, at least, that they would never submit: and thou shalt tread upon their high places Their strongholds, palaces, and temples. Thus shall the God of peace tread Satan under the feet of all believers, and that shortly.
33:29 Happy [art] thou, O Israel: who [is] like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who [is] the sword of thy excellency! and {s} thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
(s) Your enemies for fear shall lie and pretend to be in subjection.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
THE HAPPINESS OF GODS PEOPLE
View the believer thus environed, and thus armed, and you may well say to him, Happy art thou, O Israel! who is like unto thee? for the salvation he already possesses, is a pledge and earnest of his everlasting triumphs.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes