CHAPTER VI _The great design of God in giving his laws is, that the people_ _may fear and obey him, that they may continue in peace and_ _prosperity, and be mightily increased_, 1-3. _The great commandment of the law_, 4, 5, _which shall be laid up in their hearts_, 6; _taught to their childre... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:2. _THAT THOU MIGHTEST FEAR THE LORD_] Respect his sovereign authority as a lawgiver, and ever feel thyself bound to obey him. No man can walk either conscientiously or safely who has not the _fear of God_ continually before his eyes. When this is gone, more than a guardian angel... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:3. _HEAR THEREFORE, O ISRAEL, AND OBSERVE TO DO IT_] Literally, Ye shall hear, O Israel, and thou shalt keep to do them. 1. _God is to be heard_; no _obligation_ without _law_ to found it on, and no _law_ in religion but from God. 2. The commandment must be _understood_ in orde... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:4. _HEAR, O ISRAEL_] שמע ישראל יהוה אלהינו יהוה אחד _shemA_ _Yisrael, Yehovah Eloheinu, Yehovah achaD_. These words may be variously rendered into English; but almost all possible _verbal_ varieties in the translation (and there can be none other) amount to the same sense: "Isra... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:5. _THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD, C._] Here we see the truth of that word of the apostle, 1 Timothy 1:5: _Now the_ END _of the_ COMMANDMENT _is_ LOVE _out of a pure heart_, c. See the whole of the doctrine contained in this verse explained on Matthew 22:36.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:6. _SHALL BE IN THINE HEART_] For where else can _love_ be? If it be not in the _heart_, it exists not. And if _these words_ be not _in the heart _- if they are not esteemed, prized, and received as a high and most glorious privilege, what hope is there that this love shall ever... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:7. _THOU SHALT TEACH THEM DILIGENTLY_] שננתם _shinnantam_, from שנן _shanan_, to _repeat, iterate_, or do a thing _again_ and _again_; hence to _whet_ or _sharpen_ any instrument, which is done by _reiterated friction_ or _grinding_. We see here the spirit of this Divine injuncti... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:8. _THOU SHALT BIND THEM FOR A SIGN UPON THINS HAND_] Is not this an allusion to an ancient and general custom observed in almost every part of the world? When a person wishes to remember a thing of importance, and is afraid to trust to the common operations of memory, he _ties a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:9. _WRITE THEM UPON THE POSTS OF THY HOUSE, AND ON THY_ _GATES._] The _Jews_, forgetting the _spirit_ and design of this precept, used these things as superstitious people do _amulets_ and _charms_, and supposed, if they had these passages of Scripture written upon slips of pure... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:12. _BEWARE LEST THOU FORGET THE LORD_] In _earthly_ prosperity men are apt to forget _heavenly_ things. While the _animal senses_ have every thing they can wish, it is difficult for the soul to urge its way to heaven; the animal man is happy, and the desires of the soul are abs... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:13. _THOU SHALT FEAR THE LORD THY GOD_] Thou shalt respect and reverence him as thy Lawgiver and Judge; as thy Creator, Preserver, and the sole object of thy religious adoration. _AND SERVE HIM_] Our blessed Lord, in Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8, quotes these words thus: _And him_ ON... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:14. _YE SHALL NOT GO AFTER OTHER GODS_] The object of religious worship among every people, whether that object be true or false, is ever considered as the pattern or exemplar to his worshippers. Christians are termed the _followers_ of God; they take God for their pattern, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:15. _A JEALOUS GOD_] Jehovah has _betrothed_ you to himself as a bride is to her husband. Do not be unfaithful, else that _love_ wherewith he has now distinguished you shall assume the form of _jealousy_, and so divorce and consume you.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:16. _YE SHALL NOT TEMPT THE LORD_] Ye shall not provoke him by entertaining doubts of his mercy, goodness, providence, and truth. _AS YE TEMPTED_ HIM _IN MASSAH._] How did they tempt him in Massah? They said, _Is the Lord among us or not_? Exodus 17:1. After such proofs as they... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:17. _YE SHALL DILIGENTLY KEEP, C._] On this and the following verse Deuteronomy 6:3, Deuteronomy 6:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:20. _AND WHEN THY SON ASKETH THEE, C._] "Here," as Mr. Ainsworth justly remarks, "followeth a brief _catechism_, containing the grounds of religion." WHAT MEAN _THE TESTIMONIES, C._] The Hebrew language has no word to express to _mean_ or _signify_, and therefore uses simply the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 6:25. _IT SHALL BE OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS_] The _evidence_ that we are under the influence of the fear and love of God. Moses does not say that this righteousness could be wrought without the influence of God's mercy, nor does he say that they should purchase heaven by it: but, God requ... [ Continue Reading ]